American Airlines will allow early boarding for passengers suffering from certain nut allergies.
This will allow peanut and tree-nut allergy sufferers to board first and wipe down surfaces to ensure there are no trace elements of nuts from a previous flight.
It takes effect next month when AA updates its flight-service manuals.
Advocacy organization the Food Allergy Research & Education had called for early boarding since last year, citing a young boy’s life threatening allergic reaction on a flight
FARE argued the wiping down on surfaces cannot be done effectively during general boarding.
"Customers with nut allergies who would like to board flights early to wipe down surfaces may ask to do so at the gate," American said.
The airline doesn’t serve peanuts aboard flights but acknowledged it cannot absolutely guarantee that passengers will not be exposed to nuts.
Delta Air Lines allows customers early boarding if they have a similar nut allergy.
