Bethany Roads, an art teacher from the United Kingdom, is in a very unfortunate position. As she boards her honeymoon flight — Destination: Dubai! — with her new husband, Connor Burns, 29, nerves start to kick in. For Roads, surviving one of the worst airborne nut allergies in the world, since age four. Now, she’s concerned her $13,000 business-class flight with Qatar Airways might endanger her life.
The newlyweds are more than ready to experience their long-awaited honeymoon. Though she’s largely recovered, Roads has still strong concerns about the way the airline handled her condition. She had provided Qatar Airways advance notice of her severe allergy. In response to widespread public criticism of its decision, the airline announced that it will continue serving nut products on flights. This decision has made Roads feel exposed and fearful for her safety.
In her correspondence with Qatar Airways, Roads was straightforward in her ask. She requested the airline announce her allergy so that her fellow passengers would be aware and could help protect her. The airline’s eventual reply indicated that they were unable to “guarantee it’ll be 100% safe” for her on board. They recommended that Roads travel with an EpiPen. They advised bringing hand sanitizer, face wipes and appropriate medications as safety precautions.
In Qatar, “I was expecting more from Qatar Airways in terms of handling the allergy,” Roads said. She drove home the urgency of her situation in saying, “This is life or death for me.” At this point, her health is failing. She’s still traumatized from a past 14-hour trip where two airlines overruled her clear allergy notice and served her peanuts.
After that trip, Roads said she was at a higher risk of anaphylaxis, putting her on high alert for future flights. She mentioned that on her other flights in the past, the announcements had always said that nut products wouldn’t be served. Passengers were never in the dark about this policy. The absence of any such measures from Qatar Airways has only increased her anxiety about the long trip ahead.
Qatar Airways representatives acknowledged Roads’ requests but clarified that while they would do their best to accommodate passengers with allergy needs, they could not guarantee the elimination of all risks. She needs to communicate her allergy to traveling companions. Further, she can ask for a seat in the rear of the airplane or in a window seat to decrease her potential exposure.
This lack of clarity and uncertainty is making Roads feel unsupported and nervous about the impacts on her health during the long-haul flight.
Roads has taken precautions by bringing two EpiPens with her, but she remains skeptical about their efficacy in a potential emergency.… They told her they would continue serving [nuts], knowing I could go into anaphylaxis,” she stated. To the teacher, who wants to enjoy every minute of her new honeymoon phase. She has to face the gaping life-threatening chasm caused by an airline’s reckless policy.
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