What a dismal performance by UA.

The original poster should get the full ticket price for all passengers refunded for what was a trip in vain and his Newark and New York City hotel nights and ground transportation from/to EWR reimbursed.

But even that is woefully inadequate. In my opinion, UA ought to also provide compensation in the form of complimentary round-trip business-class tickets for a future trip from BNA to JNB or CPT for the party of five to truly make amends.