Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) is Michigan’s largest airport and a major Delta Air Lines hub, connecting travellers from the East Coast with cities in the Midwest, West Coast, Europe and Asia. The stunning McNamara Terminal transformed what was previously viewed as one of the country’s most unimpressive airports into a futuristic facility that still impresses today. Here’s everything you need to know when flying via Detroit.
How to get to Detroit Airport
Beyond rideshare, taxi and car services, there’s a bus route from downtown to the airport that typically takes about an hour, though travel time varies by time of day and traffic. The rental car campus isn’t connected to the airport, so you’ll need to take a shuttle bus to reach it and should allow extra time when returning your car.
If you’re driving your own car, both short and long-term parking are available, with the Green Lot long-term parking requiring a 24/7 shuttle to the airport, while parking garages like Big Blue Deck/Evans and McNamara Garage are connected to terminals via skybridges. For a deal, some airport hotels offer parking packages that sometimes include an overnight stay the night before your flight. I find this especially helpful when I have an early-morning departure.
Large, but unconnected, terminals
The most important thing to understand about Detroit airport: the two largest terminals aren’t connected to each other. Delta and SkyTeam partners fly out of the McNamara Terminal, the newer facility, while all other airlines operate from the Evans Terminal across the runway. The dropoff points aren’t next to each other either, so when telling a taxi driver where to go, it’s easier to name your airline to avoid being taken to the wrong place.
The McNamara Terminal is one of my favourite airport designs in the world, with walls of glass and a red train that glides by every few minutes, reminding me of The Jetsons with its futuristic design. The main terminal building connects to an adjacent concourse via an underground tunnel. The other terminal originally opened as the North Terminal and is now called the Warren Cleage Evans Terminal, although some people may still use the old name.
Where to eat
Detroit has a wide array of dining options for every taste. Places like Anita’s Kitchen near Gate D23 in the Evans Terminal showcase the area’s Greek and Middle Eastern communities and welcome Priority Pass members (though it depends how you qualify for the card if you’re hoping to score a free meal). Travellers can get a head start on Delta’s far-flung Asian destinations at sushi outlets, while National Coney Island serves up popular burgers in the Evans Terminal.
Where to catch a break in the airport
The Westin hotel connects directly to the McNamara Terminal, with airplane views from guest rooms and a lovely restaurant and bar in the atrium lobby. Pro tip: the hotel has its own dedicated security line that’s always shorter than the main one. Travellers with longer layovers can book a day room, though I recommend calling in advance since the convenient location makes late checkout and early check-in common, which means grabbing a day room during midday hours can be tough.
The airport offers several lounge options. The largest is the Delta Sky Club near Gate A43 in the A concourse of the McNamara Terminal, with fireplaces, a large buffet, showers and work spaces. In the Evans Terminal, Lufthansa has its own lounge supporting its departures to Germany. I love that I can access the Lufthansa Lounge using Priority Pass or The Platinum Card from American Express, and Star Alliance Gold status with United or Air Canada also gets you in when departing from that terminal.
If you have a longer layover and are hoping for a little shuteye or perhaps a shoulder rub, you are in luck! I love swiping my Priority Pass card, which I get through several premium credit cards that I have, to use at the Minute Suites location in the McNamara Terminal near Gate A66. Access comes with one hour of a private room for napping on a sofa or working.
There are also two Be Relax Spa locations at Gates A18 and A46 where I stop in for a free 30-minute massage. Other options include massage chairs, hand massages or nail polish changes. There is nothing like a little rest and relaxation before, after or in between long flights.
Priority Pass members (who can also buy a membership directly through Priority Pass if they don’t have an eligible credit card).
Thoughtful extras at DTW
Detroit has several thoughtful extras that make travelling through its terminals more comfortable, especially for new flyers or those traveling with children. I always appreciate the smiling faces of the airport volunteers who can direct travellers where they need to go, point out their favourite shops, suggest places for kids to run around or show you the easiest way to reach your gate.
Mothers travelling with infants can find privacy in nine nursing rooms spread throughout the terminals, five in McNamara Terminal (near Gates A15, A25, A53, A63, and C2) and four in the Evans Terminal (across from Gates D8, D15, and D24). These are all equipped with sinks, counters, and electrical outlets. Access requires calling a number posted on the door for a code.
Travellers can find Reflection Rooms for meditation and spiritual reflection in both terminals (Central Link in McNamara Terminal and near Gate D17 in Evans Terminal), where they can bring a yoga mat and find some inner zen before their flight.
Star features
Detroit has many standout features that add entertainment to the travel experience. For me, the dancing fountain in the McNamara Terminal is mesmerizing. The way the various streams of water bounce from the base of the fountain across to the other side reminds me of the expansive route map of destinations from Detroit.
Kids, especially, will love watching the fountain with planes in the background. If parts of the terminal seem familiar, that’s because the airport has been featured in Hollywood movies like Up in the Air, starring George Clooney, and TV shows like Amazing Race.
The underground tunnel that connects the two sections of the McNamara Terminal often has a futuristic neon light show along the ceiling. The music changes throughout the year with festive music during the holidays.
During many busy travel periods, canine ambassadors walk pet therapy dogs through the terminals. They are a fun way for travellers to relax, and for nervous flyers, the program is meant to calm their nerves. I love petting the dogs and thinking of my pets back at home. It puts a smile on everyone’s face.
New loyalty program for double dipping
I am impressed with the new DTW Rewards loyalty program that the airport launched to reward travellers for airport spending at retail and dining outlets. In addition to earning miles with an airline loyalty program (or hotel points at airport hotels), you can also earn benefits like gift cards, cash back or even more airline miles by joining this free program.
DTW Destination Pass
To help boost airport retail and dining business, the airport also has the DTW Destination Pass, which allows people without a boarding pass for same-day travel to pass through the security checkpoint and enjoy the airport’s amenities. This is good business for airport retailers, too.
If the idea of spending time in an airport seems counterintuitive, I love watching the planes, and there are a lot of people like me who do that. Others come through to send off loved ones or meet them at the gate when they arrive.
In the past, the only way to take advantage of this program was by applying online. Kudos to the airport for adding new DTW Destination Pass kiosks in the ticketing lobbies of both terminals where visitors can apply on the spot for a pass. Be sure to bring government identification.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
