After 2.5 hours of delays in SFO yesterday we missed our connection in Houston to Quito. The airline put us up in a hotel in Houston for the night and booked us on a new flight. The first flight they booked us on was the same flight the next day which meant 24 hours in Houston - oh no! But, after making friends with a very nice gate agent, she got us booked in business class on United at 7am (rather than 6 pm) on a flight to Panama connecting to Quito on Copa Airlines. We arrive in Quito at 5:30pm rather than midnight from the flight they originally booked us on. Since we are in Business class, we are at the airport now eating breakfast in the United Club.  Just an hour until boarding and we can resume the trip.