Hare in the Air

A bow-tied bunny boards a business-class flight

rabbit in airline seat
”(I wonder what the poorer rabbits are doing right now.)”

It was late 2018, and Takako Ogawa and her rabbit Coco were ready to start a new life. The former Google employee was about to fly home from San Francisco to Japan to become CEO of a data firm, and of course Coco had to come along with her.

But Ogawa couldn’t bear to stow Coco with the luggage, so she paid an extra fee to be allowed to carry Coco in a crate under her seat. Dressed up for travel in a smart bow tie, Coco settled in for the 11-hour flight.

But then Fate gave her an upgrade. When the cabin crew told Ogawa that the seat next to her would be empty, she let Coco out of her crate to savor the perks of business class. Soon Coco had her own seat, with a soft luxurious pillow, a delicious croissant to nibble, and an adoring coterie of flight attendants taking turns to visit the precious passenger.

rabbit and pillow
”You don’t have anything with tassels? Fine.”

“She was very curious and was hopping around,” Ogawa told Metro. “She’s usually very good. She’s very calm being surrounded by people and in a different environment, so she took it really well.”

rabbit nibbles croissant
”No champagne for me. It makes me binky.”

But the best part of the flight? A decadent dessert for the pair to share. “When I got my own ice cream sundae, the flight attendant looked over and asked if the rabbit wanted anything,” said Ogawa. “I wasn’t sure what the rabbit could have, but she got some of the toppings like almonds and nuts and they put it on a very small plate for her.”

rabbit looks at nuts
”Well, maybe a little champagne to wash it down…”
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16 thoughts on “Hare in the Air

  1. Luv Bunny January 19, 2020 / 8:40 am

    I’m sooo glad, Ogawa was able to take that very, beautiful, soft, grey (hared) Rex rabbit, Coco, with her to their new home. All buns deserve to go first class. Coco looked relaxed and so dapper with her smart bow tie (better dressed than probably some hoomins). I know everyone may not be able to take their dear pet with them when they move and I would be devastated if I had to leave mine behind.
    Coco reminds me of my once, grey, Rex bun, Benjamin, that I still miss very much.

  2. Julie January 19, 2020 / 9:23 am

    I love that she dressed up her bunny for the flight!❤️

    • allein 🐾 January 19, 2020 / 9:35 am

      It’s like a throwback to the 50s.

      Coco is too cute, with or without the tie.

      • allein 🐾 January 19, 2020 / 9:37 am

        I’m a little disconcerted by the ad I got below this comment for shoes with a gray furry lining…..

      • Faye January 19, 2020 / 10:15 am

        Yes! I was born in 1952. My family flew to California once and Montreal often into the 1960s. People (we) got dressed up to travel! But there was never a bunny on any of our flights. So I feel deprived.

        • AJ January 19, 2020 / 10:26 am

          I was still dressing up to travel into the 80’s especially for international flights – skirt outfit, nylons and dress shoes. But then again my mother was vedy proper British Canadian lady and insisted that was the only way ladies traveled. Nowadays I try to strike a happy medium between dressing to the nines and the new fashion of total slob that seems to prevail on flights.

          Oh, and bun bun is very dapper. I wouldn’t mind having her as a seat mate on a long haul flight. It must have an international airline as I know our US based airlines would never have allowed Coco out of her carrier. Probably a Japanese one such as ANA or JAL, as bun is very Kiwaii (cute in Japanese)!!

        • allein 🐾 January 19, 2020 / 11:12 am

          I’m sorry you had such a difficult childhood. 😉

          And sorry, but if I’m gonna be stuck in an airplane seat for hours, I’m going to be dressed as comfortably as possible, which for me usually means jeans and a t-shirt/sweater. (That said, I haven’t flown in years and didn’t enjoy it when I did. But an unexpected furry seatmate would certainly help.)

          • dubravkamcvmd January 19, 2020 / 11:53 am

            Back in the day airplane travel wasn’t the packed-into-a -sardine-can torture it is for us hoi polloi now. Getting into the most comfortable thing possible wasn’t a necessity.

          • sugitomo January 19, 2020 / 8:36 pm

            Ditto! I’ve flown on10+ hour flights since a kid,so it was all about what is easiest to get on and off when I’m stuck in the horrid smelly box they call the toilet, and what is least likely to have dangly parts that touch something I don’t want. :/

        • AB January 19, 2020 / 11:12 pm

          My husband and I are flying to Orlando to visit Galaxy’s Edge. On the flight over we’ll be “bounding” as Jyn and Cassian from Rogue One. Vests, boots, scarf and “kyber” crystal for me.

          Yes, we’re dorks. When I showed my husband what I’d put together for bounder outfits, he asked what I had for him. I’ve never been more sure I hit the jackpot of guys.

          • Not That Mike The Other Mike January 20, 2020 / 1:31 am

            Are you familiar with the boarding system for the Rise of the Resistance attraction? It’s not a traditional queue, from what I read. I can share some links if you need them.

            • AB January 20, 2020 / 7:05 am

              Yep! Virtual boarding groups. Everything is so high tech these days! We did Disney just a few years ago and it was like the dark ages in comparison.

  3. 6rabbits January 19, 2020 / 11:07 am

    Okay…how do I upvote this 9 hundred times? That should be a feature, right??

    I also would have trouble putting my bun in baggage, esp. for that long of a flight! I am so glad this bun had a better outcome.👍🏼☺️

  4. Debg January 19, 2020 / 4:22 pm

    Such a sweet bun. I’m glad Coco got so much love on her trip!

  5. Dulcie January 19, 2020 / 7:42 pm

    What an amazing thick coat on this bunny!

  6. sugitomo January 19, 2020 / 8:36 pm

    If I were a flight attendant and had a bunny to tend to, too bad all you humans….you would get no service the entire flight.

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