Seeing that you really did not need a passport, I think that all United owes you is a refund of any increase in fare and the change fee.

All you deserve is the benefit of the doubt that there were no more seats on domestic routings to your destination at the fare you paid at the time you booked.

The airline might not catch every instance of fliers booking circuitous routings to rack up miles or segments. But if you are caught or even if the airline cancels a flight on you, they can get you to your destination expeditiously and owe you no more than miles for what you flew.

One of these days airlines might, when possible, offer a more direct earlier arriving routing at no extra charge if they discover unnecessarily circuitous routings. If you refuse, your trip record will be annotated that in event of a flight delay you won't get a free hotel room or meals under rule 240.

Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm

Many years ago (ca. 1984) I was advised that, coming back from a trip to Canada, my drivers license was not sufficient ID, but a birth certificate was. Once I was questioned at the airport prior to return since I had no ID except the drivers license, but eventually was allowed to proceed. I still remember one of the questions they asked, "Where did you go to kindergarten?".




[This message has been edited by AllanJ (edited 07-10-2003).]