Originally Posted by KenInEscazu

I have never quite understood why my passport is required at the original departure point when connecting to an international leg. UA always, always, always verifies the passport before boarding that final leg to the international destination, so what does it matter where I have my passport until I am ready to board that final leg?

Originally Posted by vkykam

Except that the risk isn't the passenger's at all; cost of return transport is the responsibility of the carrier (in this case, UA), and they can be fined quite severely too.

UA is in the right here regarding the passport. As for the UM and nonstop flight issue, that's a sword that cuts both ways, and that's the policy they've chosen.

That being said, at the airport, the agents could have offered to change their itinerary to drop the first segment (and perhaps a refund due), and if the OP had enough miles, to then have the child be put on the same flight with award miles. But maybe that's too creative and customer centric these days...