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Detroit Metropolitan International Airport
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63 reviews for Detroit Metropolitan International Airport
Knowing what we all think we know about Detroit, you kind of expect the airport to be drab, dreary and rundown. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is roomie and bright. Most off the signs are also in Japanese (I'm guessing lots of auto execs made this trip once upon a time...now maybe not so much) and there is even a decent looking sushi restaurant there though it was closed when I arrived.
As much as I dislike Northwest, who has a hub here, DTW is pretty damned nice as airports go.
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DTW must have a farm where they breed a highly imbecilic sub species to run their immigration booths at the International Arrival Terminal.
No other airport (and I have been to quite a few shady ones) on this planet have CONSISTENTLY made me, an atheist, want to kneel down and say a prayer to any god that was listening, to grant me a cattle prod, which I would happily introduce to the reproductive organs of the dolts I have had occasion to meet.
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I hadn't flown to DTW since the renovations so I was very happy with the shiny newness of the McNamara terminal. I only have a few gripes, so the love first...
1. The tram - the stops are central to the portions of the terminal that are serviced and run frequently.
2. Security - well staffed and even had someone directing the entrances so that you could go through security where the line was shorter.
3. A plethora of shops/restaurants/bars. My friend and I had quite a bit of time to kill before our flights so we went on a bar crawl to find the best bloody mary. We did find it at the Online Bar/Cafe - Gerald did us right. Also, loved the PB&J sandwich place in the South terminal.
4. Central baggage claim - my friend and I were coming from different cities/airlines, so it was easy enough to meet at baggage claim. There were plenty of places to sit while I waited and even a Coffee Bean in that area.
Gripes -
1. Separate buses for rental car companies. That's more of a gripe with the planning since I am used to a centralized rental car center.
2. No free wi-fi. Always the dealbreaker when hovering between 3 and 4 stars.
But yeah, I've definitely been in worse airports - DTW passes the frequent traveler test for sure.
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Detroit's airport is clean, bright and shiny. The airport was well marked so we had no problem getting from our gate to baggage claim to our rental car. Traffic was light and they had plenty of interesting shops along the way. There is a really neat indoor, elevated red tram that runs through the terminal. My son was so excited he'd yell, "Choo choo train!" then vainly run after it, eventually crying when it went too far ahead. There is just enough artwork, including one neat fountain, to make the walk interesting.
When we departed it was awkward having to go up, down, then up again to get to our check-in, all while dragging heavy baggage. While waiting to check in we realized there wasn't a single bathroom on that level! TSA only had 2 security lines open despite the long lines and it took a while for them to move us through. When we got to our gate I was pleasantly surprised to see a kiddie playhouse and some toys nearby. It kept my toddler so happy that when it was time to board the plane he threw a fit crying over and over, "House, house!"
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I love you, DTW. It's not your fault that Northworst is your major airline, they of the stupid oversold-bait-and-switch and the worst routing connections ever (why am I invariably ALWAYS landing on one end and needing to haul ass to the other for a connection in 18 minutes? WHY??). I love your McNamara terminal and the just-as-awesome North terminal; love your signage, your layout, the trams, the hundreds of self-serve kiosks. I love that your Big Blue Deck is actually still quite a bargain and that your 1-2-3 shuttle van drivers are so nice. I sometimes don't even mind that I land in terminal C so that I can go through the tunnel that reminds me of O'Hare's longer psychedelic mind trip.
You can't get your fifth star because you have no train or tram out of the airport into the city that you serve, but that's not really your fault, but your location in an assbackward, auto-centric metro. And hey, they're having problems right now, which may be enough to cause a reassessment of that stance. You are a shiny bright spot on the bleak landscape of Wayne County. Keep on keepin' on!
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I love DTW. DTW and i have a long history...back in the day Republic Airlines lost my bags with alarming regularity. Turns out there was a theft ring working the bags...imagine that...in Detroit.
Anyway, as the rest of Detroits fortunes have waned over the past 25 years this airport has gotten nicer and nicer. Sure, its succumbed to the idiocy of remaking a lot of itself into a mall for the captive marks, and yeah they charge for baggage carts, but its easy in and out, rental cars are easy, and transit is a dream.
