There is zero availability for "O" fares on the pmUA flights, so I'd be gambling if I wanted to get in to Global First.

If flight 31 (Newark) is likely to be a flat bed 767-400, yippee! The fares are expensive but not prohibitive. There are plenty of seats, there is an arrivals lounge at São Paulo, and I wouldn't have to double connect. Perfect!

US Airways is a backup plan; glad to hear it's an A330. The advantage is that I could actually fly to Congonhas, but that means another connection, another airline, and I might be better off sucking it up and dealing with Guarulhos.

TAM would require a complex trip and double connections to go via Miami. If you try to buy it off of the TAM web site, it puts everything through Chicago on United.

Copa has dreadful connections. The outbound includes an overnight in Houston. Definitely not worth the cost savings!

Thank you for all of your advice. I'm looking forward to visiting my friends and family in Brazil.