Changing planes in Detroit?

[Nicoal13]

Hey everyone,

We're going to Disney on September 6th and I just got a call this morning that our flight was canceled.

We were supposed to leave Milwaukee at 7:25am on a Midwest flight, nonstop to Orlando.

Now they only have a non-stop flight at 3:45pm. So we lose our whole first day which we had planned on doing maybe a couple rides and dinner after checking in to BWV.

But, I can get a refund and take a Northwest flight that leaves at 7:15 and stops in Detroit for 36 minutes. I've never been to the Detroit airport, and am wondering if that is enough time to get to our next gate?

Also, we're traveling with out 3 year old DS and have never done a non direct flight with him before. Any advice?

I don't want to lose out on our first whole day at Disney and we can't fly out a day earlier.

Oh and the Northwest flight is about $100 cheaper, so we'd come out ahead that way as well.

What would you do?

Thanks!
Nicole

 

[jodifla]

It's tight, but doable. If they are offering that, then it must be an acceptable turnaround time.

Try to find out even before you get off your plane where your gate is. Sometimes, the FAs know or have a list.

The NW terminal in Detroit is basically one REALLY long terminal, served by a skytrain that goes up and down it.

How much carrying stuff will you have?

 

[Nicoal13]

We'll probably have 2 small bags and a stroller that we plan on gate checking.

I'm also worried about our luggage getting lost in the transfer.

 

[bear_mom]

When we fly from a smaller airport with a layover in Detroit, we usually have to change concourses. Smaller planes tend to gate in concourse B and then you have to travel through a tunnel to get to concourse A. Then you can have have a long walk to find your gate. Concourse A has something like 76 gates and the tunnel puts you in the middle. I would say if you were one of the first ones off the plane, it might be doable.

Emily

 

[snels]

We fly through DTW on many of our flights.

Find out what kind of plane you are on. If you are in a CRJ (small jet) or a SAAB, you will land in the B or C concourse and go to the A. That will mean a hike through the long tunnel connecting the B & C concourse with the A.

Once you get in the A concourse, there are trams that are available. We find that it takes 15 to 20 minutes for us to reach our gate in the A concourse. Of course, we always seem to have the gates that are the longest distance.