A Washington State woman has filed a complaint with the Department of Transportation, alleging that she and her eight-year-old son were removed from an Allegiant flight after requesting accommodations for the child’s severe nut allergies. The incident reportedly occurred because a flight attendant insisted on selling snacks containing cashews to earn commission.
The family was traveling on July 7 from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Tampa, Florida. According to the complaint, the gate agent initially agreed to check whether cashews or pistachios would be served on the flight but did not follow through. A flight attendant confirmed that such snacks would be served but agreed not to serve them upon request. However, another crewmember—identified as “Flight Attendant B”—became upset at this decision.
Flight Attendant B allegedly mocked Shelton and her son, announcing that Allegiant had no obligation to create an allergen-free environment and that cashews would indeed be served. She stated that she earns a commission on snack sales and removing the family would allow her to sell the cashews.