Don Mueang traveller denied Malaysia flight over stamp

A foreign traveller says he was stopped from boarding a flight from Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport to Malaysia after staff decided his passport was damaged because it carried a souvenir stamp from Peru's Machu Picchu.

According to the traveller, airport staff checked the matter with Malaysian authorities and told him that the passport could not be accepted for the flight.

The account has prompted questions about souvenir passport stamps, and about how the same document was apparently accepted when the traveller entered Thailand.

Souvenir stamp led to refusal

The traveller initially posted a video describing the experience, but later removed it after attracting criticism online.

Some commenters questioned why a non-official souvenir stamp had been placed inside an official travel document. Such stamps are often offered at tourist attractions, but passports are government-issued documents intended for official immigration endorsements and visas.

For travellers, the case is a reminder that an airline can refuse boarding if it believes a passenger's documents may not be accepted at their destination. A ticket and a valid visa, where required, do not necessarily guarantee that a carrier will allow a passenger to fly if there are concerns over the condition or markings in a passport.

Entry to Thailand remains a question

Online users also raised a separate point: if the passport was judged damaged at Don Mueang, how had the traveller used the same document to enter Thailand?

The traveller's account does not answer that question. It is not clear when he arrived in Thailand, which border point he used, or whether immigration officers had noticed the Machu Picchu stamp.

Anyone concerned that a passport could be seen as damaged should contact their embassy or consulate and their airline before going to the airport. Replacing a document can take time, and an airline's decision on the day of travel may leave little scope to resolve the issue before departure.

Picture courtesy of Khoasod

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18 August 2026

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