Newlywed banned from flight at PHL because of damaged passport

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Imagine showing up to the airport to take your dream honeymoon and being told you can't board the plane because your bent passport is too damaged. That's exactly what happened to a Philadelphia couple, setting the newlyweds back 4 days and $1,200 dollars.

Now, the local bride is sharing her expensive experience with Action News to save others from potential heartache.

Carly Baker and her new husband Chris Fee just celebrated their dream wedding in Center City last Friday.

They spent two years saving up for their dream honeymoon.

The newlyweds packed their bags and headed to Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday, Europe bound.

However, Baker soon found out she was banned from boarding her US Airways flight.

Why? Because of a little thread hanging from her passport.

Baker was told it looked used with the seams splitting and other signs of damage.

She tried another airline agent, who snipped the string off and told her it was fine.

But the first clerk already put her on a no fly list

Heartbroken, the couple had to regroup. She got a new passport and they rebooked and rescheduled their hotels and flights - spending almost $2,000 dollars to get back on track.

US Airways did change their international flights with no penalty, but is standing by the decision to turn down the initial passport.

The airline says that the State Department has rules on damaged passports that they have to abide by.

Action News received a text from the newlyweds on Wednesday and they say they finally arrived in Crete to begin their honeymoon.