Flying with a nut allergy
Airline Nut Allergy Policies Compared: 26 Airlines (2026)
Which airlines still serve peanuts or tree nuts, which let you pre-board to wipe your seat, and which offer a buffer zone. United, Delta, American, Southwest, JetBlue, Air Canada, British Airways, Emirates, Singapore, Qantas and more, in one table.
Updated
No airline promises a nut-free flight. What differs is how much they do to lower the risk: whether peanuts and tree nuts are on the snack cart, whether you can board early to wipe your seat, and whether the crew will ask the rows around you not to eat nuts.
The short version, as of October 2026: JetBlue, Air Canada, WestJet and Porter offer a buffer zone; Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska, Air Canada, British Airways, Qantas, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic let you pre-board; Emirates serves nuts on every flight and does not allow pre-boarding for allergies.
North American airlines
| Airline | Peanuts served? | Tree nuts served? | Pre-board to wipe seat | Buffer zone | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Not stated; some meals may contain nuts | Not stated | Yes, bring your own wipes | No | Will make an announcement for peanut allergies only, with your consent |
| American | No | Yes (warmed nuts in premium cabins) | Reported since 2018; not reconfirmed in 2025 | No, says it does not offer nut-free buffer zones | Did not answer Allergic Living’s 2025 questions |
| Delta | Not served when a peanut allergy is reported | Pistachios in premium cabins; none served to your row | Yes, for severe allergies; bring cleaning supplies | No formal zone | Announcement for peanut allergies; began adding auto-injectors to kits in September 2026 |
| Frontier | Sold (peanut M&M’s) | Sold (almonds) | Not stated; ask | No | Crew “will attempt to notify customers nearby” |
| Hawaiian | Meals and snacks may contain both | Yes | Yes, ask the gate agent | No | No allergy announcements; crew cannot give medication |
| JetBlue | No | Almonds, cashews and pistachios may be served | Yes; ask for “disability boarding” | Yes, 3 rows (yours, in front, behind) | No longer makes announcements |
| Southwest | Light snacks are peanut-free | Pistachios in extra-legroom seats from January 2026 | Yes, no doctor’s note needed | Not offered | Kits carry an auto-injector as well as vials |
| United | No | Meals may contain tree nuts | Yes, bring wipes | Crew asks nearby passengers on request; not an “allergen-free zone” | Kits carry epinephrine vials, not auto-injectors |
| Air Canada | Phased out of packaged snacks | Not stated | Yes; be at the gate 30 minutes before boarding | Yes, request 48 hours ahead | No plane-wide announcements |
| Porter | Not served with 48 hours’ notice | Almonds among snacks | Crew will wipe seats on request | Yes, 3 rows, with 48 hours’ notice | Epinephrine only on E195-E2 jets, not Dash 8 |
| WestJet | No peanut products (traces possible) | Not stated | Yes | Yes, 1 row; send the medical form 48 hours ahead | Epinephrine in vial form |
International airlines
| Airline | Peanuts served? | Tree nuts served? | Pre-board | Nut-free meal | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | No (traces possible) | Cross-contact warning | Not stated | No | Carry a doctor’s note with your epinephrine |
| Air France | Cannot guarantee peanut-free | Not stated | On request on Canadian routes | Allergen-free meal without nuts and peanuts, 24 hours ahead | |
| British Airways | No | Yes, in other cabins | Yes, show your epinephrine at the gate | No | Will announce on request for peanut, tree nut or sesame allergy; carries adult and child EpiPens |
| Cathay Pacific | Yes, in other cabins | Yes | Priority boarding on request | Nut-free snacks only, with a physician’s form 72 hours ahead | Asks you to carry two epinephrine devices |
| easyJet | No nut products sold | No | Yes, tell gate staff | Not stated | Announces for nut allergies; carries an auto-injector |
| Emirates | Yes, on all flights | Yes | Not allowed | Cannot guarantee nut-free meals | Says “we serve nuts on all our flights” |
| Finnair | May be in meals | May be in meals | Yes | Allergy meal in Business Class | Epinephrine vials only |
| Japan Airlines | Not in snacks or meals (not guaranteed) | Not stated | Only on Canada routes | “Minimal allergen” meal, 72 hours ahead | Seat cleaning for peanut allergy by application |
