Next week, we're flying to GRU on United and connecting to an Azul flight to Uruguay. This is all part of a single PNR and we are United 1Ks. Not yet sure if we'll be in Premium Plus or Polaris on the United flight.

We plan to carry-on our bags, but if we decided at the last minute to check a bag, can United tag a bag all the way to PDP and will it be transferred between United and Azul? Anyone care to fathom how reliable the baggage transfer is between United and Azul?

I think Azul leaves from a different terminal than where the United flight arrives. Do we need to go through Brazilian immigration or can we stay air side to transfer from the United arrival terminal to the Azul international departures terminal?

Lastly, we have a 2 1/2 hour connection in GRU. Is there a lounge we can use in the Azul terminal as a *Gold?

Any other advice on the United/Azul transfer is appreciated.