Hi all,

I want the opinions of experienced fellow EU travellers on this situation (happened to a non-frequent-flyer friend).

He has been denied boarding and removed from a flight from the US to Europe (after being checked in via web) by the baggage drop-off staff of KLM, due to his passport being in bad shape.

The Italian consulate says the passport is worn out in a way which is normal for that type of passport, and the TSA would have accepted it with no issues.

Is this person entitled to denied boarding compensation and reimbursement of ticket?

My opinion is as follows:
- the only reason the airline needs a passport for is to identify the traveller
- the secondary reason is to check the person can enter the destination country without being deported
- my friend is a EU citizen, so he doesn't even need a passport to re-enter Europe, see: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/...15010.en06.pdf art. 3.1.1 and following
- the TSA as the other concerned agency was OK with the document

Therefore boarding was denied without cause and compensation is due.

Thoughts? Cases you've seen happen?