I'm planning a trip to São Paulo for late autumn. My options are to go through Dulles, Newark, O'Hare, or Houston. I could also save $1,000 and fly via Houston and Panama City on Copa.

Copa seems like a bad move: longer trip, domestic first seats on the 737s.

US Airways to Rio involves and outdated 767. The other Star partners, TAM and Air Canada, were up to double the cost of flying on United.

The Newark flight is an old-style 767-400, and the Houston flight is a 767-200. Both have outdated, less comfortable BusinessFirst seats. I just went to Buenos Aires, and I did manage to sleep, but this time I have many more choices.

The O'Hare and Dulles flights are on pmUA equipment. My question is: do I want to pay the extra $500 each way and spring for "Global First" and fly via O'Hare or Dulles. Since the flights leave late (after 9 going out, after 11 coming back) is the service "abbreviated" and thus not worth it?

GlobalFirst has the advantage of a lovely seat, and it is a long overnight flight. The service distinctions aren't so clear, but I definitely don't want to pay a premium for an "abbreviated" late night departure service.

Continental was always generous: if you left late at night from Argentina, Brazil, or Israel, they shortened the service by tossing the appetizer on to the salad or skipping the cheese cart (they still had cheese), but they didn't skimp in other ways. I don't know what happens on the "new" United.

What would you do?