The Northwest Airline club is huge and comfortable and has showers...what a great thing that is. Food is typical, as is almost everything else, but its clean and easy to find your way around and all in all a great experience. And its Detroit. So. Including the one mercy star: Five Stars.
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Flying into this airport was fine. Its HUGE however and luckily for me I found my way out easily.
The return flight home however was not as much ease. The airline changed my flight, carrier and time. Without notifying me. Not DTWs fault but irritating none the less. They also decided that a can of chili (Famous Tony Packos) was under the liquid guidelines and I couldn't bring it with my carry on luggage. I of course called the airlines and they told me a sealed can would be fine. Go figure.
The one highlight of the trip were the cold beers and great conversations with Marc(k) on his way to Argentina and the bartender Thomas. Beers were decent for a airport bar and they had a good selection.
I believe I was at the hockey town cafe having a drink but sadly I don't know if that's true. Maybe Marc(k) or Thomas will see this and confirm.
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I like this airport, if its not due to being a easy to get in and out airport then its the face they serve redbull in the aiport which seems to be a rarity. Great restaurants to snack on if you have a delay and very clean. One downside is they didnt put the car rental bus pickups anywhere close to the baggage claim. Boo.
First time to DTW and the experience was pleasant enough upon arrival. Luggage came out quickly, as opposed to our normal unending wait time at Dulles. The facility appeared new and was extremely clean. We found following our way to the Rental Car shuttles a bit confusing but got there nonetheless.
The rental car shuttles were plentiful and whisked us off to our waiting chariot almost as quickly as we landed. Hertz center was efficient and the staff pleasant. All in all, a good experience.
The flight home: check in at United was not the best. The counter was only being worked by 3 attendants. There was no Premier line. No one was directing folks in line to move up to the open kiosks, so the line stalled till someone finally prodded them to the open kiosks.
Security - hmmmm, only one scan line open and the disney land style line snaked around and around. TSA got a clue somehow and opened a second line. Made it through...
The rest was a breeze...thought we'd get a drink but the bar was a smoking bar, a first in a long time at an airport for me...so we passed. Settled for a bottle of water, a candy bar and a People magazine...time to board, and off we went. Home Sweet Home.
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Unless you're traveling on Northwest (or Delta since they merged), DTW is like the third world. I find it amazing that the McNamara Terminal (Northwest's terminal) is an ode to Detroit-size culture; everything is big big big. Lots of gates, a tram that takes you from one end to the other, plenty of restaurants and the Westin is attached to it so you can have a coffee and go through their own personal security gate. It makes you forget you're in Detroit...
...but if you're flying on another airline and have the misfortune of flying into the Smith terminal, it's like landing in the third world. You'd think with all the money they spent on McNamara they'd cough up 40 bucks for a proper paper towel dispenser and some damn Mr. Clean to wash the floors once every decade.
I keep hearing that they're updating the other two terminals but every time I go back, they continue to suck big time. If you are going to Detroit and are going on Northwest or Delta, have fun! If you're going on another airline, bring some handi-wipes.
And if you are going to Detroit, go to Royal Oak to Red Coat Tavern and get a burger. Trust me, I'm a professional.
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I recently returned from a business trip to Sarnia Ontario (reviews pending), which is only about an hour's drive from DTW. And parts of that road trip (including a brief drive past the "gun and knife" show) is half the fun.
My other airport choice was Pearson in Toronto, which would have involved an additional 3 hour drive. Like YYZ, DTW offered a convenient non-stop from SFO both coming and going. Canadian customs at the other end of the Blue Water Bridge (and US customs coming back) also turned out to be pretty straightforward.
I enjoyed DTW more on the arrivals end than my departure, especially since I didn't have to walk too far to baggage claim and my luggage came out of the carousel relatively quickly. I was also in a good mood as the flight was on time, Northwest was on the happy end of their bipolar history with me, and I had just finished off a great conversation with a fellow passenger.
