What are the best practices for traveling with a dog to Thailand, especially regarding cabin vs. cargo hold options?

In the hold the dog is absolutely inside the carrier for the duretion of the flight, plus 2-4 hours longer from check-in to check-out.

Depending of the size of the dog, it could be possibel to have the dog outside the carrier, both at departure and arrival airports, or even during the flight

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I flied from Frankfurt to Bangkok via Lufthansa and my dog was in cabin. I would never ever put my dog to cargo. Everything went fine 👌

Lufthansa is the best for animal travel. If you’re transitting thru Frankfurt even better as they’ll get a break at the animal lounge. Brought 2 adult GSD’s here and would/will NEVER use another airline. On both trips the service crew went and checked on them for me. Wouldn’t want to bring them in the cabin even if that was an option. Waaaay too much stress on an animal if they’ve never flown or been in tight quarters with strangers. Zip tie treats and food to outside of kennel and find a good water reservoir that can’t tip/attaches to kennel. Unless things have changed make sure you’ve communicated everything needed to Thai authentic before leaving. And depending on your impending arrival time make sure you have a pet friendly van service either already hired or get ready to deal with the local cabbies potentially turning you away cauz they don’t want to deal with transporting animals.

We moved to Thailand with our cat, flew Korean Air as they had similar policy and would allow her to be in the cabin. Gave her anxiety medicine shortly before leaving for the airport. She was very quiet for the first half of the flight and then very upset for the second half. We offered food and water but she wouldn't eat sadly. Too scared 🥺 She did not enjoy the trip but she got here safely, all her documents were in order and we paid a small fee at the airport upon arrival and that was it! As long as your dog is small you should be fine

We travelled from Australia to Thailand with 2 shepherds and 2 cats, all in cargo hold and they were not stressed at all. We also used a professional pet transport company from Australia. well worth it. And yes keep your dog away from soi dogs, they all carry some disease. Make sure you keep your rabies and vacinations up too, and we treat our pet every month with Bravecto, it's a must.

We brought both of our dogs with us when we moved here. They both settled in well (we have a West Highland Terrier and a very large White German Shepherd). People also warned us about bringing our “non-native” dogs with us but they’re our family and our vet told us straight out the trauma of ‘abandoning’ them would likely be worse than any adjustment they’d need to make here. They’re both happy and healthy senior dogs (15.5 and 11 years old). So, of course you need to be mindful of ticks and staying on top of jabs, Nexguard etc the same as everywhere) but please don’t worry about that it is all manageable. We used United Pets to help with the necessary paperwork and bringing them to Samui for us (GSD is too large to fly hold with Bangkok Airways). Their details are below in case you need them:-

Joy Belle Llenado

Sales Manager

United Pet Express

Division of United Relocations (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

32/3 Bangna-Trad Soi 56, Bangna, Bangkok Bangna-Trad Soi 56, Bangna, Bangkok 10260

Tel: +66 (0) 2316 2391 ext 31 Fax: +66 (0) 2316 2394

Mobile: +66 (0) 81 899 1416

We just came back with our dog from Europe, a border collie that traveled with us in the cabin with no carrier because is a PSD service dog, while you are on the plane it's great but be ready to present all the right documentation in all the airports even if you stop for a connection...very stressful but worth😉

I’d post on Animal Travelers group!!

I’ve flown my (Thai) cat back and forth a few times (EU-Thailand) always in cabin. If any way possible always have your pet with you in cabin!!!

Make sure all the paperwork is in order, you’ll walk out of the airport with your dog, no problem.

Tick & flea drops, regular worm treatment and always keep an eye on the dog as it’s not used to Thai dog life, snakes, scorpions and other critters

Try asking here Bangkok Pet Lovers

@Linz ***********

I can't give you an exact answer on your queries, but I can share my story for additional courage.

I just finished moving with my 7yo English Bulldog from Poland to Thailand. We took the land route from Poland through Berlin to Amsterdam, roughly 14h in total. One day rest, then he flew in cabin with me from Amsterdam, through Singapore to Phuket with SIA, as ESA (sadly not an option anymore since April - but he was allowed to travel without carrier and was a star for the cabin crew). Train trip was tough, he was getting too bored, but plane flight went smoothly, he mostly slept throughout it without any accidents for 17h.

Definitely tire him out to maximum before flight for whole week, mild sedatives are OK also leading up to flight (i.e. CBD oil). IMO pet carrier is the more humane way - some dogs like cramped spaces as it gives them comfort in stress. Cargo hold is unpredictable, and it's a long journey, I would not put my dog in there ever.

If your budget allows it-consider going business class (I splurged out, as my meathead takes a lot of space, zero regrets despite big cost). The amount of space there (A350, especially if you score bulkhead seats) and privacy pretty much means you would be fine letting him out for brief period if he is unhappy a lot.

