Detroit airport - connection time?

[MickeyMickey]

Anyone familiar with Detroit's airport? Looking at a flight with a 40 minute connection time, wondering if that is cutting it too close?

Thanks!

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

In my mind, that's cutting it too close no matter which airport you're talking about!

DTW is not that large, but that would be too much stress for me.

 

[dvcfanatic]

Which Airline? DTW has two terminals. Northwest/Delta/Continental fly out of the McNamara Terminal Which is larger than the other. If you are using 2 different airlines and you have to switch terminals then that would be cutting it to close. But I don't think 40 minutes is too bad.

 

[VAN]

Detroit actually has three terminals.

A and C are connected by a long underground tunnel. A itself is quite a long terminal and has an overhead tram that runs end to end with only (I think) one stop in the middle.

The North terminal opened last September and most of the low-cost airlines fly out of there (Spirit, Airtran, SW, etc).

Soooo .... if your flight arrives on time and your next flight is a bit delayed, you will probably make it. If you think you will be arriving and departing from gates at the same terminal and they are near each other, you will probably make it.

If you are coming/going just within the North terminal, I think you would be okay.

Iffy, iffy ... if you like to live on the edge, go for it.

 

[DebbieB]

If you are going NW full size jet to full size jet, it is a piece of cake. If you are going from a regional jet to a full size, then you have to go down through a tunnel which makes it longer.

 

[prncess674]

If you are going NW full size jet to full size jet, it is a piece of cake. If you are going from a regional jet to a full size, then you have to go down through a tunnel which makes it longer.

Totally agree that if you are on NWA on a full size just 40 minutes is easy peasy and you even have time for a coke and a pee break.

If you have already booked don't sweat it. Sure things COULD happen but I have also seen 3 hour connections evaporate and lose my connecting flight, no sense worry about every little mishap.

 

[MickeyMickey]

It is NWA regional jet to large plane

 

[VAN]

Wear comfortable footwear (so you can run) and try to get a seat near the front of the plane on your first flight. Also it might help, if your flight gets delayed to speak to the flight attendant. I have seen them, upon landing, ask everyone to stay put to allow those with tight connections to deplane first.

I just checked a NW flight we have booked (with FF miles) for December ... we have a 45 min layover in Minneapolis. It's on the way home, but still would like to make the connection.

 

[pk1959]

I'm hoping it's enough time since I have the exact same 40 minutes as you do for a flight next month. I'm really not worried about it. Hopefully it works out well for both of us. Good Luck.

 

[Plasticletters]

It is NWA regional jet to large plane

if it's NWA to NWA it honestly should not be a problem no matter what the size plane.

 

[bgirl29]

We have had a 40 minute connection in Detroit where our first flight left 20minutes late and our next plane was waiting for us. And no the gates were not right next to each other.

 

[Tara]

if it's NWA to NWA it honestly should not be a problem no matter what the size plane.

Well, yes, it can be. Probably not, but the smaller, regional jets fly out of a different terminal than the larger jets.

I frequently fly a particular route through Detroit that is the first flight out in the morning and has a 36 minute connection in Detroit. The first flight is usually on an Airbus A319 or A320 and the connection is on a CRJ. The first flight arrives at the A terminal (usually somewhere between A10 and A20) and the second one leaves from either B or C, meaning I have to walk through the tunnel that connects A to B/C. B and C are the same long building, with B on one half and C on the other. I usually have just enough time to go to the bathroom (quickly, if needed!) and walk briskly to the next gate.

It sounds like you'll be doing just the opposite, going from B/C to A. With no delays, you should be fine.