Teacher with deadly allergy claims $13K honeymoon flight could kill her: ‘This is life or death for me'
A UK teacher fears her honeymoon flight could be her last as an airline has allegedly vowed to continue serving nuts despite her deadly allergy.
'I thought Qatar Airways would be more understanding and accommodating of the allergy,' Bethany Roads, 27, told Kennedy News and Media. 'This is life or death for me.'
The Kent native has suffered from a severe airborne nut allergy since she was 4, but didn't think it would be a problem while planning her honeymoon this year.
Roads and her partner of nine years, Connor Burns, 29 — whom she's slated to wed in August — had booked the trip of a lifetime to Tanzania and Zanzibar. The total cost for the trip was estimated at around $13,000.
'This is a dream destination for us,' she gushed. 'It's something we've both wanted to do for a long time.'
To ensure her 'special' vacation went smoothly, Roads reached out to Qatar Airlines to alert them of her nut allergy, which can induce anaphylactic shock — a severe reaction that can stop the sufferer's breathing or heartbeat.
She requested that the carrier make 'an announcement,' she told Kennedy News, but claimed she was told they couldn't 'guarantee it'll be 100% safe.'
Despite the potential danger, the airline allegedly failed to heed her request.
'I said, 'If you can't make an announcement, can I make my own?' and they told me on the phone if I do, that there would be a chance I could be kicked off the flight for going against their policies,' the 'shocked' Brit claimed. 'They said they would still serve them, knowing I could go into anaphylaxis. They said this would not be intentional around me.'
Roads said that Qatar Airways, in an exchange of messages shared with Kennedy Media, suggested that as a precaution for her own 'safety,' the teacher should make sure to bring an EpiPen and use 'hand sanitizer, face wipes and appropriate medications,' she said.
'Inform the co-passenger about the allergy, request for window or seats at the back, and avoid contact with the allergens,' Qatar reps added. 'However, the requests are not guaranteed and would be subject to availability.'
Roads believed their response would be wilfully putting her life 'at risk.'
'They know about the allergy, and they're choosing to do it anyway,' she said. 'There's a risk of me dying with anaphylaxis, even with two Epi-Pens with me.'
The distraught educator added, 'One person ignoring an announcement and continuing to eat a bag of nuts is very different to them giving out nuts to 300 people on a plane.'
The traveler was particularly appalled because she said she'd been on flights in the past where understanding crew members announced that they wouldn't hand out nuts on account of her condition.
Roads has even contemplated scrapping the honeymoon altogether, as it wasn't worth the risk.
'Canceling the trip is definitely something we would have to consider,' the pedagogue said. 'People don't understand what an airborne allergy is.'
Roads declared that the carrier had a 'legal requirement' to ensure she had a safe flight, saying: 'Passenger safety is meant to be their utmost priority but what they're saying to me is the opposite of that.'
A spokesperson for the carrier has since addressed the incident in a statement, in which they reiterated their company's allergy policy.
'We do our best to accommodate passengers with allergy needs,' the representative told Kennedy News, quoting the guidelines. 'But as our flights are open to the public, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.'
They added, 'Qatar Airways' allergy policy is available online, and we thank Ms Roads for notifying us of her circumstances. Our customer care team is in direct contact with her.'
The policy further stipulates that passengers 'are responsible for carrying any necessary medication with them onboard' and that they 'may be required to sign a waiver of liability.'
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time Qatar Airways has been accused of failing to heed someone's nut allergy disclaimer.
Nut allergy sufferer Amy Pearson thought she'd die after two airlines handed out peanuts on a 14-hour journey last year — despite her notifying them of her allergy in advance.
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