hi mark
nonrev connecting in dubai is quite easy. normally your luggage should be checked through so you just need to go to a transfer desk for your onward flight and hopefully you'll get your seat at the gate. if you need to pick up your luggage,at the check in area, there is a (chaotic) staff check in counter for staff and you'll have to wait there until your flight is called. as far as i know dxb-bkk-dxb is one of their best going routes and nonreving on this route might get tough-i even saw a letter to ek-staff to avoid bkk during summer months and tg acutally has an embargo on that routing from june until end of august. so try to have a plan B when going bkk-dxb or vv.