Research Where You Are Going 1. Stick to countries where you speak the language. So far, that has limited my family to English- and French-speaking countries. It is critical that you can explain allergies clearly to people without any risk of miscommunication. When our younger daughter, who has multiple food allergies including peanuts, nuts, eggs, dairy, barley and [...]

As news about Air Canada’s decision to once again allow pets in airplane cabins spread, several news outlets reported on the matter. The articles, and corresponding readers’ comments, show the issue is divisive: many people are angered by the new rules, while others are looking forward to bringing their pets on board. The Toronto Star [...]

During special parliamentary hearings into the pet policies of Canada’s main airlines, a senior representative of the Canadian Transportation Agency said the agency will soon decide [see the ruling here] whether allowing small dogs and cats to travel presents an obstacle to travel for those with severe allergies. The CTA is currently gathering evidence from [...]

Air Canada Ruling: January 2010 In making its decision, the Canadian Transportation Agency weighed the recommendations made by Toronto allergists Dr. Gordon Sussman (advising the agency) and Dr. Peter Vadas (advising Air Canada), as well as the two complainants and Air Canada. Following are the key findings of the CTA’s ruling. When is Allergy “Disability” [...]

In early June, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced it was seeking public input on how to make air travel more accessible to people with severe peanut allergies. Specifically, DOT said it was considering these options: banning peanuts from being served on flights; banning them from being served when there was a peanut-allergic passenger [...]

The Canadian Transportation Agency wants to talk to Canada’s airlines about their policies for carrying small animals in the cabin. It made the request in a recent ruling in which it found that passengers with cat allergies have disabilities in terms of air travel. The ruling looked at three cat-allergy complaints against Air Canada, Air [...]

From the Spring 2010 edition of Allergic Living magazine. A recent study finds that one in three people reacting to peanuts and tree nuts aboard an aircraft are experiencing anaphylaxis, the most serious form of allergic reaction. Of particular concern to researchers from the University of Michigan division of allergy & clinical immunology and the [...]

The Canadian Transportation Agency has ordered Air Canada to create a formal policy that includes nut- or peanut-free “buffer zones” on its airplanes to accommodate passengers with these serious food allergies. In its preliminary ruling, released January 7, 2010, the agency also declared peanut and tree nut allergies a “disability” in the context of air [...]

Initial Response of Airlines to AL Reduce-the-Risk Campaign In January, 2009, Allergic Living magazine launched a write-in campaign to the chief executives of Canada’s two main airlines – Air Canada and WestJet. Over 1,100 individuals took part, personalizing Allergic Living’s form letter that urged the two airlines to develop clear, consistent policies on serious food [...]