Please help a Flying Newbie from DTW

[meachell13]

We have never flown so I'm trying to make sure I cover as many bases as possible before going on our trip in 38 days so I don't look like a complete idiot and drive all the jet-setters crazy I known about what I can't take on a carry-on and my bag size from Delta's website. I booked my flights through Disney when I made my reservation package.

Do I need to check-in online for the airline? Do I have to print something off and where do I find that? We are checking a bag, when/where do I do that? I read that some people check the bag online too and then drop it off right outside the doors or something? Is that safe? Or should I take it inside and take it to the counter? I also think I heard someone say that the you can get your boarding pass at the airport?

any help is deeply appreciated! Especially if you have experience at Detroit Metro.

 

[Brian Noble]

You do not need to check in early. You can, but it doesn't save you too much time if you are also checking a bag. When you arrive at the airport, will you be dropped off, or will you be parking? if you are dropped off, you will be right outside the check-in desk. If you park, you will come in one floor down from the check-in desk, and will need to go up a set of escalators.

When you get to the main check-in floor, general domestic check-in is to your left. To your right is elite and international. You print your boarding pass(es) at a self-check kiosk, and then get in line for a bag drop. If you like (i.e. if the line is too long) you can also drop your bag off outside. This is perfectly safe, usually a little faster, but you will want to tip the skycaps who check in your bags. $2-$3/bag is good, but I never tip less than $5 total.

 

[meachell13]

We are getting dropped off. Our flight leaves at like 8:20 in the morning so if we were going to do the self-kiosk for our tickets..how do I get them for my two kids? They will be 4 and 2 when we go......

Also when do you think we should get there to check the bag and go through security... I was thinking about getting there around 6:30....is that enough time?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

To make things easier for you I would check in online the day before your flight and print off you boarding passes at home. You can check your kids it as well and print their boarding passes as well. When you check in the board pass will appear on the screen just click you printer icon to print the passes..

You can also pay for any baggage fees that you will be charged at the same time you check in. When you arrive at the airport all you will have to do is drop you luggage off at the the luggage drop area at the Delta ticket counter.

Here is the info from Delta site regarding luggage
Want to check in for your flight and pay for your bags before you arrive at the airport? Within 24 hours of your departure, you can tell us how many bags you will check and pay any fees quickly and easily online. When you arrive at the airport, you can drop off your checked baggage at the nearest baggage drop, marked with red "Baggage Drop" signage, or curbside check-in station (available within 6 hours of departure time). You may also check your bags at the airport kiosk, ticket counter, or curbside; however, please note that higher checked baggage fees will apply if paid at the airport.


Also wanted to mention when you are in line for security have your boardpasses and ID in hand to show security. Take everything out of your pockets and put it in your carry on. If someone is wearing a belt have them take that off too so that it does not set off the metal detector. Remove your shoes and place them in a bin to be placed on the belt for the security scanning machine. If you have any 3 oz liquid containers make sure you put them in a quart size ziplock bag before leaving home. You will need to take the that ziplock bag out of your carry on and place it in a bin to go on the belt to go through the scanner.

When you fly home the Orlando airport has the body scanners and you will have to remove "everything" from your pockets. Even if it is not metal you will have to remove it. Including a wallet, kleenex, gum ect.

 

[Brian Noble]

When I'm traveling with my kids, I generally like to arrive at DTW at least 2 hours prior to departure. This gives me *plenty* of time, but we like to grab breakfast at the National Coney Island.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

We fly out of DTW and we also arrive 2 hours ahead of time for a flight. It seems there is a rush in the morning and the security lines can sometimes be long. It is better to be safe and have some time to wait at the airport.

 

[meachell13]

To make things easier for you I would check in online the day before your flight and print off you boarding passes at home. You can check your kids it as well and print their boarding passes as well. When you check in the board pass will appear on the screen just click you printer icon to print the passes..

You can also pay for any baggage fees that you will be charged at the same time you check in. When you arrive at the airport all you will have to do is drop you luggage off at the the luggage drop area at the Delta ticket counter.

