many including myself had short layovers to their next flight creating a rather boisterous crowd at the gate. the no mechanic on duty got some rather unpleasant comments.
i was given a choice of hanging out another 5 hours in Des Moines or getting on the plane when it was finally cleared 45 minutes late.
i took the risk, the plane landed 20 minutes before the Alaska bound plane on the extreme other end of the large MSP terminal.
so a 50 year old guy who had much liquid and little sleep for the past 4 days then had to run with a 30 + lb pack a very long ways arriving at the gate out of breath and huffing badly just in time to board the plane. as i waited to get on i was glad some of that liquid was of the very high octane level, and may have boosted my horsepower just enough to make it in time.
i only hope the others in similar situations made their flights too. some had less time than me.
i slept most of the way on the plane from MSP to Anchorage.