Coming home, Delta had replaced almost all the NWA signage, so directions were a little confusing. Plus, I didn't appreciate the 3 escalator trip (with bags). from the rental car centre up to check in. Then there was the huge line up at Security that wasn't any better after we were directed to the "shortcut" at the Westin Hotel.
Once into the gate area, things settled down except for maybe the sometimes annoying sound of the elevated tram that runs inside the terminal. DTW is a modern and clean facility, with some neat architectural lines. There was an excellent choice of places to eat and at very reasonable prices for an airport. I was also very pleased to get a chance to stop at Gayle's Chocolates to pick up some treats for my son and my sweetie.
The flight back was full and ran a little late (thanks to some rock-n-roll turbulence early in the flight). But soon enough I was home and with my son awake and waiting for me.
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If somebody complains about DTW...Just think back to waht it was b4 the renovations.... And you really can't complain
When I was told that my flight would be re-routed through Detroit, I have to admit. I panicked. Flashbacks of Philadelphia International flooded through my mind and struck fear in my heart.
However, I'm happy to admit that Detroit has a lovely airport! Everything looked brand new and there were signs and more signs and MORE signs directing you to any and everything. The layout reminded me a lot like O'Hare, except with the cleanliness of Charlotte.
My walk from the Northwestern commuter gate to my connecting gate quite a walk -- at about 20 minutes, but after being scrunched up in a little commuter plane for an hour and a half -- my legs were happy for the activity. However, I did see a monorail going back and forth -- if walking isn't your cup of tea.
My final destination (at Northwestern) was a large open space with floor to ceiling windows, and boo-koo seating. There was also an abundance of bars, shops, and restaurants.
Although Charlotte still holds my number one spot for favorite international airport, Detroit has filled up the number two spot for sure!
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Just recently flew out on Air Tran to Atlanta from the brand new terminal. Very nice, open, spacious, clean and bright. I agree Atlanta has a very fast train system, where the Mac terminal tram seems more of a novelty, I usually use all the moving sidewalks.
Here's a funny thing. Leaving the newest terminal walking over the road to get to transportation they didnt extend the moving sidewalk to the very end, it ends about 15-20 feet from where you would expect it to...
Workers at the airport also commented on it...
Over all though both terminals are very clean and brand new.
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Oh my god.. I hate this place. First of all the whole airport is huge, and spread out across, what seems like forever! It is so packed, and since it was one of the main international connecting flight airports, there is tons of lines and customs suck!
I almost missed my flight coming back from France. I know you aren't allowed to bring back food from other countries, but they could've let that apple slide..
Customs sucked so much. The people working them, had the most fowl attitudes and the people in lines were not that much better.
Ticketing took, what seemed like forever! We waited for about 40 minutes, which, I guess isn't that long, but man, it sucked bad!
The bathrooms were in the process of being cleaned, so the closest one to our terminal was closed! CLOSED...With that many people! Are you kidding me?
This airport makes me never want to fly internationally ever again! not to mention, out of 16 of us highschoolers, 8 of us got taken aside for extra searching...WTF.. way to go guys!
Where's the "Welcome to Detroit" sign? Being on vacation means breaking out the digital camera and start capturing anything and everything that will tell a story when you return back home. Upon our arrival on 05/06/08, I was looking for that first snapshot of the Omar and Kate Destination Wedding in Detroit. The airport was clean, modern, filled with commuters and travelers, but no freakin' welcome sign. Well, except one tiny sign right by the baggage claim area. Not worthy of a snapshot. Nevermind. I guess our adventure begins outside the terminals and once Kate picks us up.
Great for Meals before and after travel: Maybe. Much like all airports these days, I discovered the food court and airport dive bars but didn't have time to get our grub on. Omar, RJR, and I were very much eager to get to the hotel, unwind for a moment, and hit the first "Omar" recommends for dinner.
Curbside Pick Up: Not bad. Kate was able to scoop us up with ease. Unlike some of the major metropolitan cities I've visited where airport traffic is hell and couldn't grasp my location, DTW is pretty well organized for curbside pick up. Not busy. Not hectic. Then again, we arrived in the late afternoon so I have no idea what a morning rush would be like.
