Emirates Asks Two Indians Suffering From 'Nut Allergies' To Sit Inside The Toilet
Shannen Sahota 24 and Sundeep Sahota 33 said they informed Emirates Airlines thrice about their allergies. 40 minutes into the flight from Englands Birmingham Airport to Dubai the cabin crew started serving fried nuts leaving them panic-stricken. The two claimed that they told the Emirates staff on multiple occasions about the severity of their condition.
It's quite common for people to talk about the horrendous experiences they have had at airports or aboard flights. Either it comes from a fellow passenger or the authorities, in any case, it's debilitating.
Recently, an airline asked two Indian-origin siblings with severe nut allergies, to "sit in the loo" while the cashews were being served on the flight, media reports said.
Shannen Sahota, 24, and Sundeep Sahota, 33, said they informed Emirates Airlines thrice about their allergies. But 40 minutes into the flight from England's Birmingham Airport to Dubai, the cabin crew started serving fried nuts, leaving them "panic-stricken", Daily Express reported.
The two claimed that they told the Emirates staff on "multiple occasions" about the severity of their condition when booking, checking-in and upon boarding the flight from Birmingham Airport.
Siblings with nut allergy asked to sit in loo by Emirates #askedtositinloo #byEmirates #siblingswithnutakllergy https://t.co/W3jkHwebJ9 pic.twitter.com/5IsuQLM8W0
¡ª voiceofrepublic (@voiceofrepublik) May 1, 2018
However, when they scanned the flight menu they found that it has chicken biryani with fried cashew nuts, the report said. Just before the meal service began, the Emirates staff, they said, asked them to shift to a toilet with cushions and pillows to avoid discomfort owing to their allergy, the report said.
Siblings with deadly nut allergy told to 'spend seven hours in loo' on Emirates flight from Birmingham https://t.co/I3YfnNsXvA
¡ª James Rodger (@jamesdrodger) April 30, 2018
Furious over the suggestion was given by the airline staff, the two spent the next seven hours in the flight sitting at the back of the plane with blankets covering their faces.
"We were stunned when a supervisor told us 'one way around it' was for us to spend the flight in the cabin loo," said Shannen, an analyst from Wolverhampton.
"We felt so degraded and embarrassed - it was horrible," she said, adding that "it was meant to be a happy occasion as we were going to celebrate our parents' 60th birthday but the start of our holiday was ruined."
Just watchin This Morning, this pair of weirdos reckon @emirates demanded they sat in the toilet cos they have nut allergies. Not believing that for 1 second, if it were @easyJet I might believe it hahaha #ThisMorning
¡ª StockothePiercerL1nk (@MickStocko) April 30, 2018
Sundeep, a contracts manager, said Emirates ignored all the information they had given them. The airline, however, claims the booking records do not reflect any mention of an allergy and it can never guarantee nut-free flights.
"We are sorry to hear about Ms Sahota's complaint. Emirates tries to cater to all passengers specific needs by offering a number of special meals that cover as many medical, dietary and religious requirements as possible. However, Emirates cannot guarantee completely nut-free flights," the airline said in a statement.
"We've looked into Ms Sahota's booking and our records do not reflect any mention of a nut allergy. All passengers who alert us to a nut allergy prior to travel are informed of our policy and it is also outlined on our website here."