Originally Posted by EkekoBWI

Just when I thought I knew the game well, I find myself stumped.

I have a friend's mother in GRU (Brazilian national who has rarely traveled internationally) who wants to visit SEA in late Jan or early Feb.
Routing can be GRU/SEA and return...or GRU/NYC with SEA/GRU

1. I want to exclusively use AA award miles, but can be convinced to use UA
2. If the value is better, will consider Business (for example, 57.5k for business seems like a better value than 30k for Economy.)
3. She'll have heavy bags returning to GRU (lighter coming in)
4. If transiting NYC, needs to be the same NYC airport (no EWR to JFK)
5. No long layovers at a single airport--there's routings that have her sitting in the airport for 10+ hours, which she won't do
6. She doesn't highly value lounge access
7. She would like assistance navigating airports
8. Since the trip happens in the dead of the US winter, I assume I'd want to minimize connections and transiting East Coast / ORD
9. No preference on day of week for arrival / departure

Huge and complicated list, I know. Hoping for some help soon. TIA.