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I liked this airport just fine, the 2 times I was in it for my roundtrip to KIX this winter.
It's a very LONG airport. It's bright, relatively clean, and open. I liked it a lot. The food was okay, nothing too mentionable, as usual, but at least the drinks were there and the service was quick.
I think they need a duty-free store that carries more cosmetics/luxury goods. I was looking for something for a dear friend and apparently there was not one of these stores here.. weird.
The shuttle was as usual, but it was clean and timely. The customs agents here were also really nice to me.
Overall, a nice airport that I wouldn't mind using again.
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I fly every week with my job, so I'm going to claim expert opinion with this one.
New terminals (both of them) rock. Brand new, everything squeaky and shiny. One thing that I'm not such a fan of is the trains in NW's new terminal. By the time you get up there and wait, you can usually walk out.
There are airports that have a slightly better layout... I like Atlanta personally. But overall, pretty slick. 'nuff said.
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North terminal....I was was here for 4 minutes as I was here for an arriving flight, but compared to that 3rd world country Smith terminal for non-northwest flights, they really did this one right! it was LONG overdue....a terminal with heat and chairs that don't look like they will collpase is a upgrade from Smith. Looking forward to exploring it further next time!
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Definition of purgatory: Three and a half hour layover in DTW Airport.
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This is for the review of the McNamara terminal. I'm flying out of the North Terminal next month, so I look forward to reviewing that as well.
I don't mind early flights out of McNamara...it's better than being at home. From the fountain to the multiple Starbucks and Caribou coffees... to the Leo Coney Island to the middle eastern fare to the shops and massage places and spa..to the GORGEOUS Westin hotel that you can access from the inside... I'm very proud to call this terminal my terminal.
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OK, Let me first say that this review highlights my sincere disappointment in the "new" terminal (not Northwest). I would have thought that in this day and age someone building a new airport terminal would do a better job of understanding people's needs. This isn't the case...same ol' same ol'. Mostly I was disappointed in the waiting areas. Too many people, taking up seats with their bags leaving others (seniors) with no place to sit - and others sitting on the floor.
Wasn't impressed with the overall design either. Having flown in/out of BWI for a recent trip, you can see that there are innovations out there that the designers/planners just didn't take advantage of. Security, baggage claim, concourse - BLEH.
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Don't take the stupid tram unless you're going way from one end of the airport to another. It's not worth it to walk upstairs, wait for the thing, ride 30 seconds, and go back downstairs in the middle. Kinda neat having a tram inside the airport, though.
I don't actually understand why Detroit exists. We have little use for cars now that gas costs $Texas, and the only fun thing in this area is umich. So, let's just pretend Detroit isn't there and put an airstrip in ann arbor. Preferably one that flies direct from new york.
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Dear Detroit Metropolitan International Airport,
Thank you for canceling my flight home to New York. Your rude and inconsiderate employees really broke the news easy to this broke college student that the next flight out wasn't until the following morning. After wanting to strangle Marcy at the help desk, I bought myself a sandwich, sat in the corner and cried. After being offered money to pay for a hotel by a family of strangers and a security guard, I decided I would suck it up and sleep on your extremely comfortable chairs with my legs up in the air and a hand rest jabbing into my back. By the next morning I could recite the announcements made about abandoned luggage that came on every half hour. Good thing you never told me I my flight the next morning was in a different terminal. So while running through the airport because my cell phone alarm did not wake me, you thought it was a great idea to quarantine me while I was trying to go through security. I loved having 50 people seeing my underwear while you ripped though my bag and patted me down like i was a terrorist. After that debacle I now had to sprint down to my gate that was on a mile long strip. Panting like a maniac I finally reached my gate and was the last person to board. You really were something else Detroit International. I'll never forget you.
Sky*
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I've been to this airport so many times it makes me wonder why I've never written a review for it before. Oh the memories of going to back to DC after a long semester at the University of Michigan...*sigh*.
