Originally Posted by newyorkgeorge

In the OP case, I'd call DL and try to go for the later flight. 3.25 hours, particularly collecting their dogs, can get eaten up really quick. I have found DL extremely accomodating with schedule changes. In three instances even though I was within the MCT, DL very eagerly agreed to put me onto later flights. In the most recent case DL changed me to a direct flight.