Apart from all the pre-flight issues: rabies test, chip, proof of ownership, right crate, dog passport with all listed vaccinations, paperwork......it was a nightmare for our Labrador-Mix.
At the EU-airport we had to remove everything out off the crate. Security checked everything, then we were not allowed to leave water and some food for him. We've been told the flight crew would do it. We said then Good Bye to our companion 10 y.o. He was calm because he trust us.
We booked a direkt flight with him together. He was on our ticket actually..
In BKK it's easy to collect, just next to the luggage belts.
However,.........we were shocked: The crate was broken. Our dog tried to bite through the crate. No drinking water inside, no food. Fluffs bleeding.
It was a Thai flight. Nobody responsible. What else do you expect? It took more than a week for him to forget bad experience. We then booked a van for us alone to Chiangmai. The driver stopped regularly every 2 hrs. and I told him not to exceed 100 km/h. He was a very, very good driver!
How does he cope with the heat and other dogs?
Well, the heat seems to be not the biggest problem. Sure, he needs his rest and always water to drink. Same as we do.
With other dogs it's a bigger problem: Our dog is somehow socialized. So he did not expect aggressive and deadly soi dogs. Most time when we are outside our plot he is on a leash, whereas Thai dogs never had. And always I walk with a good bamboo stick in my hand to defend my friend when necessary. I got pepper spray always in my pocket.
At the beach our dog can run free. So I chance it every day for at least 2-3 hrs.
Well, as I said this flight was horrible.
However, another flight from BKK to EU also with Thai was perfect. No stress for the dog, no jet lag, no psycho problems.
Judge yourself.