Subject: MANAGEMENT OF PASSENGERS 

WHO MAY BE SENSITIVE TO 

ALLERGENS

Date: 12/31/02 

Initiated by: AFS-200 

AC No: 121-36 

Change: 

1. What is the purpose of this Advisory Circular (AC)?

This AC provides guidance regarding air carrier passenger handling procedures for allergensensitive people, including the importance of crewmember training in recognizing and 

responding to medical events that result from allergen exposure. 

2. Does this AC relate to any existing ACs? 

It relates to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AC 120-44A, Air Carrier First Aid Programs, 

AC 121-33, Emergency Medical Equipment, and AC 121-34, Emergency Medical Equipment 

Training (http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/cabinsafety/acidx.cfm), which may be good reference sources. 

3. What FAA regulations does this AC cover? 

Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121, subpart N and subpart X. 

4. Who should read this AC? 

Parts 121 and 135 air carrier certificate holders and part 125 certificate holders and others, 

directors of operations, directors of safety, directors of training, crewmembers, aviation medical

equipment suppliers, aviation medical training providers, airline passengers who may be 

sensitive to allergens, and FAA aviation safety inspectors (cabin safety and operations).

5. What are allergic reactions? 

Allergic reactions occur when a person’s immune system inappropriately reacts to a substance 

that is harmless to most other people. 

6. What types of substances may cause an allergic reaction? 

Many substances may cause a person to have an allergic reaction. Some of the most common 

triggers that may cause an airline passenger to have an allergic reaction are:

Certain types of food (such as peanuts, shellfish, milk, and eggs). 

Medication 

Insect bites 

Dog and cat allergens 
AC 121-36 12/31/02 

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7. What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction? 

There are varying degrees of allergic reactions. Some symptoms may be very mild, such as a 

rash, hives, a runny nose, or sneezing. Some allergic reactions may be very severe. Exposure to 

allergens may trigger asthma attacks in some people. In other people, exposure to allergens may

cause an extreme allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. 

8. What is an anaphylactic reaction? 

An anaphylactic reaction is a sudden, severe allergic reaction that may involve various systems of 

the body (such as the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system). It

can be life threatening.

9. What are the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction? 

The most important symptom of anaphylaxis is difficulty in breathing frequently first seen as 

hoarseness and requires immediate, aggressive treatment. An anaphylactic reaction may begin 

with a tingling sensation, itching, or a metallic taste in the mouth. Other symptoms may include 

a rash, hives, a sensation of warmth, asthma symptoms, swelling of the mouth and throat area, 

difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, a severe drop in blood pressure, and loss of 

consciousness. Symptoms may occur within minutes to several hours after contact with the 

allergy-causing substance. 

10. How common is it for an airline passenger to experience a severe allergic reaction while 

in flight? 

It is an extremely rare occurrence. Researchers from the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

issued a report based on a study that considered 1996-1997 data on passenger and crew medical 

events. This report, published in April 2000, titled “The Evaluation of In-flight Medical Care 

Aboard Selected U.S. Air Carriers: 1996-1997,” covered about 20% of U.S. airline passengers. 

The study showed that 2.4% of the in-flight medical events were allergic events and there were 

no deaths associated with these events (http://www.cami.jccbi.gov/aam400A/Abstracts/Tech_Rep.htm).

11. What types of allergen sensitivities generate the greatest concerns for airline 

passengers? 

The two types of allergies that appear to generate the greatest passenger concerns on commercial 

aircraft are sensitivities to peanuts and animal allergens. People who are severely allergic to 

these substances (or parents of children who are severely allergic to these substances) are

typically very responsible at monitoring their environment to avoid exposure and taking

appropriate action if symptoms from exposure occur. For those people, the unique environment 

of an airplane passenger cabin can present certain challenges. 
12/31/02 AC 121-36 

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12. What can I do to prepare for my flight if I am a passenger who is severely allergic to 

peanuts? 

If you or your child has an allergy to peanuts, contact your allergist/physician before your trip to 

discuss travel-related risks and ask if you should carry medications with you. Treatment of 

peanut allergy typically consists of avoiding accidental ingestion of peanuts and recognizing and 

managing early symptoms of an allergic reaction. In the case of life-threatening allergies to 

peanuts, your doctor may advise you to carry an epinephrine auto-injector and oral liquid 

diphenhydramine to immediately and aggressively treat a reaction. If you choose to carry an 

epinephrine auto-injector, make sure that you have a professionally printed pharmacy label with 

the device to satisfy the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport security

requirements. If a reaction should occur during the flight, follow your doctor’s treatment 

instructions. If necessary, ask a flight attendant for assistance. 

There are some airlines that do not serve peanut snacks and there are some airlines who are 

willing to accommodate your request to serve a non-peanut snack on your flight. You can also 

carry peanut-free food with you. You should call an airline’s reservation number to get specific 

information for that airline. Even if no peanuts are served on your flight, however, no airline can 

guarantee a peanut-free flight. There may be peanut ingredients in the meal or other passengers 

may carry peanuts onto the airplane with them. If you or your child is contact-sensitive to 

peanuts, consider wiping down the surfaces immediately surrounding your seat (such as tray table 

and armrests) with a disposable wipe and inspecting the floor and seat area for peanut residue 

from previous flights. 

The Aerospace Medical Education Division of the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

maintains a website with information regarding passenger health and safety, as well as helpful 

links to other websites that contain information on this subject (http://www.cami.jccbi.gov/aam400/PassengerandS.htm).

13. What passenger handling procedures can we, as an air carrier, put in place to respond 

to passenger concerns about peanut allergies? 

