Parents of girl, 9, with allergy may lose £19k dream holiday over sandwich
A family could lose their £19,000 dream holiday to Florida because Virgin refuse to take egg mayo sandwiches off the flight menu.
The parents of a nine-year-old with a life-threatening allergy claim the airline won't stop serving the filling on the way to America - despite the fact it could kill her.
Dolly Fisher was diagnosed with an egg allergy when she was three, which is so severe that she carries an epi pen and could go into anaphylactic shock if she's in the same room as one.
Parents Carly-Jane and Craig, both 43, forked out the huge sum for a holiday to Walt Disney World Florida next month as a treat for Dolly, twin Betty and brother Freddie, 12, reports BerkshireLive.
Dolly Fisher was left crying in the airport (Kennedy News and Media)
The family's plans were left in ruins (Kennedy News and Media)Law firm manager Carly-Jane claims she contacted Virgin in February to find out what meals they would be serving on the plane to make sure it would be safe for the schoolgirl to climb aboard.
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She says they said told her that egg mayonnaise sandwiches would be served in the last two hours of the flight as part of an afternoon tea and Carly-Jane asked them to swap them for a different option.
However Carly-Jane claims Virgin told her it wouldn't be possible to change the menu on one flight without changing it on all flights globally even after she explained that the situation was 'life and death'.
In an email sent even after the worried mother explained about the severity of her allergy, Virgin refused and said that egg mayonnaise with chives on white bread would be served in afternoon service.
After being contacted by journalists, Virgin told Carly-Jane that egg mayonnaise sandwiches would not be on the April menu for economy, where the family will be seated.
The nine-year-old has a severe egg allergy (Kennedy News and Media)
She was recently rushed to hospital after suffering a reaction (Kennedy News and Media)However they are still serving the egg sandwiches in premium and upper class flights and say those menus cannot be altered.
Meanwhile the parents remain 'sick with worry' that they may suddenly not be allowed on the flight on the day - saying their 'whole holiday rests on an egg mayo sandwich'.
Carly-Jane said: "We have to find out what they're serving every time we fly because she could potentially die. She goes into anaphylactic shock. It's awful, horrific. Her throat closes, she coughs, her airways close up.
"It's the resistance that you get. There's no want to help or find a solution, it's very black and white. Half of the battle is they say they can give her other food. The allergy is so severe, it's airborne so it can't be anywhere on the plane.
"Egg is in a lot of things but it would be in its purest form if it's in an egg mayo sandwich. Our hands are tied."
The couple claim that they were left with the option of getting a flight with a different airline from Manchester at an extra cost of £800 and risk egg also being served on that flight or missing out on their holiday and the £19,000 they paid.
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Her family are still desperate to go (Kennedy News and Media)
But they need Virgin to have a change of heart (Kennedy News and Media)Carly-Jane said: "No one will tell you what they'll serve on the flights. I contacted the airlines and no one could tell us so we can't make an informed decision.
"If we don't get the flight, we lose £19,000. We've got a flight with easyJet before and they went above and beyond so it can be done.
"Why do people with a peanut allergy be afforded any more protection than someone with any kind of life-threatening allergy?
"I hadn't worked for five and a half years and I went back to work to pay for this holiday so the children haven't seen me for ages.
"We're dreading having to tell her we might not be able to go. I can't sleep at night, I feel sick."
Craig is meeting with an allergy specialist to see if there are any medications or masks available that would limit the risk of Dolly going into anaphylactic shock on the nine-hour flight.
Dad Craig feels it will be simple to flip the sandwich filling (Kennedy News and Media)
Dolly was diagnosed with an egg allergy when she was three (Kennedy News and Media)Carly-Jane said: "As soon as they announce that one of the options will be an egg sandwich she'll panic. The flight is over the Atlantic and there's nowhere to divert.
Craig added: "We'll do anything to limit the threat. We're looking into noise cancelling earphones so when they announce the food options it doesn't put her into anxiety."
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: "The safety of our customers is always our top priority, and for special food requirements we ask customers to seek advice from our Special Assistance team in advance of booking.
"We are able to offer various meal options for customers with religious or medical requirements such as kosher, diabetic meals and vegan meals. For allergies we would strongly encourage customers to take all necessary precautions including bringing their own meals on board and to prepare for the possibility of inadvertent exposure.
"On this occasion, we were able to seat the family at the back of economy, away from the meals being served in Upper and Premium which contain eggs as well as ensuring all cabin crew are aware of the allergy whilst also advising the family to bring their own food onboard."
Reacting to the news that the sandwiches will still be in upper and premium class, Carly-Jane said: "They said egg sandwiches will still be in the upper classes but we would be moved further down the back at the plane - it not the most ideal solution but it limits her risk.
"It's the only option we really have. I'm hoping that by creating a buffer zone as such around her with her mask and antihistamine it will be enough."
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