DH said he was asked to call a number when he tried getting his boarding pass at the kiosk. it was the person on the phone who was unable or unwilling to help him. one of the agents (physically there) finally helped him

I can believe that. I don't know who answers when you pick up the phone at a United airport kiosk, but the last time I had to do so (a couple of weeks ago) I reached someone who was similarly unhelpful--asking such useful questions as "where are you?" and "what are you trying to do?" and then ultimately telling me to see one of the agents at the counter.

Can the kiosk be used when it is not a United e-ticket? Am guessing that it might work if DH had the United record locator, or if DH gave his Mileage Plus number when booking with travelocity and then entered it in at the kiosk.

AA kiosks allow you to search by name and destination or by simply swiping any card, a CC, an airline elite card, or any card that has the magnetic strip on the back with your name programmed on it, so no, you don't need a record locator. I'm pretty sure all the kiosks work the same way, otherwise there would be thousands of confused travelers walking around airports.

Well, there are at least hundreds of confusted traveloers walking around airports, it seems.

The UA kiosks work the same way, but I haven't used one with a non-United issued e-ticket. Figured that the system would be able to find the ticket based on FF# or UA confo number, but I guess it is just a name match. I have used a cc at the kiosk different from the one that purchased the ticket.

Don't know about you, but when I saw the title I thought it said "treated poorly by the airlines if you are a transvestite?"

omg LOL alanrow!