I need help from those experienced with Detroit airport

[hedgehog2owl]

in Detroit (Erie- Detroit Detroit-MCO) is a 31 minute layover enough? how spread out is the Delta/Northwest terminal?

 

[carrie1626]

My daughter flies Delta/NWA and transfers thru Detroit alot. (She's in college and we can't get her a non-stop.) We always try to get "short" lay-overs, but my daughter has said that the Delta/NWA gates are plenty and the terminal is large. Good to know if you're traveling with kids. She just flew back on 1/3/10 and checked her bag (carry-on size $15) because her lay-over was so short she didn't want to worry about that and her lap-top/purse.

 

[kahpets]

31 minutes will be close for any connection - depending on how far back you are sitting on the plane, it can take 10 - 15 minutes just to get off the plane.

The Delta/Northwest terminal is long, but they have a tram with three stops - one at each end, and one in the middle. I think the tram stops every two minutes. It looks kind of like the Monorail. I recommend taking the tram if your gate is far from where you are. I have "run" for my gate at times, because I had a tight connection and didn't have the patience to wait for the tram to come. It never failed - I would be running through the terminal, and would see the tram pass me every time . They also have people movers throughout the terminal, but the tram is definitely faster.

I used to travel often for work and spent many hours in the Detroit airport. I haven't been there in a couple of years, but I can't imagine it changed that much.

 

[marciemi]

I'd agree really iffy. If you're a single, healthy adult, more likely, but you still have to deal with getting off the plane and just getting there. And I agree it's a spread out terminal - good distance from one end to the other. And my experience is that NW (haven't flown much with them since becoming Delta) at least is it's not like they're going to hold your flight or anything for connections (unlike Midwest in Milwaukee where several times I've had a 20 min connection and they plan them that way and all the planes come in, are held, and head out then together). I probably wouldn't risk it with kids or anyone who doesn't want to take a risk on being stranded.

 

[DebbieB]

Erie-Detroit is going to be a regional jet, Detroit-MCO a full size jet. That means you will arrive on B/C concourse, take the escalator down, go through a tunnel, back up an escalator to the A concourse. Then find your gate on A concourse (it's very long). I link 31 minutes is really cutting it close.

http://www.nwa.com/travel/trave/airports/DTW.shtml

 

[hedgehog2owl]

yep, Erie will be regional jet, with 48 seats.


I know when I fly into Denver on a regional Jet, the rest of the concourse is practically MILES away. I feared it would be like that.
I will have my dd5 with me. sigh. I wish my dh would just drive us to Cleveland!

 

[ekmom]

That's a very tight connection! When my DD was in college at Michigan State (Go Green ) she flew Lansing to Detroit to MCO several times. That was a regional jet and she had to go from B/C terminal to A and the connection time was 45 minutes. She never missed her connection but it was close. Once she had to full out run to make it. Of course that was the time she sprained her ankle while at WDW and her run was more of a hobble!

 

[hedgehog2owl]

maybe we will hitch hike to Cleveland and catch a direct flight from there then ..................

 

[Kteacher]

Can't believe my luck in finding this thread! I'm flying BDL to LAS in March with a connection in Detroit (Delta/Northwest). It is for an NEA convention, and my flights were booked for me, unfortunately . I have a 32 minute layover which looks problematic at best .
So I'm guessing my chances of making my connection are slim to none????

 

[marciemi]

I don't think it's that bad - I'd give you 50/50!

Hopefully you're not traveling with young kids so that it won't be a big hassle if you did miss the connection. I'd at least look up what the next flight is so you can be the first in line to ask for it if you do miss it!

 

[Kteacher]

I'm traveling by myself, so that's one positive. I'd limit my carryon, but I'm afraid my luggage won't make the connection and I'll be in Vegas for aweek with nothing to wear.
There is a non stop at noon and another around 3 in the afternoon, so at least I have some options.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

That means you will arrive on B/C concourse, take the escalator down, go through a tunnel, back up an escalator to the A concourse. Then find your gate on A concourse (it's very long). I link 31 minutes is really cutting it close.

http://www.nwa.com/travel/trave/airports/DTW.shtml

That is one long tunnel. I had 40 minutes between flights to cover the route you describe and made it with about ten minutes to spare, but I was walking as fast as I could without breaking into a run.

 

[Kteacher]

definitely not my choice of connections, but since I'm not paying fpr the flights it's out of my control.

 

[DebbieB]

Can't believe my luck in finding this thread! I'm flying BDL to LAS in March with a connection in Detroit (Delta/Northwest). It is for an NEA convention, and my flights were booked for me, unfortunately . I have a 32 minute layover which looks problematic at best .
So I'm guessing my chances of making my connection are slim to none????

I checked today's flights, they are both mainline (full size jets) arriving/departing out of concourse A. Concourse A is very easy to navigate, if your connecting gate is at the other end they have an overhead tram.

That is one long tunnel. I had 40 minutes between flights to cover the route you describe and made it with about ten minutes to spare, but I was walking as fast as I could without breaking into a run.

You also have to deal with the psychadelic light show.....

 

[Kteacher]

So are my chances of making my connecting flight better than 50%?? I'm thinking of calling the NEA TA first thing tomorrow and pleading my case to get a different flight. These were just booked this afternoon.
Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[Sandi]

We frequently fly through DTW. 30 minutes is tight, but if you can move and your inbound flight is not late, you'll be better than 50-50. I think we've only missed a couple of tight connections in DTW. We had snowstorm delays that were the problem. If we'd actually had the 30 minutes, we'd have been okay.

The psychedelic light show in the tunnel makes me smile -- even if we're running.

 

[DebbieB]

So are my chances of making my connecting flight better than 50%?? I'm thinking of calling the NEA TA first thing tomorrow and pleading my case to get a different flight. These were just booked this afternoon.
Thanks for all the help so far!

What time does your flight arrive at DTW? If it's in the morning, I would keep what you have, they have several flights to LAS. If it's in the evening, I would be concerned.

 

[marciemi]

Kteacher - it sounds like you're coming into and going out of the same (albeit large) terminal. Especially with just you, unless the flight is late (and realize this would affect a 40 min or 50 min layover too!), you should be okay if you hurry.

The OP, however, sounds like they're coming in on a commuter plane with a child. I asked DH (who travels through Detroit for business probably once a week average) if he thought that was doable (he also comes in on a commuter) and he said "I wouldn't do it". Now, actually, he probably would because it would be business and if he missed the next flight, he'd charge the wifi to the company and just work from the airport. But he meant if we were flying to Orlando (or somewhere else we actually wanted to be ), hanging out at the Detroit airport wouldn't be a fun alternative!

 

[Kteacher]

thank you all so much for the help . I ended up changing my flight to route through Atlanta and then Vegas. I arrive a little bit later, but I'll have plenty of time to change planes.

 

[snowbunny]

Oops, never mind, outdated