UA 842 GRU-ORD re-route.
UA 842 from Sao Paulo to Chicago. Mechanical problem prevents ability to load baggage. Rather than cancel the flt, UA put the bags on a DC bound fight scheduled to leave one hour later. In order to satisfy the FAA condition that all passengers travel with their bags, UA 842 is re-routed to DC, effectively tailgating the DC flight and keeping us with our luggage!
everyone to clear customs and immigration in DC, claim and re-check bags and then back on to Chicago or wherever their connections re-route. Writing this from the DC RCC, so we'll see how it turns out but its looking like a 4 hour delay for those traveling to ORD and a lot of confusion for connectors.
One lucky winner: a woman who's final destination was DC but had to connect thru chicago to use miles. She got a non-stop out of the deal.