Passport mixup leaves woman in the lurch while traveling

KATY, TX (KTRK) -- A Katy woman was planning on spending three weeks with her elderly mother in the Philippines. But passport problems cut the trip short.

In January, Elizabeth Lacap went to the Philippines to see her mother.

"She is going to be 90 years old in 2016," said Lacap.

Unfortunately Lacap mistakenly took her husband's passport to the airport when she traveled.

When she gave it to the Korean Air ticketing agent at Bush Intercontinental Airport, no one noticed. "And I get my boarding ticket," said Lacap.

Lacap then went through TSA security line with no problem.

Lacap even changed planes in Seoul, South Korea, and still no one caught the passport problem.

But once Lacap landed in the Philippines, officials in that country DID notice.

"As soon as they looked at the passport and she told me it does not look like a lady or a woman," said Lacap.

Lacap was sent home the next day.

She knows the mistake was hers, but she feels the airline shares part of the blame, too, for issuing the boarding pass. When Lacap asked for return trip or a refund she was told no. So she called Eyewitness News.

A week after we contacted Korean Air the company issued this statement. "The subcontractor that performs the various ground handling services for Korean Air at George Bush Intercontinental Airport has assured us that it is taking immediate corrective measures as a result of this incident..."

And then the airline added this: "Although all passengers are legally responsible for having all necessary travel documents and complying with governmental entry and exit requirements for international travel, we will voluntarily be replacing Ms. Lacap's ticket."

"Thank you Jeff, Thank you, that's nice" said Lacap.

Korean Air says they are taking this situation seriously and retraining the subcontractors here in Houston. As for the TSA, the agency said it's not sure what form of ID Lacap used at the checkpoint, but added passengers go through many layers of screening before being allowed to fly.