Please help with airline procedure

[CharityLynn]

Hello,

I took my first plane ride last year for my honeymoon. We lucked out and got a non stop flight. This year we aren't so lucky. Could someone walk me through my airport experience when there is a layover in Detroit? I am very nervous about there being layover, what do i do when we land at Detroit? Where do we go? We will be using ME too, what will this effect?

This flight is from Lansing, MI layover in Detroit, on to Orlando


I am so lost.

Any advice/info would be appreciated.

Charity

 

[Me2Me]

Hit button too soon - sorry

 

[jctwizzer]

Should be a piece of cake! When you check in at Lansing they may be able to tell you the gate no. you'll be departing from in Detroit.....if they don't, no big deal....Sometimes, as your initial flight is landing, the attendants will read a list of destinations and the gate number for the departing flight...if they don't, no big deal. As you exit your plane in Detroit, there may be employees at the exit to answer your questions...if not, no big deal. If none of the above has happened, when you exit the plane in Detroit, check for the tv monitors which list arriving and departing flights. Orlando should be listed alphabetically on the departing flight monitors.....You'll need to know your flight number to Orlando and the listing will tell you what gate number the plane departs from. Most, if not all, airports have overhead signs throughout giving directions to the various gates...just check and head in that direction...If necessary, ask an airport employee. Busy airports will have more than one concourse, usually identified as A or B or C, etc. If your departing flight is not on the same concourse as your arriving flight, it might get a little tricky finding your way, but the signage is ususally pretty good. Good luck and have fun....its not all that stressful

 

[Me2Me]

I'm no expert but having a connecting flight is usually not a big deal.

Here are the steps to follow:

1) When you leave home and get to your first airport you'll check in with your airline. When you check in they'll give you your boarding passes for all of your flight to Detroit and the connector to Orlando.
2) Go through security at your home airport.
3) Wait at your gate to board the plane to Detroit.
4) Get off your first plane in Detroit (wait until it lands!) Before you get off, check the boarding passes for the gate you are supposed to go for your Orlando flight.
5) Go to your gate in Detroit and just have a seat and wait for your flight to be called for boarding. It should say your flight # to Orlando on the electronic board at your gate. (It's not necessary but I'd advise that you ask an airline rep at your gate to look at your boarding passes to make sure that you are in the right spot since they sometimes change gates on you.) You don't need to go through security again.
6) I'm not sure about ME but it sounds like you don't need to worry about anything in Detroit. Your bags should be waiting for you in Orlando.

 

[DebbieB]

Are both of your flights Northwest? I recently did a Northwest connection in Detroit and it was very easy. All of their gates are in a row and there is a tram that travels above the gates with stops on both ends and in the middle.

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

 

[JimMIA]

It should be very easy in Detroit. As I recall, it's a pretty decent airport.

The departing gate from DTW-MCO may be printed on your boarding pass, or it may not. And even if it is, it is a good idea to double-check as soon as you get off your first flight because gates frequently change. All it takes is for one flight somewhere to be a little late, or a little early (it DOES happen, honest) and the gate has to be changed.

So check the first bank of monitors you see when you get off the plane. Don't go to the gate and then look! Check first, then walk.

This varies from airline to airline, but American usually announces connecting gates as you are on descent into the hub (in your case, DTW). However, those announcements are usually only for flights within the next hour. Don't know about other airlines, but those announcements are usually pretty accurate on American...but I still check the monitor as soon as I get off the first flight.

The thought of changing planes is worse than the reality. In a busy airport like Chicago or Dallas, you will encounter a million people scrambling from gate to gate. Some of them know what they're doing - they'll be the relaxed business types jabbering on their cell phones. Most won't really know, but somehow they will get there. So will you.

Also, if you are not sure what you are doing...it is perfectly within the rules to ask for help.

 

[safetymom]

If you have to change terminals the underground tunnel is pretty cool. It plays outerspace type music and there is spinning colors around the ceiling and down the walls. Something fun to see in the airport.

 

[peanutgirl]

How long is the detroit tunnel that connects A to C?

THANKS

 

[safetymom]

Not sure how long it is but there is a moving walkway.

 

[Pinnie]

How long is the detroit tunnel that connects A to C?

THANKS

The "ice" tunnel runs UNDER a taxiway, but there are moving walkways. You will come up in the middle of the terminal. Once you know what gate you are going to be at, check the tram "map" and decide if it will be worth it to take it or just walk to your new gate.

The new NWA terminal at DTW is great and easy to navigate.

pinnie

 

[peanutgirl]

Thanks everyone I feel better already