‘I am afraid to sit beside an angel doll,’ Thai Smile told

Ghoong posted in her complaint on the airline’s Facebook page that she found the dolls, known as “luk thep”, scary and did not want to sit next to one while travelling. Her post followed a Thai Smile regulation in its internal memo that allows doll owners to purchase a separate ticket in the doll’s name. 

It said the rule was in response to demands from passengers travelling with their beloved “child angels”. 

Some passengers carry the dolls on board as luggage, but refuse to put them under the seat or in the overhead compartment as required due to their faith and beliefs. This is why the airline had to come up with the new rules.

Ghoong also asked if the airline realised that it also had other passengers, many of whom were afraid or uncomfortable to sit next to, in front or behind these dolls. 

The airline said the owner of the doll has to purchase a separate ticket for their dolls, much like they would have to for sports or musical equipment that is too large for the aircraft’s cargo. 

“Since passengers check their seats at the check-in counter, they can opt for another seat or row if they do not want to sit next to a luk thep,” read the answer. 

Meanwhile Cheng Tah Shiun, a Malaysian based in Thailand, said he had seen people carrying these dolls on the streets even before the phenomenon hit the headlines. 

“Once I was walking on a street near Democracy Monument, I saw a woman pushing a baby trolley. I thought there would be a real baby inside, but when I got closer, I saw it was a doll... That was scary.” 

He said he would be scared to find a doll sitting next to him, as most of these dolls were human-like and he was very afraid of the black magic linked to these toys. 

Jirapon Chavalitcheewin, a doll lover, said she believes the luk thep phenomenon will soon disappear like other things that go viral for a period of time then fade away. 

“The luk thep dolls are nice, but I find those with mystical tattoo frightening,” she said. “We have to be aware that the issue is just a publicity-seeking exercise for the benefit of the business of some groups.”