Besides corny nostalgia, I like this airport because it's fast and efficient. I think I've only had one delay here and it wasn't that long of a delay either (1 hour). The security lines go relatively fast and people tend to know what they're doing (no old lady's who refuse to take off their shoes or their jewelery before stepping through the metal detector).
The new terminal is pleasing to the eye with its awesome-looking fountain, a monorail, and signs that have both English and Japanese on it (I'm pretty sure it has Chinese too). I can't say the same for the older terminal, but it's still just as efficient as the new terminal and, after the day is out, don't you really just want a place where you can go and conveniently catch a plane to your destination?
But alas, I must withhold stars. As petty as it is, I have to take off at least one for their horrendous placement of just about all flights coming and going to Washington DC. They end up being all the way on the end of the new terminal (I generally fly either US Air, NWA, or Southwest). Yeah, I know, I should catch the monorail. But you know what? It's still a trek with all of the luggage, and if you're late and know you can't wait for the monorail, it sucks to have to run from the escalators to the end of the terminal (being late is not the airport's fault by any means, but it happens).
Another star-losing quality about this place it that the terminals are placed so far apart. Forget about having one clear road from one terminal to the next because you'll have to go in a complete circle just to get to where you need to go.
Other than that everything's fine (I mean, come on, I'm pretty sure everyone will have a good experience, but I've been here so many times I have a lot more reasons to complain about the little things). The service is great, and fast, the luggage claim is efficient and I've never once gotten a bag lost or broken, and they have movable sidewalks and nice places to eat.
Fly safe everyone!
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I've flown into this airport many times as I am a frequent flyer with Northwest and this being one of it's major hubs. I must say it's one of the cleanest and easily navigated airports I've been in (and I've been to many airports). For the most part all staff I've run into in this airport have been friendly, and my flights have usually arrived/departed on time, so that makes me a happy panda.
But what I really do love about this airport is how easy it is to navigate. Just a gigantic T, with the world club in the middle, and all the gates on a long stretch. If you're gate is at the other end, take the tram (three stops, both ends, and middle...how easy is that?!?). In addition to that there are restaurants (of decent quality) and shops about every 20 feet...so if you're there for a long lay over, at least you're not going to get too bored.
Seriously if you're going to get stuck in an airport for 4-8 hours, Detroit isn't a bad one to be at. This Airport Rocks!
~G
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Came through here on my way back from Spain, via Paris, Madrid and Malaga.
As a smoker, it was incredibly frustrating to find only 2 sports bars that allowed smoking, and I'm too nice to just butt in to burn one without buying anything.
But yeah, those trippy walls were freaking me out, especially after being awake for over 28 hours on my way home.
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Pretty much every vacation we take starts here, and we're usually the unofficial 'shuttle' for family and friends coming and going as well. The traffic patterns are reasonably clear and well marked for picking up and dropping off passengers. For picking up, pull into one of the cell-phone lots on the way in and wait til your rider has cleared customs and/or gotten their bags (if necessary).
Having traveled with an infant, I found everyone (fellow travelers and airport employees) to be very helpful. The one huge drawback I found when my infant daughter wasn't yet sitting up was that none of the restaurants would let me pull the stroller in - even to an out of the way table. Unfortunately this meant I didn't get to eat til I was on the plane.
I hate this airport. There is no good that can come from flying to DTW. Especially through United. In the United terminal there's Tequileria, a sorry-ass Mexican food place that serves the worst nachos ever. It's located right before security.
After security, there's a bar and Quizno's and a Starbucks down the hill. So eat before you go to the airport. And the whole place is just dark, dingy and dirty. So I guess it's a good reflection of Motor City.
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There really ought to be two yelp entries for DTW--one for the McNamara Terminal, and another for the Smith Terminal. These two terminals couldn't be more different. McNamara is probably worth five stars, but Smith is worth two on a good day. Together, well, I'll be generous and assume that the majority of the flights in and out of DTW are on Northwest via the McNamara Terminal.
