The Detroit Airport is a major hub for Delta Air Lines. Connecting in Detroit is common and easy, in fact, DTW is one of my favorite airports in the US. I’d like to share my tips and tricks for connecting in DTW along with my personal review of Detroit as an airport.
DTW is an inherited hub for Delta, Northwest Airlines was the previous tenant of the McNamara terminal before Delta and Northwest merged in 2008. For this review I’ll be focusing on the McNamara terminal and Delta connections. Non-Skyteam airlines use the Evans Terminal (North Terminal) and you’re unlikely to make a connection in DTW on those airlines.
DTW Airport Layout
The DTW Airport is divided into two terminals. McNamara Terminal and Evans Terminal. McNamara is divided into 3 concourses A, B, and C. Delta and it’s partners occupy all of the gates in the McNamara terminal. These terminals are all connected airside.
Evans Terminal (old North Terminal) is where all of the other airlines in DTW operate from. This is the D Concourse. There is no airside connection between the two terminals but there is a bus land side that transports passengers between the two terminals.
DTW Airport Getting Around
The DTW Airport is easy to navigate. The McNamara terminal is divided into 3 concourses that are connected airside. That means no need to worry about security if you’re making a connection on Delta. The DTW airport is well marked with signs to help you navigate any connections.
The B and C concourse are where many Delta Connection flights depart and arrive. These two concourses are one large building divided into two. Within the B and C Concourses are plenty of moving sidewalks to get you from gate to gate quickly.
The A concourse is the main concourse in the McNamara Terminal, it’s also the longest terminal in North America. At almost exactly a mile long it’s one of the longest terminals in the world. While there are moving sidewalks to help quicken a connection, within the A Concourse is a train with 3 stops.
Each end of the A Concourse is a tram stop along with another stop in the middle of the Concourse. The A Concourse has 78 gates. The flight departure boards will tell you if it’s faster to walk or take the train. You always have the option to walk, but the train is often faster.
The A Concourse tram runs above the Concourse inside the building. It’s a cool way to check out the longest terminal in America.
DTW Airport Tunnel
From the map it can be seen that the A Concourse is separate from the B/C concourse. There is an underground tunnel that connects the two buildings. The tunnel access is in the center of the B/C concourse and at gate 40 at the A Concourse.
The tunnel entrance is well marked and easy to find. There are escalators and elevators down to the tunnel.
In the tunnel is the real fun. There’s a lights show with music through the whole tunnel. There are also moving sidewalks to make transit fast. If you are affected by flashing lights there are shutoff buttons at the entrance to the tunnel on each side, they will disable the lights show for a few minutes to allow you to pass through the tunnel.
DTW Airport Delta Airport Connection Guide
How do you make a connection at the Detroit Airport? Like the rest of this guide, I’ll be talking about McNamara terminal here at DTW. This is the Delta Air Lines terminal along with their Skyteam partners.
The connection process here at DTW is easy, it’s one of the best places in the US to have a Layover. When you first land in Detroit, check to see what gate your departing flight is leaving from. Also note, what gate your incoming flight is arriving at.
If you’re making an A concourse to A concourse connection, you can likely just walk between gates. If the gates are far apart, you can take the tram that runs the length of the A concourse. The tram only has 3 stops, but going from end to end is nearly a mile so going upstairs to the train is a good idea.
If you’re going to B/C from A to A from B/C you need to walk to the entrance of the tunnel. In the A concourse, that’s near gate A38, right in the center of the concourse and just across from the center tram stop. In the B/C concourse, the tunnel entrance is between the B and C concourses between gates B1 and C1. There are lots of signs to make this process fast and easy.
So for example, if you’re arriving into A4 and departing from B10, a common connection if you’re landing on a mainline Delta plane and departing on a Delta Connection carrier. Step one is to get to the tunnel entrance, from A4 the fastest way to get to the tunnel entrance at A38 is to take the tram. You could also walk, and it’s not a bad walk, just know that it’s a half mile.
Next, cross through the awesome light show tunnel.
At the end of the tunnel, follow the escalator signs to the B concourse. Once upstairs, follow the signs left into the B concourse. In the B/C concourses there is no tram, so just walk along the moving sidewalks to the B10 gate.
This whole process should take less than 15 minutes. 10 minutes if you get lucky and time the tram in the A concourse just right.