As discussed in question number 12, it would be impossible for you to create a peanut free flight. 

However, you can take several steps: 

Educate your personnel regarding the basis for passenger concern in this area. Acute 

symptoms predominate in allergic reactions to food. Allergies to peanuts account for the 

majority of fatal and near-fatal anaphylactic reactions. 

To accommodate peanut-free food requests, review systems that you may already have in 

place to address special passenger dietary needs. 

Train your crewmembers to respond quickly and properly to a passenger who may be 

experiencing an allergic reaction (if you choose to have crewmembers medically assist 

passengers).
AC 121-36 12/31/02 

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14. What can I do to prepare for my flight if I am a passenger who is severely allergic to 

animal dander? 

If you suffer from allergies to animals, you should check with your physician before your trip to 

discuss travel-related risks and ask if you should carry medications with you (such as an inhaler 

or oral medications). In the case of life-threatening allergic reactions, your doctor may advise you 

to carry an epinephrine auto-injector in order to immediately and aggressively treat an

anaphylactic reaction. If you choose to carry an epinephrine auto-injector, make sure that you 

have a professionally printed pharmacy label with the device to satisfy TSA airport security

requirements. If a reaction should occur during the flight, follow your doctor’s treatment 

instructions. If necessary, ask a flight attendant for assistance. 

You can reduce the chance that there will be an animal in the cabin on your flight. You can fly on 

an airline that does not allow pets in the cabin. You can ask the reservations agent for your 

airline if another passenger on the same flight has made reservations to travel with a pet. For 

more information on pets in the passenger cabin go to: 

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/cabinsafety/pets/pets.htm

You will, however, still be exposed to animal dander on every flight even without any animals in 

the passenger cabin. This is because most animal allergens are carried into the cabin on the 

clothes of other passengers. In addition, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has rules

(http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/airconsumer/rules/382SHORT.htm) that require airlines to allow 

passengers to fly with their service animals in the cabin on all U.S. airlines. Service animals are

not pets. They are working animals that assist persons with disabilities. There is no limit to the

number of service animals that can be on any flight. 

15. What passenger handling procedures can we, as an air carrier, put in place to respond 

to passenger concerns about animal allergies? 

As discussed in question number 14, it would be impossible for you to create a flight that is free 

from animal dander. However, most modern aircraft have design criteria that will help alleviate

the problem of aerosolized animal dander. Zonal airflow in the passenger cabin and the use of 

high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) can mitigate and localize the effects of animal 

dander in the passenger cabin. In addition, you can: 

Educate your personnel regarding the basis for passenger concern in this area. 

Develop flight attendant procedures to respond to passengers who are concerned 

about sitting near an animal. These might include reseating the passenger with a pet 

to another seat on the aircraft that is removed from the passenger with allergies or, if

necessary, provide another flight as an alternative to the passenger with the cabin pet. 

In the case of a service animal (which is not a pet), you can provide a reasonable 

accommodation to the passenger with allergies. For example, you can offer to move 

them to another seat on the aircraft, or, if necessary, provide another flight as an 

alternative to the passenger with allergies. 
12/31/02 AC 121-36 

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Train your crewmembers to respond quickly and properly to a passenger who may be 

experiencing an allergic reaction (if you choose to have crewmembers medically

assist passengers). 

16. How can air carrier personnel recognize when a passenger is having an allergic

reaction?

Symptoms of allergic reactions can include itching or burning sensation of the skin, difficulty in 

breathing, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), 

frequently preceded by hoarseness, can produce shock (a severe drop in blood pressure) and lifethreatening respiratory distress. As we said before, it may include hives, itching, a sensation of 

warmth, asthma symptoms, swelling of the mouth and throat area, difficulty breathing, vomiting,

diarrhea, cramping, a drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. Many times the 

passenger is aware of the condition, but others may recognize the signs and symptoms of an 

allergic reaction. 

17. How should flight attendants respond to a passenger who is having an allergic 

reaction?

As necessary, the flight attendant should, depending on air carrier policy and procedures: 

Notify the captain 

Request medical assistance and provide support to the medical volunteer, if one is 

available 

Initiate communication with ground-based medical assistance, if applicable 

Assist the affected passenger in retrieving their own medication 

Allow the passenger to administer their own medication 

Administer medical-use oxygen

Monitor and maintain airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs) 

Communicate and coordinate with the flight deck 

18. What type of medical equipment is onboard to help respond to a passenger who is 

having an allergic reaction? 

Medical-use oxygen is available on board to assist a passenger who is experiencing an allergic 

reaction. In addition, the emergency medical kit (EMK) on board the aircraft contains 

medication that may be used by a medical professional who responds to a call for medical 

assistance and/or on the advice of ground-based medical personnel (as per company policy and 

procedures). Flight attendants are required to be familiar with the contents of the EMK and be

prepared to show a list of the kit contents to a qualified medical professional who responds to 

help with any in-flight medical event (see AC 121-33, Emergency Medical Equipment, at: 

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/cabinsafety/acidx.cfm).

19. Why is the FAA issuing this AC? 

The FAA is issuing this AC in response to one of ten recommendations the National Research 

Council (NRC) issued in its December 2001 report entitled “The Airliner Cabin Environment 
AC 121-36 12/31/02 

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and the Health of Passengers and Crew.” The NRC conducted a study and issued this report in 

response to the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century 

(PL106-181). In response to recommendation 5, the FAA indicates that it will issue an AC to 

address issues associated with airborne allergens. 

/s/ 

James J. Ballough 

Director, Flight Standards Service