Thailand wise - it's not an easy country for foreign dogs. Heat and humidity is off the charts. Ticks did not stick to mine in a week, but Bravecto/Nexgard is IMO a good defence, also against other parasites. Soi dogs can be unfriendly to new dogs on the block - we met a pack of three so far on Ko Lanta (still keeping mostly around our house), but they didn't get too close and kept their distance. There are regions where I'd be more wary of walking my dog (i.e. Ao Nang, the packs there are a little too brave). Definitely try to have a good vet near your location (with emergency on-call option), and try to secure local means of travel in advance, otherwise you will get ripped off.

Any advices or questions you may have - feel free to DM me, we are still finding our way around Thailand, but despite it being a big challenge (even finding an accomodation is way bigger pain), it's manageable.

Lufthansa is best for dog travel

They don’t spray any liquid to calm down which is not safe, dont allow them to do if they but I got mine to India, they never do

If it’s small breed, you can keep them in ur seat as cabin otherwise they need specified crate for check-in, if the transfer is not more than 8 hrs, they don’t give food or take them out for walking, buy crate and bowl to keep food and water inside the crate

It’s emotional, don’t worry Lufthansa maintain temp for dogs so that they will be fine

You can also inquire to crew member after few hours to remind them that dog is in cargo area so that they can talk to captain to find out the temp and pressure of that area.

Hope s/he would reaches safely to Thailand

I brought 6 dogs recently in the hold. All did fine and as it was an overnight flight they slept most of the way. When they say hold, there is a specific climate controlled area for animals and most airline only allow 1 families pets on the flight so that there is no stress between the animals. Having relocated a couple of times now with animals I can guarantee it's us humans that stress more than the dog. My suggestion that you crate train them before you fly. I started 2 months before relocating. Also I ensured they had lots of exercise prior to the flights but as recommended i not feed them for I think 4 to 6 hrs before the flight. I cam from a country with lots of Rick's so have always maintained treatment for that. 1 thing that we that works for ticks is head and shoulders shampoo so out guys get bathed about every two weeks with that. And we also regularly check for ticks. The animals are always the last to be loaded onto the flight and the first off to reduce the stress for them. In some flights the cabin crew are able to go and check on them as well.. my guys have had no issues here in the last 6 mths since they arrived. There are also lots of vets here and it is an animal friendly country. I have been able to take some of them to cafes etc where we could sit outside with them. Hope that helps and good luck..

I have taken my dog from India to Manila in cabin and believe u me if ur dog fits the prescribed limit in weight for in cabin please take your dog with you in cabin. Try to get a flight maybe with a connection so u can get out and walk and maybe even feed your dog mid way. I have heard horror stories of dogs in the cargo hold and would never recommend that to anyone.

I would suggest reaching out to

@Relo*****

with any questions you might have, they are an excellent relocation service I have worked with multiple times 👍🏻

I flew London - Phuket with a cat and dog in the hold with Thai airways. They were absolutely fine and I think I was more stressed than they were. There’s a lot of paperwork to sort out and they may try to quarantine them on arrival, but we paid 2000 baht to avoid quarantine in true Thai style 🤣

They get sedated in the hold I believe, so should be stress free, although I suppose it could be sedated in the cabin too, I guess it's down to the cost.

I can understand you want to bring your dog & if you’ve visited Thailand many times I’m sure you are aware of the situation here with dogs. But don’t let that deter you. Many people walk their dogs along the beach and most strays love a bark, but not always brave. Always recommend bringing her excess baggage drop her off checking in & she will still go in hold. I was told they spray a spray to calm them, but won’t be so stressful.. you can collect her where you collect baggage. Your going to worry anyway! I’m not sure about being in the cabin I think it depends on weight and size including carrier cage like you say - but that would be very stressful for you if she starts barking. Cargo are dropped off 4 hrs prior flight then you’ve got flight, then collection other end. As previous person says Tic’s are rife when walking & are not good. Nexgard spectra is widely used. Just have to keep on top of everything. Allow months prior to arriving in Thailand for paperwork and bloods.

Tick treatment is essential ( like in many countries!) so as long as you keep up to date with that and have a good vet here, the dog should be fine.

Travel: My dog flew from Phuket, to Bangkok, to UK. In the hold. He was fine.

My son's Thai dog flew via Bangkok, Amsterdam, NY, to Panama. In the hold. And at 12 he did Panama to Europe and after a month flew Frankfurt to Atlanta. All in the hold. He was just fine.

Please keep in mind that animals that are not native to this area have a very difficult time here. You have to be very cautious and keep them separated from local dogs and tics are everywhere. You have to check them throughout the day to make sure they don't have tics. We once picked up our dog from the airport here and the cage was upside down, god knows when the last time he got water. Anyway, we had to send him to go live in America as he didn't cut it out here as now the tics have left him with life long issues.