A woman who alerted Emirates that she was allergic to apples was instead interrogated by Emirates employees upon check-in and ultimately denied boarding.
The incident took place last year, but was discussed in the New York Times’ “Tripped Up” column this week. “Amanda” travelled to Africa on Emirates. She claims she notified Emirates via an online form and via telephone that she was severely allergic to apples.
But upon check-in in Cape Town for her return journey, when confirming that no apples would be onboard, she was instead met with the opposite of compassion and empathy. First, she was separated from her group and taken into a private room. Then, she was “interrogated and yelled at by Emirates employees.” After confirming that her doctor had cleared her to fly and she could even survive exposure to an apple in her vicinity, she was ultimately denied boarding.
Emirates refunded a prorated portion of her ticket, but she had to buy a pricey one-way ticket home (note: she probably should have booked a round-trip ticket to save money, even if she dumped the return leg).
When pressed by the New York Times, Emirates claimed it had not received any prior notification of the allergy:
“Our records do not reflect any mention of an apple allergy. When alerted of the severe allergy on the day of the flight, our ground staff followed procedure and offloaded [Amanda] to avoid endangering her life.”
Yet she did not report any trouble on the outbound flights…
Does The Law Protect Allergic Travelers?
There is no international law that protects airline travelers who suffer from allergies. However, in the United States carriers cannot discriminate on the basis of a life-threatening food allergy, which is deemed a disability under the Air Carrier Access Act. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation held earlier this year that passengers with food allergies must be allowed to pre-board in order to give them time to wipe down tray tables and seats (there’s a new trick for pre-boarding).
But the Air Carrier Access Act applies only to U.S. flag airlines or foreign airlines on flights touching U.S. soil. The Emirates flight from Cape Town to Dubai obviously did not touch the USA.
In short, Emirates can get away with exactly what it allegedly did.
CONCLUSION
The question of what rights passengers with allergies should be afforded is worthy of discussion. Wherever the accommodation line should be drawn, no passenger should have to face being shamed for her disability.
I’m allergic to BS and my BS meter readings just went through the roof: allergic to apples..?? FFS, give us a break…; we’ve created a generation of snowflakes by denying them exposure to the real world, keeping them cocooned indoors in semi-sterile environments. No one from my childhood ever had an allergy to anything: now it’s everywhere: lactose, gluten, peanuts,…but apples? God save us….
As for the shysters getting early boarding to wipe down tables…it’s worse than the wheelchair con artists.
I don’t deny that some allergies are real; but they are of our own creation…
@Paolo – it must be difficult being you if you’re allergic to yourself.
I’m lucky enough not to have any allergies. While I’m sure the odd person milks the system, I sympathize with anyone who has to worry about whether their food was cooked with a stray nut or whether there is an apple around.
“No one from my childhood ever had an allergy to anything”
Their illnesses and/or deaths were probably classified as “Cause Unknown”.
Paul, I agree with you, 100%.
What a bizarre rant. There’s plenty of annoying people who claim to be allergic to gluten or whatever, but allergies (including to gluten) are very real and quite serious. I’m allergic to hemp, and I only found out when I had a smoothie with hemps seeds and started going into anaphylaxis. This is science, not opinion.
And yet many bloggers fall over themselves to praise the excellent service of the ME3. Between the subsidies and unfair competition, anti-LGBT governmental policies, and shady labor practices I, for one, will continue to avoid these airlines and the countries where they are based at all costs.
Special snowflake learned a lesson. Her special snowflake “disability” doesn’t mean squat when it comes to the rest of the rational world. Perhaps she should restrict her traveling to the United States, where her wackiness is lauded at the expense of the rest of us. Love the UAE even more after this story.
LOL – same. Glad the rest of the world hasn’t reached the low of the USA.
I’m sick of these entitled people with their “allergies” trying to control flights and other things. This is the same as the emotion support animal problems. If you are too allergic to be in the presence of a freaking apple, much less the dust of a peanut, maybe you should go by boat.
@Andy K – often those that have issues with other “entitled” people, need to spend more time in front of a mirror.
Assuming EK was aware of the allergy on the way out and carried her, but then refused to on the way back, I have issues with that. If EK denied her boarding before the first leg in the US as they couldn’t safely transport her, I think that should be their business choice.
Two more points –
1. She could have just worn a mask
2. If I was Emirates, I would have denied her as well for liability reasons. She sounds like the type that will sue the crap out of anyone.
Next people will be allergic to using a toilet that was used by people who ate peanuts and apples. They will need a separate toilet. Enough is enough. Don’t make your problems everybody else’s.
As a parent of a child with severe nut and egg allergies, I can say that we use preboarding to wipe down our row. If anyone thinks we are making this up so we can spend more time with small children locked in a metal tube, you are mistaken. Watch your kid go into anaphylaxis a few times, and then envision it happening at 35,000 Feet, you’ll take all the precautions we do. This doesn’t inconvenience anyone (other than the super mega elite guy who lined up at the door 2 days before the flight so he can get on first and show everyone how important he is)