McNamara is where all the Northwest flights are. It's a new terminal, no more than six or seven years old. It's bright, has a lot of natural light, clean, and very spacious to accommodate large crowds. There are many great dining options and unique stores that don't just sell tourist junk. The worst feature is the layout--the terminal is very long, and it takes a while to walk from one end to the other, or even to the middle. But the monorail makes it easy, and you'll never wait too long for it.
Now, the Smith Terminal is another story altogether. Old, dilapidated, and disgusting are the first words that come to mind. Security is horrendously slow, and they let all the pilots, flight attendants, and people in wheelchairs cut into one of the lines. So when that line looks short, people get into that line, but end up taking an extra 45 minutes to get through security because of all the people cutting in front of them. They really should have a separate line altogether for the airline crew and wheelchairs. There are very limited food choices, the air is stuffy, and baggage claim has scarily low ceilings.
Parking isn't too bad. There are a lot of spots in the garages, but you're best off walking even though it may be a really really long walk. There is a shuttle service, but it is unreliable, won't take you anywhere near your car, and always seems to drop you off last (after five other families).
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I like DTW. I've flown to many major cities and I can't think of too many that beat out this one. Yes of course there are some but not many. I attempted to attend the open house of the new terminal due to open in 2009. Needless to say I didn't see much. There were at least 450 people there when I arrived who were also waiting to see it. I waited for 20 minutes and realized it wasn't going to happen.
I told my son it was pizza day instead and we made other plans accordingly. I like the shops that are available at DTW as well as the selection of restaurants. I've actually only been on one flight that was delayed. Not bad for a 8 year itinerary.
5 stars!!! Why? Well, it's in comparison to the Detroit Airport of old...
The airport if well laid out... simple... clean... easy to move around in... there are nice design elements. The right amount of shops/restaurants/seating areas that make this one of the best airports in America.
I can't say anything for the exterior... I've never driven up to it, I've never had to park there... I've only been through more than a handful of times on transfer flights. Before this new airport, I went through Detroit ONCE before and vowed never to come back.
So bravo to the City of Detroit for putting together a kick-ass airport. Too bad your cars are still a piece of shit.
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I had good experiences in this airport. Before flying into it, my friends who live in Detroit said it was awful, dirty, etc. So I was prepared for the absolute worse. But when I got off the plane, I was pleasantly surprised. Granted, it was 12am, so it was pretty empty, but it was clean and full of shops and oh yes, the obligatory Starbucks. My friends said I was lucky my plane flew into the McNamara terminal. Maybe the others aren't so nice?
Upon leaving Detroit, my flight ended up being more then two hours delayed. I really liked how the airport, or at least the area my gate was in (it was an "A" gate) had ample seating, and a whole area of tables and chairs. Prices for food and drinks also seemed more reasonable then LAX.
All in all, I was impressed!
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As far as airport go DTW-McNamera Terminal (Northwest) is the best I've been through in the midwest and east coast. I am willing to spend extra money to avoid lay-overs anywhere but Detroit. This does only apply to this terminal, the others are awful, but I do usually fly Northwest so I know that I will end up here.
The terminal is new so it's up to date. It's a very large terminal, which is why there is a train inside to help you get through it quickly. But I often just like to walk and use the moving sidewalks so that I get a chance to see everything in the terminal. This place is like a shopping mall with restaurants and shops up and down. While they are a little bit pricey (I mean you are in an airport) it helps kill time during layovers to get to walk around browse through a bunch of different places.
Aside from that, the place is well maintained and comfortable to wait in.
If you ever have time to spend here I definitely recommend walking around a bit and not just waiting at your gate.
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I joke with friends that I spend more time in airports (here or JFK) than sleeping.
The old terminal looks terrible and outdated. It is tiny. However, this means that you can get in and out in virtually no time. Luggage is less of a hassle, and everything runs more smoothly. Just eat beforehand, because all you will find here is a subpar airport tequila and chips type restaurant.
The new terminal: what it lacks in efficiency, it attempts to make up in aesthetics. I like the fountain, but have never been able to decide if the tunnel to terminal B is "kind of cool" or "incredibly tacky." While I lean towards the latter, it is a welcome break from all other airports.
