Some People Just Aren't Nuts About Peanuts

Travelers aboard Southwest Airlines may someday have more choices to abate their hunger besides the usual fare of peanuts.

Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the airline is considering selling food items on its flights to "improve the customer experience" and increase revenue. "We're kicking around the idea, among a lot of ideas we're looking at. We don't have any specifics, and there aren't any plans to implement it anytime soon," he said.

For years, the low-cost airline has kept fares low partly by refusing to provide frills such as in-flight meals, becoming infamous for its small packages of peanuts served as a snack enroute. But with the economy taking a toll on ridership, Southwest is exploring other ideas to boost revenue.

Actually, serving food is not a new idea for Southwest. Two years ago, ANN reported airline officials were considering the idea, as well as charging for priority boarding and assigned seating -- which, so far, has failed to materialize.

After last year's merger of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, the introduction of peanuts as a snack food aboard Northwest flights resulted in an outcry of opposition, most pointedly from those allergic to them.

Over 3 million Americans suffer some form of allergy to peanuts or tree nuts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most severe reactions can lead to difficulties with breathing, hospitalization, and in rare occurrences, death. Even a small amount of peanut dust introduced into the air can lead to a reaction, if an allergy sufferer is seated nearby.

FMI: www.southwest.com