I’m actually flying with my bunny for the first time in a few weeks over Christmas. It’s going to be a 2-part flight, about 8 hours total but we’re flying to my parents’ house where we’ll be staying for about a month. The return trip will be about the same length. I’m flying United, which is the one major airline that allows bunnies. Otherwise I would have gotten a nonstop but the only airlines that offer that don’t allow bunnies. The one exception is if your bunny is an emotional support animal, he or she can fly for free with you on most airlines.
The pet in-cabin fee was $125/way for domestic travel in the US, but I’m sure there are other fees and regulations for international travel. They only allow a certain number of carry-on pets per flight so make sure you call ahead before you book and make sure that flights you want are available. You can book the pet fare over the phone after you book. There may be a mandatory quarantine period, etc. that you should look into ahead of time since you’re coming from Italy. The US doesn’t require shots for bunnies but any vet documentation you have of spay/neuter, good health, or vaccinations might make things easier. Definitely look into that.
I’ll update you on how things go, but I’m planning to make sure she eats and drinks as much as possible beforehand so she stays hydrated through the flight. We’re buying a new airline-approved carrier that has lots of ventilation (and a little window on top so I can stick my hand in and comfort her if she’s upset), and I’m bringing her fleece blanket that we keep in her pen that she likes to relax on so she has something familiar with her. Also planning to bring dried apple slices (her favorite treat) to give her after I have to pull her out and carry her through the security metal detector. I’m going to have hay, pellets, and greens available to her in the carrier throughout the trip as well as a water bottle. Basically the idea is to make her as comfortable as possible and have some familiar items in there with her so she feels somewhat at ease.
We’re also trying to take her on car trips more often now to get her used to travelling. I think it’s definitely helped as she used to shake and cower in her carrier when we had to bring her to the vet, etc. but now that she’s more accustomed to it she tends to relax after a few minutes.
It’s also a good idea to have simethicone (baby gas medicine) on hand once you get there in case your bunny shows signs of GI stasis, which can be caused by the stress of the flight. It’s a good thing to give your bunny as soon as you notice something’s wrong – it’s still important to get them to the vet ASAP but it can help in the time it takes to get there.
Good luck figuring everything out – I’m flying out December 14th so I’ll update you after that.
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