How to conquer your allergy anxieties before you go on holiday

Posted: 24th May 2023 | Posted by Costa

How to conquer your allergy anxieties before you go on holiday

It’s around that time of year when many of us are thinking about the summer. In particular, escaping the often dreary British Isles for somewhere much sunnier. Over the coming months, we’re sure many of you will be dusting off the suitcases and getting ready to head abroad. Have an ice cream for us.

But while travelling is stressful for practically everyone, there is a certain group for whom it is anxiety-inducing. You may be one of them. Yes, you might have an allergy, and stepping outside of your comfort zone means having to navigate any potential reactions. It can be scary – especially with life-threatening food allergies – but we don’t want you to worry. Here’s how you can handle your holiday allergy anxieties every step of the way.

Before your flight

The more prepared you are, the more you can put your mind at ease. You can always look up allergy information before you leave. There are two main places to look for this: on the airport website and on your airline’s website. Both may have different policies.

If you have any questions, you could even reach out to them ahead of time to make them aware of your allergies and ask how best to navigate them. The airline in particular might be one to look into more, as you will be stuck in the air for hours and you don’t want an allergic reaction thousands of feet in the sky.

Other than that, prepare yourself in any way you can. Make sure you have all the medication you need and the appropriate paperwork to get it through customs. Build up an allergy kit if you don’t already have one. When you have it all ready in front of you, it can help calm you down.

At the airport

This is where you can put some of your pre-flight research into action. You should know how the airport handles allergies and navigate them as you can. For example, by looking at their website ahead of time, you can see what food options are available while you wait for your flight. Choose something you know you’ll be okay with. Preferably from a chain because they should have similar food preparation procedures.

While you’re at the airport, let staff know about your allergies. Key people to tell would be the airline representative at check-in and the person checking your boarding pass as you board the plane. These will be as close to direct contact as you can get before you set off. If you can prepare them, they can hopefully prepare themselves.

In the air

You should also let cabin crew know when you’re in the air so they can retrieve any allergy advice, if they have any. To avoid any mistakes, bring your own snacks on the plane. You likely won’t be able to get them through customs, so buy them while you’re at the airport. There should be plenty of time to do your due diligence and check ingredients before you set off.

In the case of emergencies, have someone familiar with the medication. If you have an anaphylactic shock, you want someone who can administer your epinephrine shot in the case you can’t do it yourself. If you’re flying with someone you know, it can be them. But if you’re flying solo, ask the cabin crew if they have anyone trained to do it. In the event they don’t, you can always teach them.

None of this should be a burden on your shoulder, but it’s part of living with a food allergy. But that doesn’t mean your allergy anxieties have to control you and stop you from having a holiday. Be prepared, do your research, and go enjoy the sun for a week or two!

For all of your allergy concerns – including advice on how to handle your allergies abroad – reach out to our team. Our allergists are always more than happy to help. Register as a new patient today or call us on 02031 433 449.