Random Question.

[Elena Niznik]

Does anyone know if it is possible to transport rabbits via plane.?

 

[dmh426]

I’ve done it before on a few flights from NYC to Nashville. The rules are specific though. In the United States, there is an extra fee to fly a pet and they must be under 10 pounds to fly in the cabin and there is a limit as to how many animals are in the cabin. Technically, the rules when I have flown are that the animal must stay in the carrier, on the floor, at all times. But, when you have a cute bunny I’ve noticed that this rule can be broken. I have actually taken her out of her carrier and put her in a baby snuggly across my chest with a baby blanket over her. The flight attendants knew I was doing this, but I wasn’t advertising it and it wasn’t creating a problem so no one said anything. Other times, you can almost always open the carrier and put your hand in a pet the bunny once the flight is in the air and the seatbelt sign goes off.

Warning though, I would go to the vet and get a bunny sedative. It is a very scary thing for them and the sedative just takes the edge off….

[osprey]

I will second that.  We have done cross country rescues where the buns travel in a carrier in the cabin (SHAMELESS PLUG:  read about one here http://www.therabbithaven.org/Molokai.htm)

The cost was $50 US, and I think each airline handles it differenctly.  Security is a bit of a pain, as you can see in the article.

[Lucy]

I know that southwest will not carry any pets

[dmh426]

Damn Southwest adn JetBlue. I loooove U.S. Airways. I think it was $75 but I almost always fly them and the flight attendants always coo over the baby.

As far as security, it is a total pain! Because rabbits in the United States are NOT required to have shots, and most people don’t know this, you can bet on it that security people are not only going to make you take off your shoes but ask you repeatedly for the bunny’s “papers”. To solve this problem, I (legal eagle that I am) typed up a detailed statement and had my vet sign it that Sophie was in excellent health and a couple other specifics, breed, age, name, my information, the vet’s information and stated that she was “safe to fly”. I then brought my friend (a Notary Public) with me who watched the vet sign it and notarized it. (something tells me that they wouldn’t have accepted my notary stamp on it!) Let me know if you need this. I made it a a form and have given it to a few people before as a Word document. Security is the roughest part. It’s loud and they will probably want to take your bunny our of the carrier and send the carrier through the x-ray machine. I have also had Sophie “petted” down, yeah, this is fun let me tell you. The guy wanted me to relinquish her so that he could take her to another area and “inspect” her. I basically told him to take a flying leap and that I wouldn’t allow her to be mandhandled because she pees when she gets nervous. We were allowed to go to our gate shortly thereafter. hahahaha.

[Elena Niznik]

Thanks dmh that could come in handy.

Im still deciding what to do. And I will probably contact the airline directly before I book anything. Thanks for your help guys mucho appreciated.

[poopy]

haha ya, gotta make sure you didn’t make sophie ingest a ticking bomb beforehand

[wendyzski]

Where and how the bunny rides is up to the airline.  However, bunny will have to go through security. 

I did a 6-month gig as a trainer for TSA screeners so I can provide some insight on the security issues…

If they are doing it right, they will ask you to remove the bunny from the carrier and send the carrier through the X-ray machine.  You will then walk through the metal detector holding the bunny.  If there is an alarm or if the screener feels it is needful, they may subject both of you to "additional screening" which can mean a hand-wand or a pat-down at the discretion of the screener.  At no time should you be asked to relinquish the bunny, though they may ask you to take your hands off it so they can make sure you are not concealing anything. 

If at any time you feel the screener is unsure or requests something you are not comfortable with,  you may request to see a supervisor, and they must comply.   The Supervisor will have the final word on any procedures.  If your bunny gets nevous, you may want to accept a "private screening", where you, your bunny, a screener and a supervisor will go into an area out of view of the public while the screening takes place.   This might  be quieter and less stressful for your bunny.

In the course of my training, I had to learn how to pat down a dog, because a service animal’s harness will set off the alarmand you need to pat them down to make sure there is nothing else hidden in their fur.  There are several pages of guidelines in the SOP about how to properly screen a service monkey, and I once tested a screener who had once needed to pat down a service pony.

[BinkyBunny]

GREAT INFORMATION!!  And dmh426, that was a smart move to have "papers" to hand over.  

[Gravehearted]

Delta and Continental accept in-cabin rabbits. Delta may charge small fee, and on Continental a rabbit in a carrier counts as a carryon bag. Reservations are a must, as the number of in-cabin pets is usually quite limited. Most of the airlines do not accept rabbits as passengers.

Since you live in Scotland – I’m not sure which airlines will allow you to fly with your bunny.

[Elena Niznik]

Thanks gravehearted, I would be flying via air New zealand. I Have contacted them detailing my travel plans and I also requested a detailed copy of their pet travel policy, im waiting on a response.

I will let you guys know what they say and thanks alot for your help.

[Gravehearted]

I just checked their site and it doesn’t look good, I’m sorry to say 🙁

http://www.airnz.co.nz/travelinfo/baggageinformation/travelling_with_pets.htm

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