Travelling with severe allergies

Allergy buffer zones

If you have a severe allergy, let your carrier know well in advance of your travel but, at a minimum, 48 hours before your departure.

You can ask your carrier to establish a buffer zone around your seat. This means that:

• you will be seated in a bank of seats where the allergen is not located and that does not face a bank of seats where the allergen is located; and
• other passengers sitting in your bank of seats will be notified that there is a passenger with a severe allergy (without identifying you). They will also be told what you are allergic to so that they don't consume or use products that could trigger your allergy.

You can also ask to pre-board and clean your seat to remove potential allergens. You should be aware that:

• there may be restrictions imposed by the Canadian Air Transportation Service Authority (CATSA) on the types of cleaning supplies that can be brought onboard in carry-on baggage; or
• your carrier may have a policy of providing the cleaning supplies themselves.

It is important that you bring any allergy medications that you might use, such as epinephrine auto-injectors and other prescription and non-prescription medications, in your carry-on luggage and make sure that you can quickly access them.

You may also want to bring your own food onboard if you have a food allergy.