Does AA not allow you to check in online without being logged in to your profile?
Yes; however, when checking in while not logged in to the AAdvantage account, one has to enter the PNR. That, in turn, pulls up their profile including the passport information. I would think that depending on which passport they are going to use to enter their destination, it is possible change the passport information in their AAdvantage profile prior to checking in to a flight.