Air Asia passengers banned from flight over severe nut allergy

Student, 21, and her boyfriend, 23, are ‘banned from an Air Asia flight from the Philippines’ and left stranded at the airport over her severe nut allergy

• Jade Cosgrove, 21, and her boyfriend Dave King, 23, were removed from the flight from the Philippines to Bali
• Miss Cosgrove refused to sign a waiver absolving Air Asia from responsibility if she suffered a reaction 
• They slept in the airport with no onward travel arrangements or accommodation

A backpacking couple were left stranded at an airport in Asia after their airline refused to let them fly due to a severe nut allergy.

Jade Cosgrove, 21, from Dundee and her boyfriend Dave King, 23, from Cork, were forced to spend two nights in Manila after Air Asia removed the pair from a flight that was set to leave for Bali.

The budget airline – which uses the slogan ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’ – refused to let Miss Cosgrove stay on the plane because of her severe nut allergy despite allowing her to fly with them previously.

The couple were ordered to return to the terminal after she refused to sign a waiver that would absolve the firm of any responsibility should she suffer a reaction mid-flight.

Jade Cosgrove, 21, (left) and her partner Dave King, 23, (right) were forced to spend two nights in Manila after Air Asia removed the pair from a flight that was set to leave for Bali

Miss Cosgrove (pictured) was ordered to return to the terminal after she refused to sign a waiver that would absolve the firm of any responsibility should she suffer a reaction mid-flight

Miss Cosgrove from Whitfield, Dundee said: ‘There was around a 30-minute delay whilst they decided what they wanted to do. 

‘They then asked me to sign a waiver and move to the back of the aircraft. They said they wouldn’t make an announcement about my allergy as they had done on a previous flight with them.

‘We needed to travel so we moved to the back but there were no seats and a crew member then told us we couldn’t travel but they would discuss alternative travel arrangements once we had disembarked.’

She added: ‘We were dealing with a member of staff who eventually said her shift was finished and left.’

‘Horrible experience’: The young couple (pictured) had been planning their trip for a year before plans were ruined

The firm also reportedly asked for proof her boyfriend (right) could operate an EpiPen – even though no certificate is required to administer the emergency device

Miss Cosgrove said she provided a doctor’s note at Air Asia’s request to prove she was fit to travel.

The firm also reportedly asked for proof her boyfriend could operate an EpiPen – even though no certificate is required to administer the emergency device.

She added: ‘I also emailed them in advance saying I have a severe peanut allergy and if they could put standard safety procedures in place such as making an announcement so other customers are aware not to consume peanuts while on flight and not serving meals containing peanuts.

Biomedical sciences student Miss Cosgrove and her boyfriend were then left in the airport overnight with no accommodation and only a voucher for another Air Asia flight.

‘I refused to sign all my rights away’: The waiver (pictured) that Miss Cosgrove was asked to sign by the airline

Miss Cosgrove said: ‘We were left to sleep in the airport without any onward travel arrangements or accommodation.’

Last night after Jade threatened legal action the couple were finally refunded their flight money and given a hotel room for their second night.

Air Asia has agreed to refund the couple in cash for both the flight to Bali and their onward flight from there to Bangkok.

However, the airline’s refusal to accommodate her allergy has set their holiday back two days.

Miss Cosgrove (pictured), who has suffered anaphylaxis in the past said every time you have a reaction it can get worse 

Miss Cosgrove said: ‘We’re now thinking we might have to cut out Bali altogether and just fly to Bangkok, because booking a flight at the airport is going to cost £200 more.

‘We’re getting a full refund in Filipino pesos after I said I was considering legal action. 

‘It’s been a horrible experience – we’ve been planning this trip for a year.

‘Every time you have an allergic reaction it can get worse – I’ve gone into anaphylaxis in the past.

‘I’ve made all the other airlines we’ve flown with aware of my allergy and they make an announcement on the flight to say there’s someone with an allergy on board and they’ve not sold nut products on those flights. 

‘Air Asia has refused to do any of that and I refused to sign all my rights away.’

Kris Taute, a spokesman for Air Asia, said the decision to remove the couple from the flight was in their ‘best interests’.

He said: ‘Because we are unable to guarantee an allergen-free environment, or that people won’t bring their own nuts on board, our ground crew determined it was not in the guest’s best interest to board the flight without seeking further precautionary advice.

‘As a low-cost airline, Air Asia is unable to rebook guests on alternative carriers.’

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