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American Airlines Passengers With Nut Allergies Will Soon Be Able to Preboard Flights

Nov. 08, 2018
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2 min read
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American Airlines Passengers With Nut Allergies Will Soon Be Able to Preboard Flights
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In early September, a leaked memo revealed that American Airlines was planning on letting "customers with nut allergies to pre-board flights to wipe down surfaces." The airline quickly reached out to TPG after we published this report to clarify that it was a proposed policy and noted that the "process is still ongoing."

It's been a long silence in the two months since that leaked memo, but American Airlines is now working to enact this policy. While the details of how this will work in practice are still to be announced, nut allergy sufferers now have a date when they'll be able to pre-board flights: Dec. 12.

An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed to TPG on Wednesday that this policy will go in effect on that date. Bloomberg reports that this is when the crew flight-service manuals will be updated with the new policy. Starting Dec. 12, "customers with nut allergies who would like to board flights early to wipe down surfaces may ask to do so at the gate."

While American Airlines doesn't service peanuts on board, it does serve a variety of other nuts in premium cabins. And the airline "can’t guarantee our customers won’t be exposed to peanuts during their trip."

The policy follows in the heels of other airlines that have implemented similar policies — including United, Singapore and Southwest — and high-profile situations involving nut allergy sufferers collapsing on American Airlines flights. AA was also the subject of a Department of Transportation (DOT) complaint back in December 2017, when a mother complained that she could not pre-board the plane to clean up the area where her nut-allergic child would sit.

Featured image by JT Genter

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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