Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) Flights & Flight Status

Michigan’s largest airport is also one of Delta’s central hubs. Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) plays a major role in connecting travelers from the East Coast with cities in the Midwest and West Coast. It also serves as an important gateway for Delta travelers to both Europe and Asia. Detroit was previously viewed as one of the most unimpressive airports in the country, until it built the stunning McNamara Terminal in 2002 that still impresses to this day with its futuristic design. Here’s everything you need to know when flying via Detroit.

Large, but unconnected, terminals

The most important takeaway to understand about Detroit airport is that the two largest terminals are not connected to each other. Delta and SkyTeam partners fly out of the McNamara Terminal, which is the newer facility. All other airlines fly from a separate terminal across the runway and taxiways, and the dropoff points for both are not next to each other.

The McNamara Terminal is quite aesthetically pleasing with walls of glass and one of my favorite airport designs in the world. The red train that crisscrosses the building glides by every few minutes, and it often reminds me of The Jetsons with its futuristic design.

There is a main terminal building and an adjacent concourse in the McNamara Terminal, which are connected via an underground tunnel. The newer North Terminal, which opened in 2008, was renamed to the Warren Cleage Evans Terminal in 2022 although some people may still refer to it as the North Terminal.

If telling a taxi driver where to take you, it is easier to name your airline to avoid being taken to the wrong place.

How to get to Detroit Airport

Aside from rideshare, taxi and car services, there is a bus route that goes from downtown to the airport in about an hour. The rental car campus, as the airport calls it, is not connected to the airport, and travelers need to take a shuttle bus to reach it. This means you need to allow extra time when returning your car, too.

If you are driving your own car, there is both short and long-term parking with the latter requiring a shuttle to get to the airport. If you are looking for a deal, many of the airport hotels in the area offer a cheaper option, which sometimes includes an overnight stay the night before your flight. I find this especially helpful when I have an early-morning departure.

Where to eat

Detroit has a wide array of dining options for every taste. The area’s Greek and Middle Eastern communities are well-represented in the menu choices at places like Anita’s Kitchen (locations in either terminal), and travelers can get a head start on Delta’s far-flung Asian destinations from the airport in sushi outlets.

Anita’s Kitchen is accessible via Priority Pass membership in both terminals although it depends how you qualify for the card if you are hoping to score a free meal. While not a Priority Pass partner, National Coney Island is a popular burger spot in the Evans Terminal.

Where to catch a break in the airport

The Westin hotel is physically connected to the McNamara Terminal, and it has plenty of airplane views from its guest rooms. In the atrium lobby, it has a lovely restaurant and bar. Pro tip: the hotel has its own dedicated security line, which is always shorter than the main one.

Travelers with longer layovers can also book a day room at the Westin although I recommend calling in advance to check availability. The property is very popular for its convenient location, and late checkout (or early check-in) is common. This makes it harder to grab a day room during that sweet spot of midday hours.

There are several lounge options at the airport, but the largest and most impressive is the Delta Sky Club in the center of the A concourse of the McNamara Terminal. It has fireplaces, a large buffet, showers and work spaces.

In the Evans Terminal, Lufthansa has its own lounge to support its daily departure to Germany. I love the fact that I can access the Lufthansa Lounge using Priority Pass or The Platinum Card from American Express. If you have Star Alliance Gold status with United or Air Canada, for example, you can also access the lounge 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. Access comes with one hour of a private room for napping on a sofa or working.

There are also two Be Relax Spa locations 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 do not have an eligible credit card).

Thoughtful extras at DTW

Detroit has several thoughtful extras at the airport that make traveling through its terminals more comfortable, especially for new flyers or those traveling with children.

Airport ambassadors

I always appreciate the smiling faces of the airport volunteers who can direct travelers where they need to go. They can point out their favorite shops, a great place for kids to run around or just the easiest way to reach your gate.

Nursing rooms

Mothers traveling with infants need not worry about finding privacy as the airport developed several nursing rooms, which are spread out the terminal.

Quiet rooms

There are rooms for reflection and prayer, and travelers 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, especially with the planes in the background. If parts of the terminal seem familiar to you, that is because the airport has been featured in numerous 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 travelers 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 travelers 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 spending time watching the planes. There are a lot of people like me that do that! Others come through to send off loved ones or meet them at the gate when they arrive. This is available at both airport terminals.

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 departure halls of both terminals where visitors can apply on the spot for a pass. Be sure to bring government identification.