The food choices are relatively decent, and things aren't completely terrible. The parking structure makes little sense, however, and employees range from "somewhat helpful" to "delta semi-moron."
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Either it's because I'm here so infrequently, or that the layout of the airport is so poor... but it takes FOREVER for me to find my way around this place.
The whole business of old terminal vs. new terminal is still mind boggling to me. Last time I was here was to pick up my 83 year old grandmother. It took us about 40 minutes to find each other! (And I wish she knew how to use a cellphone...)
Yes, the new terminal is pretty. I guess because I don't have the travel bug in me, it makes the airport experience that much more taxing. Granted, I've been in JFK and La Guardia, and neither of them seemed to be nearly as confusing. I figure we're a big metropolitan area, we should have this airport business down pat right? Apparently not.
Then again, given how the streets are arranged in Detroit, it makes perfect sense that the airport roads and terminals would be equally as confusing.
If I had any suggestion, it would be to grab one of those little maps as soon as you get in the door to avoid getting lost.
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Stopped here and found it clean, well taken care of, and distractingly comfortable with large screen televisions. The terminals have monorail type transit in between them (it's that large), so you will find your way around easily.
The customs folks were nice, friendly even, to us coming back from France. My only beef would be to have more lines after the ID check from customs when you pick up your checked baggage. Prepare for the wait.
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Quite honestly, I haven't been through the new terminal, but I was in the old one through Southwest, and it sucked.
The one time I did eat here, they served something that masqueraded as an Italian sandwich with a a really warm Heineken.
I guess this is a fitting entrance to Detroit.
For some reason I always confuse the Detroit and Cincinatti airports (yes, I fly too much), so I hope I'm reviewing the right one.
If you fly from a small town to this airport, which you might if you're connecting on to a KLM flight to Amsterdam, there's this tunnel that connects the small town gates to the rest of the airport. This is my favorite airport tunnel in all the world, because it's the **Funky Tunnel**. It's round and huge with multiple people conveyors to the left and right and a walkway in the middle. And there are these constantly changing light displays built into the walls, that I can't describe, just think disco on acid on the bridge of the starship enterprise. And sound plays, sometimes it sounds like a thunderstorm, sometimes echoy, sometimes retro-futuristic-ambiant-whatever.
This tunnel is how the future was supposed to be when I grew up. Except it was supposed to connect NY to LA directly, with ever-faster conveyer lanes that you jumped over to until you were wizzing along with your futuristic hair blowing in the breeze. And there were meal pills.
So, not a bad try at all.
(Rest of the airport, as far as I remember, is pretty nice too. If you can get out of the tunnel in time to get to the plane. Back and forth I go..)
PS: Monorail!
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My second home away from home, ha! This airport very much like sweet & sour sauce... sweet part is McNamara Terminal. The tart sour part is the L.C. Smith Terminal... oh, make Boodah-san belly ache :(
If you fly Northwest or Delta Airline, you are in good hand... well, not hand but you in good airoport. Some okay food stops here too... and they have suuushiiii.. ahhaaaaa... Here tip for McNamara traveler:
1. Read sign before barging into terminal (You big guy, you think you know where you going? Think again tough man!!!)
2. Get on train if your plan depart more than half way down end of terminal. Again, READ MONITOR!!! See little red stop sign?... TAKE TRAIN. Remember that!
3. Smile at pretty ladies behind counter. Far too many tough guy and lady make scene when something go wrong. Bah! You are late because you stay out late with your co-workers drinking beer, so don't get mad at counterperson. (I detest people who wine, make Boodah want to kick them stupid behavior.
Those are my 3 simple secrets for happy airport travel.
Now for the seedy sour side of review. LC Smith terminal look like straight out of 70's. Snaking security line run down length of hall on busy days but at least it moves (except for that one time man had funny substance in bag... tried to board plane lol, ha! The ONE thing LC Smith have that make it all up to me is the Starbuck's inside Terminal.
News Flash for those who do not know... new additions in progress for LC Smith Terminal. Looks like nice addition... just hope they hurry.
