Eurowings passenger purchases $280 of peanuts after crew allegedly ignored her allergy

Eurowings passenger purchases $280 of peanuts after crew allegedly ignored her allergy
Edited by Travel Weekly


    A Eurowings passenger with a severe peanut allergy made an elaborate purchase after flight attendants reportedly ignored her request to stop selling the nuts.

    Leah Williams, a 27-year-old passenger flying from London to Dusseldorf, said she spent £144 (AU$280) on all the airplane peanuts so that the cabin crew would stop serving them after “ignoring” her request, the Independent reported.

    After requesting the flight attendants stop serving peanuts and their subsequent refusal, Williams asked to buy every packet, which would end up being nearly three times the price of her £50 (AU$97) airfare.

    “The stewards looked at me blankly like I was crazy and said, ‘But there is a lot, we’ll have to count them all.’ I said, ‘Please do count them and I will pay for them all, seeing as you have left me with no choice,’” she said.

    “Eurowings should be ashamed of how they handled this situation and for the way they made me feel.”

    Williams is requesting a refund for her elaborate purchase but the airline doesn’t seem so onboard.

    Eurowings apologised for the flight “not going as smoothly as planned” in a statement to the Independent but said she didn’t have to buy all the peanuts.

    “One thing in advance: Leah Williams was not forced to buy all packages of peanuts on board – on the contrary, our purser tried to offer her an alternative solution by informing all passengers sitting around her about Leah’s allergy. She agreed at first but then decided to still buy all the packages,” an airline spokesperson said.

    Eurowings also noted that the airline could not ensure a flight would be peanut free as passengers are allowed to bring in their own snacks.

    “As there are many causes for allergies and intolerances, it is not possible to exclude the possibility of their presence on board a plane,” the spokesperson added.

    “Furthermore, due to its construction (shape, air conditioning system, ventilation, etc.), it is not possible to prevent an accumulation of peanut/nut traces (e.g. residues from an earlier flight) despite regular and thorough cleaning of the aircraft.”

    The airline also said that it advises passengers with allergies to bring any medication they may need in the instance of an allergic reaction.

    Well, we at least hope for Williams’ sake that she has a pet elephant at home to make use of this elaborate purchase.

    Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

    Eurowings

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