Originally Posted by
pfreet
I really don't understand why airlines require this. In my experience, they always check the passport again before the international leg. Having to wait in line twice for this process is absurd IMO.
There is no US law requiring airlines to check passports for the domestic leg of a trip that connects to an international flight. It's purely airline policy that they prefer to check passport/visa validity at the initial check in.
A few years ago I flew UA PHL-IAD-KWI-GOI on a work trip (single ticket, not two separate tickets). My passport was still getting the India Visa in DC when I departed PHL. It took a bit of convincing the agent at PHL, but they ultimately allowed me to board PHL-IAD. I rented a car at IAD, picked up my passport (with visa), drove back to IAD, and boarded the flight to KWI. Of course, this was UA, not AA.
All that said, I think the surest and least stressful option by far is to just have the OP's passport overnight shipped.