I Have a Severe Food Allergy. Here’s What I Pack When I Fly.

A wipe for cleaning surfaces

Staff pick

These wipes are widely available, cost-effective, and shown to remove allergen residue.

You can pick what you eat, but you can’t pick what those who sat down before you ate. Pistiner told us that kids between the ages of 1 and 2 put their hands on their face or in their mouth 80 times an hour, that kids between the ages of 2 and 5 do so 40 times an hour, and that adults do so 15 times an hour. In order to prevent an allergic reaction on a plane from cross contamination, he recommends thoroughly wiping down touch points, such as your tray table, media console, buttons, and seatbelt, to eliminate any food allergens from your sphere. And try to avoid touching your face. Luckily, if you notify the gate agent, most airlines now allow passengers with life-threatening allergies to board early to give them extra time.

Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes are easily accessible—you can likely find them at your local gas station or corner store. Although you may think a regular wipe wouldn’t be enough, Pistiner said it should be all you need to rid the area of allergens. They’re also great to wipe hands before eating if you don’t have easy access to soap and water. Note that liquid hand sanitizer, like Purell, is not effective at removing allergens.

A long-sleeve jacket or sweatshirt

Staff pick

The Houdini windbreaker packs down to the size of a croissant, so it’s easy to stash.

The Houdini windbreaker packs down to the size of a croissant, so it’s easy to stash. The women’s version has a slimmer fit.

In summer 2005, a young Haley Sprankle, who contributed to a previous version of this guide, sat down to watch March of the Penguins. She settled in her movie theater seat, placing her arm on the appropriate rest. Suddenly, she started itching as her arm broke out. Clearly, whoever sat there before her had eaten peanuts, and she was having a mild allergic reaction.

Pistiner told us that though some people may experience a skin-contact allergy as hives or a localized rash, your skin is actually a good barrier to absorbing allergens into the bloodstream. If you have an accidental exposure, Pistiner recommends cleaning the exposed area well. However, if you’re looking to avoid this stress altogether (especially on a flight), packing long sleeves may help.

Of course, your favorite hoodie or flannel will work perfectly. But if you tend to forget a layer when you want one and are looking for an investment piece that packs down to the size of a croissant, I like the Patagonia Houdini Jacket, which comes in men’s and women’s sizes, depending on your fit preference. I’ve had this lightweight, not-too-warm jacket for six years and counting, and it looks brand new. I toss it in my bag for times when I need an extra layer or just want to be able to rest my arms on a surface without doing a wipe-down.

For easy breathing: a face mask

Top pick

This versatile KN95 respirator mask’s ear loops stretch well for a wider fit, but they also knot easily for a snugger one.

Although life-threatening allergies are considered disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act, commercial airlines are exempt from the ADA. Commercial airlines are required, however, to make certain accommodations, such as early boarding, for passengers with disabilities, including food allergies. There is greater cultural awareness and acceptance of food allergies than when I was a kid, and I’ve found that some airlines are better about not serving peanuts on board than others. Still, the likelihood that a fellow passenger will be eating peanuts is high.

There is low risk of having a life-threatening allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis due to breathing in an allergen. “If I’m eating a peanut butter sandwich and you can smell it, then what you’re smelling is caused by volatile organic compounds,” Pistiner said. “And that itself is not enough to cause an [anaphylactic] allergic reaction.” He elaborated that if the protein is aerosolized (as by heating or cooking with it), then it could be a risk for reaction. There is evidence that non-anaphylactic—but nonetheless serious—reactions, such as asthma, can sometimes occur on planes after inhalation of an allergen.

Flying in particular can cause anxiety, because if you do have a reaction, you’re stuck. For this reason, I’ve found that bringing a face covering on the plane helps calm my nerves if I do get a whiff of someone’s pack of Planters peanuts. We have a number of reusable picks in our guide to cloth face masks for kids and toddlers, and we discuss options for disposable surgical masks, N95s, and KN95s in this guide.