Here is the info from Delta site regarding luggage
Want to check in for your flight and pay for your bags before you arrive at the airport? Within 24 hours of your departure, you can tell us how many bags you will check and pay any fees quickly and easily online. When you arrive at the airport, you can drop off your checked baggage at the nearest baggage drop, marked with red "Baggage Drop" signage, or curbside check-in station (available within 6 hours of departure time). You may also check your bags at the airport kiosk, ticket counter, or curbside; however, please note that higher checked baggage fees will apply if paid at the airport.


Also wanted to mention when you are in line for security have your boardpasses and ID in hand to show security. Take everything out of your pockets and put it in your carry on. If someone is wearing a belt have them take that off too so that it does not set off the metal detector. Remove your shoes and place them in a bin to be placed on the belt for the security scanning machine. If you have any 3 oz liquid containers make sure you put them in a quart size ziplock bag before leaving home. You will need to take the that ziplock bag out of your carry on and place it in a bin to go on the belt to go through the scanner.

When you fly home the Orlando airport has the body scanners and you will have to remove "everything" from your pockets. Even if it is not metal you will have to remove it. Including a wallet, kleenex, gum ect.

If you check the bag online and drop it off in a bin, they come a grab bags constantly to get it to the right place or someone throws them into the belt to get down to the planes? There is a bin inside somewhere right that we can just toss them in? I'm all for not having to wait in lines with the kids as much as possible.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you check the bag online and drop it off in a bin

"Bag Drop" is a manned location inside the airport---no bins, but sometimes lines. Just follow the signs, and if you ever are unsure, ask any Delta rep for help; there are usually several stationed outside the various lines to help you do what you need to do.

To avoid the line, you can check outside, but that's manned as well, and it would be appropriate to tip those folks, as mentioned.

 

[meachell13]

"Bag Drop" is a manned location inside the airport---no bins, but sometimes lines. Just follow the signs, and if you ever are unsure, ask any Delta rep for help; there are usually several stationed outside the various lines to help you do what you need to do.

To avoid the line, you can check outside, but that's manned as well, and it would be appropriate to tip those folks, as mentioned.

Thank you so much! Hoping everything will go smoothly!

 

[kneemeister]

If you come in from the garage or off site parking shuttles, there is a seperate security area directly on that level, below the main security area, when you leave it you will be on the main concourse floor. It is usually less crowded. On my last flight DTW also had scanners. If you check bags you will have to either do it curb side or go upstairs drop them off then use the main security check point. I always arrive about 2 hours early and always have plenty of time to get some food, last time I even had time for a dinner in one of the sitdown resturaunts.

 

[meachell13]

If you come in from the garage or off site parking shuttles, there is a seperate security area directly on that level, below the main security area, when you leave it you will be on the main concourse floor. It is usually less crowded. On my last flight DTW also had scanners. If you check bags you will have to either do it curb side or go upstairs drop them off then use the main security check point. I always arrive about 2 hours early and always have plenty of time to get some food, last time I even had time for a dinner in one of the sitdown resturaunts.

We are having someone drop us off? Not sure which level that will be? And by scanners, you mean the body scanners right?

P.S. You gotta be close to like Osseo or something right?

 

[kneemeister]

I am south of Pittsford, so real close. I think if your dropped of its on the Main check in floor, the parking lot is one level lower the same as the concourse. And the ground transportation is one level below that.

http://www.metroairport.com/ They have good terminal maps and info.
http://www.metroairport.com/pdf/maps/3-23-10Mac_LEVELS_Map.pdf This shows the layout of the levels

I went thru a body scanner in January on the main level.

 

[meachell13]

Pittsford! Yes, I was trying to think of the other town right near there and couldn't get it to come to me... My husband works down near Osseo (technically Hillsdale but like a mile or two from Osseo)

So if we are being dropped off on the main level that is where we can check our bag inside and then just go through the main security. That sounds simple enough. Thank you for you help!