| Korean Air | No | Not stated | Yes; wipes and masks provided | Allergen-free meal, 48 hours ahead | Crew can ask nearby passengers to avoid peanuts |
| Lufthansa | Not guaranteed | Sold on board | Does not appear to be allowed | Special meals only | 24-hour doctor hotline on long-haul |
| Qantas | No longer served on flights or in lounges | Yes, as snacks | Yes | No nut-free meal stated | Requests need 4 days’ notice; carries adult and child auto-injectors |
| Ryanair | Not sold if crew is told | Not sold if crew is told | Not stated | No | Makes an announcement that nuts will not be sold |
| Singapore Airlines | Not as a snack; some meals contain them | Yes, all cabins | Yes | “Non-strict nut-free” and “minimal allergen” meals | Cannot provide a nut-free cabin |
| SWISS | No (traces possible) | Travellers report tree nuts in economy snacks | Yes | No nut-free meal stated | Asks passengers not to bring nuts |
| Virgin Atlantic | Not as a snack | May be served | Yes | Discuss with Special Assistance | Can allow an extra carry-on for your own food |
Sources: Allergic Living’s Airlines & Allergies Guide (domestic, updated September 2026; international, updated June 2026), which collects each airline’s published policy and answers to the magazine’s questions. Policies change; check the airline’s own page in the week before you fly and save a screenshot of it.
How to use this table
Book on the airline, not the price. If two flights cost about the same, the one with a buffer zone or a no-peanuts snack policy is worth more than a better departure time.
Put the allergy on the booking. Most airlines have a special-assistance or medical section in “manage booking.” Do it when you book, and again 48 hours before departure where the table says notice is needed.
Tell the gate agent, then the crew. Ask to pre-board at the gate. Once on board, tell the flight attendant in your cabin, even if the booking already says it. The crew list does not always carry the note.
Expect epinephrine vials, not pens. Many airline medical kits hold epinephrine in ampoules that a trained person has to draw into a syringe. In 2026 the FAA proposed an overhaul of US medical kit rules that still does not require auto-injectors. Carry your own, two of them, in the seat pocket or on your body, not in the overhead bin.
Common questions
Which airlines don’t serve peanuts?
Among the large carriers: American, United, JetBlue, Southwest (on its regular snacks), Air Canada, WestJet, British Airways, Qantas, Korean Air and easyJet do not serve peanuts as snacks. Delta stops serving them on your flight when you report a peanut allergy. Most still serve tree nuts somewhere on the plane.
Which airlines have a nut allergy buffer zone?
JetBlue (three rows), Porter (three rows), Air Canada and WestJet (one row, with a medical form). United will ask nearby passengers not to eat nuts but says this is not an allergen-free zone.
Do I need a doctor’s note to fly with an EpiPen?
Not for US or Canadian security; epinephrine auto-injectors are allowed in carry-on bags. Some airlines (Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific, WestJet for its buffer zone) ask for a doctor’s note or medical form, and a note helps abroad if customs questions your medicine.
Can I bring my own food on the plane?
Yes. Solid food goes through security in every country we know of, and it is the single most reliable way to avoid a reaction in flight. Liquids, yoghurts and sauces follow the 100 ml rule.
This page helps you communicate about a food allergy. It is not medical advice: follow your allergist’s plan, and always confirm ingredients with the restaurant or the label.
Keep reading
Flying with a Peanut Allergy: What to Do Before, at and on the Plane
How to choose an airline, what to tell them and when, how to pre-board and wipe your seat, where to keep your epinephrine, and what to eat. Based on airline policies and on what actually lowers the risk of a reaction in flight.
Cruising with Food Allergies: How the Big Cruise Lines Handle Them
When to notify the cruise line, what happens in the main dining room and at the buffet, and the questions to ask on day one. With the published processes for Carnival and Royal Caribbean and what to expect on other lines.
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The current FDA list of tree nuts, updated in 2025 when coconut, chestnut and shea were taken off it. Plus quick answers on coconut, peanuts, pistachios, almonds, nutmeg and pine nuts, the foods tree nuts hide in, and which nuts cross-react.