As a full-time traveller with a digital nomad lifestyle alongside my girlfriend, we explore the US and Europe, often doing petsitting in varied and wonderful locations to keep costs low. I’ve always lived with severe allergies to nuts, peanuts, lupin, and recently discovered potential allergies to Fenugreek and Sumac. Despite these challenges, I’ve learned to adapt and appreciate life, refusing to let my allergies dictate my experiences.
However, a recent flight 2/14/2024 with Turkish Airlines from Madrid to Dalaman via Istanbul highlighted the unpredictable nature of flying with allergies. Despite my attempts to declare my allergy through the Special Assistance option during booking, I found no way to do so, nor was I informed of the need to disclose this information. This lack of process led to me being removed from the plane shortly before takeoff for not declaring my allergy, a stark contrast to my experiences with other airlines that either prompt for this information during booking or are more accommodating upon notification.
The treatment I received from Turkish Airlines staff was disappointing, as they repeatedly blamed me for the oversight and charged me a 60 EUR fee to reschedule my flight, leaving me stranded in Madrid airport. Overall I was on-the-go for 43 hours with very little sleep or comfort. This incident not only caused distress but also highlighted the inconsistency in how airlines manage passengers with allergies. From the dismissive attitude of Swiss Air to the exceptional care from British Airways and Delta, it’s clear that there’s no standardised approach, making it challenging for those of us with allergies to navigate flying safely and confidently.
In response to this incident, I’ve submitted a complaint to Turkish Airlines and plan to follow up with the EU regulatory body if unsatisfied. The experience has motivated me to seek change in how airlines handle passengers with allergies, advocating for clearer policies and better communication.
This experience with Turkish Airlines has reinforced the importance of advocating for standardised regulations for managing passengers with allergies across all airlines, to ensure others don’t face similar challenges.
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