We have a trip planned to Germany…all on Delta flights….we arrive into Detroit from our hometown and only have a 1.5 hour time before we leave for Amsterdam. Is the International concourse difficult to get to? It appears we arrive into McNamara Terminal. I am unfamiliar with DTW as we have always gone thru ATL. Thanks.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
9076 posts
Should be no problem. McNamara terminal is almost all Delta, it consists of a long concourse (A) used by larger aircraft, then another concourse split into B and C, which is connected to A by an underground passage. If you are flying a regional jet into Detroit, then you likely will arrive in B or C. There is no separate international terminal, your Europe flight likely will leave out of A. It rarely ever took me more than 20 minutes to get from one point to another.
There is another terminal, Evans, but that is used for non-Delta flights.
Posted by
Lexington, KY (formerly Southeast US)
4501 posts
DTW is easy to navigate, and 1 hr 20 min should be plenty of time to make the transfer. Plus… Delta flights generally have an extra 15 minutes built into their „block time“ (time scheduled from pushing back at departure gate to final stop at arrival gate), which generally results in an extra 15 minutes for the transfer.
Fun fact. Concourse A at DTW is one mile long. There is an automated overhead tram that runs from one end to the other.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Thanks for the reply… It is about what I expected to hear, but nice to get some information ahead of time. Much appreciated.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19550 posts
When are you flying? From where are you flying?
That might make a difference. If you are coming from a city near to Detroit, that might make a difference. If it's in the summer, you might not have a concern about making the connection.
But if you are a long way from Detroit, in the winter, you might get delayed. Then 1½ hours might be cutting it close.
In about 2001, I was flying from Denver to Frankfurt via Detroit in February. I had an hour to make the connection, but we were delayed an hour leaving Denver because they had to de-ice the plane.
So, everyone, put your location in your profile, so we know. And, when posting a situation, make sure you tell us what time of year. All these things could affect our advice.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
9076 posts
My further input would be to not overly worry about weather or delays. Yes, delays happen, but then what do you try to plan for? If not 1 1/2 hours, then 2?, 4? 8? I just take the itinerary that makes sense, then take comfort in the fact that the airline will get me there, even if not as planned.
I don't even worry about transiting through a Northern airport in the Winter, those airports know how to handle snow and ice, usually better than a Southern airport deals with storms.