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A British mother says her family was initially barred from flying to Thailand after airline staff claimed a faint sticker mark had damaged her son’s passport. Meghan Law, 33, an NHS nurse from Aberdeen, was due to fly from Edinburgh to Phuket on 8 October with her two children for a two-week, £3,000 holiday booked through TUI. At the Qatar Airways check-in desk, staff flagged 13-year-old Alix Dawson’s passport as “damaged” due to a leftover sticker mark.

 

Law said the mark was not on the photo page, and the passport had no rips or tears. The family had used it on more than a dozen previous trips without issue. After being told they could not travel, Law was advised to go to Glasgow Airport to apply for an emergency passport, causing immediate concern over potentially losing the entire holiday.

 

Tour operator TUI reviewed photos of the passport and confirmed there was no problem, rebooking the family on the next available Emirates flight from Glasgow to Thailand. Law said a same-day one-way flight would have cost £2,800, making TUI’s intervention crucial to saving the trip.

 

The family completed their holiday without further passport issues, using the same document on multiple flights without problems. Law suspects Qatar Airways may have been overbooked and used the passport issue as a reason to deny boarding. She described the experience as distressing, noting the lack of compassion at the airport and said she believes compensation is justified.

 

Law has vowed never to fly with Qatar Airways again and urged other travellers to check their documents carefully, even for minor marks. Qatar Airways has been contacted for comment, but have issued no statement.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• The family was initially denied boarding due to a sticker mark on the son’s passport.

• TUI intervened, rebooking the family on a different flight and saving the holiday.

• The mother plans to avoid Qatar Airways in future and seeks potential compensation.

 

  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from TheThaiger  2025-11-09

 

 

 

 

Stopped with my 12 year old who washed her passport the night before we flew!!!

 

The photo (laminated in those days) had all but fallen out.

 

Took an hour, but finally received a letter from Border Patrol allowing us to travel......phew!

 

 

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 Qatar Airways has been contacted for comment, but have issued no statement....Qatar Airways are " Ruthless " Once they've had Your Money,YOU Ain't getting it back.....I Would Never Fly with them EVER Again either !!

I recently had an issue at Gatwick with Qatar Airways, who inflated a minor issue and wouldn't let me board, even claiming that they had contacted Thai immigration to validate their stance when the issue related to my ticket and had nothing to do with Thai immigration. I had the appropriate re-entry permit in my passport. The check-in staff and management were rude and obstructive throughout. I too suspected an overbooking issue as I had an Airmiles ticket and was therefore considered expendable. They are also on my 'never again' list!

1 hour ago, BCEagle77 said:

I recently had an issue at Gatwick with Qatar Airways, who inflated a minor issue and wouldn't let me board, even claiming that they had contacted Thai immigration to validate their stance when the issue related to my ticket and had nothing to do with Thai immigration. I had the appropriate re-entry permit in my passport. The check-in staff and management were rude and obstructive throughout. I too suspected an overbooking issue as I had an Airmiles ticket and was therefore considered expendable. They are also on my 'never again' list!

I think I've just dodged a bullet!

I just booked my flight on Emirates (as I usually do) for my upcoming trip. Before booking, I looked at other airlines including Qatar.

Due to the cost saving being very small, plus inconvenient timing plus no limo offered, I stuck with my "old friends" Emirates.

 

Another phew! 🤔

6 hours ago, Blueman1 said:

 Qatar Airways has been contacted for comment, but have issued no statement....Qatar Airways are " Ruthless " Once they've had Your Money,YOU Ain't getting it back.....I Would Never Fly with them EVER Again either !!

Neither would I. Very unimpressed with Qatar.

Troll post & reply removed 

 

@trucking

On 11/9/2025 at 5:15 AM, Georgealbert said:

Law has vowed never to fly with Qatar Airways again

 

She's not the only one