Thank you for the responses. GenevaFlyer, when I read your reply I realized I did not update my profile this year and unfortunately my Delta status is gone. With my current job I have no hope of getting it back by September

So it seems that if the flight is not oversold I have no shot at the earlier flight. I just realized that I will be on the A380 so my son should get a kick out of that, did I mention he will be 4? That will make running as you suggested all the more fun. Hopefully we get met at the gate, if not it looks like another 3 hours to the next MAD flight.