DTW Airport Minimum Connection Time
How much time you need for an Detroit airport layover is both subjective and definitive at same time. For example, on a domestic to domestic connection with Delta Air Lines, by the book the minimum connection time is 45 minutes. I know many people would be uncomfortable with that and would request a different routing. While I think 45 minutes is lots of time for a connection in Detroit, other people, especially those unfamiliar with DTW or who have mobility concerns would like more time.
I really like Detroit’s airport and think that 45 minutes is actually a really comfortable connection time. It’s also important to remember that airlines won’t sell you a connection that’s impossible, if Delta says you can do it, it’s possible, but there is a difference between possible and comfortable.
| Flight Type | Delta Minimum Connection Time | James’ Minimum Connection Time* | Comfortable Connection Time |
| Domestic To Domestic | 30 Minutes | 30 Minutes | 45 Minutes |
| Domestic To International | 35 Minutes | 60 Minutes | 60 Minutes |
| International To Domestic | 80 Minutes | 60 Minutes | 90 Minutes |
| International To International | 80 Minutes | 60 Minutes | 90 Minutes |
Delta’s minimum connection times are a good guideline for when everything goes well. There are a few exceptions to what I am comfortable with. I’ll gladly take a 30 minute layover on a domestic trip, however on an international trip, I like a few extra minutes. I’ve made really short DTW connections, sub 15 minutes is possible, but not comfortable. You’ll be running or at least walking very fast.
If you like to relax or take your time, take a few extra minutes and for a domestic flight 45 minutes is plenty. More than enough time to get to your next gate, go to the bathroom, or get something to eat.
On an International to Domestic/International flight you’ll need clear immigration and customs. This can be time consuming, I have global entry so that allows me faster connections and then a trip through PreCheck allows me to be back into the terminal quickly. I don’t mind a 60 minute connection on those trips, but the airline won’t allow it, but happens if there are delays.
DTW Airport Restaurants
The DTW airport has lots of restaurants and places to get a snack. There are quick options along with full sit down restaurants.
My favorite option in DTW is a Detroit style Coney dog. These are a Detroit tradition and there’s a Leo’s Coney Island in the McNamara terminal. Leo’s is a chain and isn’t the best thing in the world, but it’s very good. They are very fast and have a take away counter too.
There are also plenty of fast food options in DTW as well, in all of the terminals but A has more options. There are some food court style options bunched in the ends of the A concourse while the B/C concourses are more scattered along the main walkways.
DTW Airport Lounges: SkyClubs
Like ATL, DTW is Delta land. McNamara has 5 Skyclubs in it’s 3 terminals.
In the center of the B/C Concourse is a single Skyclub that serves both concourses. It’s right at the exit of the tunnel where the building splits into the two concourses.
In the A Concourse there are 4 Skyclubs. Two in the center near gate 36 and then in each end of the terminal, there is another Skyclub at the ends of the trams station on the upper level. The 2 in the middle of the A Concourse are the largest, however the newest one is often very crowded. In my experience they all serve similar food and drinks so I’d rather relax in piece.
Delta Skyclub A42 Skyclub Review
Delta Skyclub A38 Skyclub Review
Delta B and C Concourse Skyclub Review
DTW Airport Westin Hotel
Within the DTW airport is a hotel. You can access the hotel lobby directly from the A Concourse. They also have their own security checkpoint so getting into and out of the terminal quickly is easy.
The Westin DTW Airport is excellent hotel. It’s also extremely convenient if you have an unexpected delay. I have a review of the DTW Westin from when Val and I got diverted on a trip to Albany.
DTW Airport Final Thoughts
I really like the DTW Airport. It’s big, open, and easy to navigate. Short connections in DTW don’t scare me, in fact I embrace them. It’s a great way to shave time of a trip. If you do have a long layover, there are lots of restaurants to enjoy. The lounges here are all Skyclubs so if you have access it’s great, if you don’t it’s not the best place for a long layover.
For most people a 45-60 minute layover will feel very comfortable on a domestic layover. Enough time to be comfortable but not so much that you’re board. DTW is a great place for a connection.
The light show tunnel is a really fun feature. It’s obviously not a great way to kill time, but it’s unique and I enjoy it. The Westin Hotel is a great hotel and so easy to access from the terminal. All in, I love connecting in Detroit, it’s my favorite domestic airport.