Offbeat

Thai airline to sell seats to passengers’ ‘supernatural’ dolls

Thai Smile Airways will serve snacks to ‘spiritualised’ Luk Thep dolls onboard flights

The new superstitious trend among Thai people involves carrying, talking and caring for factory-manufactured ‘Luk Thep’ dolls. Photograph: EPA/Narong Sangnak
The new superstitious trend among Thai people involves carrying, talking and caring for factory-manufactured ‘Luk Thep’ dolls. Photograph: EPA/Narong Sangnak
Tue Jan 26 2016 - 14:11

A Thai airline will allow passengers to purchase seats for life-like dolls that their owners treat as real children due to their belief that they possess supernatural powers.

Thai Smile Airways, which is a part of national carrier Thai Airways International Pcl, said in an internal memo that dolls with tickets will be served snacks and drinks, though they will be barred from sitting in exit rows.

Owners who take dolls on the plane without tickets will have them treated as carry-on luggage.

Thai Smiles Airways has told its staff to sell passengers separate seats for their dolls and to serve them snacks. Photograph: EPA/Narong Sangnak
Thai Smiles Airways has told its staff to sell passengers separate seats for their dolls and to serve them snacks. Photograph: EPA/Narong Sangnak
The dolls will not be allowed to sit in exit rows, according to an internal memo distributed to the staff of Thai Smiles Airways. Photograph: Christophe Tophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images
The dolls will not be allowed to sit in exit rows, according to an internal memo distributed to the staff of Thai Smiles Airways. Photograph: Christophe Tophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

ในช่วงระยะเวลา 1 เดือนที่ผ่านมา พบว่ามีลูกค้านำ 'ตุ๊กตาลูกเทพ' มาทาน Neta Grill Buffet เป็นจำนวนมากกว่า 30 เคส และยังมีล...

Posted by Neta Grill on Saturday, 23 January 2016

The dolls, known as "Luk Thep", or "Child Angels", have become increasingly popular in Thailand after several celebrities spoke about their benefits. The dolls, which can sell for hundreds of dollars, are thought to possess the spirits of child angels and their owners pamper them with brand-name clothes and accessories due to the belief that a well-cared-for doll will bring good fortune.

READ SOME MORE

The memo from the airline explains to staff that the Luk Thep dolls can be treated like children because they have undergone a "spiritualisation" process that breathes life into them.

In addition to being barred from exit rows, the dolls must also buckle up during take off and landing.

A Bangkok buffet restaurant is also running a special for the dolls. "In the past month, more than 30 customers have brought their Luk Thep to eat at Neta Grill," the restaurant said on its Facebook page Sunday.

“Neta Grill is open to all worshipers and we’re glad to serve Luk Thep at children’s prices on the condition that all of the food ordered is consumed.”

Bloomberg