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Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is a bustling airport with more than 1,100 flights per day taking over 35 million passengers annually to destinations across the globe. It’s Delta’s third-largest hub and supports 15 other airlines flying to and from 3 continents (North America, Europe, and Asia, including the Middle East).
I fly out of DTW several times a month and am happy to report it’s one of my favorite North American airports. It’s bright, open, clean, easy to navigate, and has plenty of restaurant options to enjoy while you wait for your flight.
In this comprehensive guide to Detroit Metro Airport, I’ll share all the important information you need to know about Detroit Airport, from terminals and airlines to security procedures and amenities. Plus a few of my recommendations and tips to navigate the airport like a pro!
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) Overview
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (airport code DTW) is located in Romulus, Michigan, just 20 miles southwest of downtown Detroit. As one of the top 20 busiest airports in the United States, DTW offers a wide range of domestic and international flights, including serving as Delta Airlines’ 3rd largest hub (behind Atlanta and Minneapolis).
The airport consists of two terminals: the Evans Terminal and the McNamara Terminal. The terminals are further divided into different concourses, each serving specific airlines and destinations.
Let’s start with the smaller of the two terminals, the Evans Terminal.
Evans Terminal
The Evans Terminal serves all airlines that are not either Delta or part of the SkyTeam alliance. It opened in 2008 and replaced the old and dated Smith and Berry terminals that were built in the late ’60s and early ’70s.
There is only one concourse in the Evans Terminal, concourse D, with 29 gates, numbered D1 to D6, D8 to D12, D14 to D21, and D23 to D32. I am not sure why, but there is no gate D7, D13, or D22.
Airlines Operating Out of the Evans Terminal
Here is a list of all the airlines that currently fly out of the Evans terminal, along with their reservations and baggage service phone numbers.
| Airline | Reservation Phone Number | Baggage Service Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | 888-247-2262 | 888-689-2247 |
| Alaska Airlines | 800-252-7522 | 734-229-1243 |
| American Airlines | 800-433-7300 | 734-840-9101 |
| Frontier Airlines | 801-401-9000 | 313-263-3088 |
| Icelandair | 800-223-5500 | 800-223-5500 |
| JetBlue Airways | 800-538-2583 | 800-538-2583 |
| Lufthansa | 800-645-3880 | 866-846-4283 |
| Royal Jordanian Airlines | 212-949-0050 | 212-949-0050 |
| Southwest Airlines | 800-435-9792 | 734-784-2430 |
| Spirit Airlines | 855-728-3555 | 248-727-2644 |
| Sun Country Airlines | 651-905-2737 | 651-905-2737 |
| United Airlines | 800-864-8331 | 734-442-5713 734-442-5714 |
| Vacation Express (by sunwing) | 800-309-4717 | 800-309-4717 |
| Apple Vacations | 800-517-2000 | 800-517-2000 |
Charter Flights
All charter flights are located in the Evans Terminal and the ticket counter is in the center section of the ticket lobby. Charter flights at Detroit Metropolitan Airport are operated by a variety of airlines including Miami Air International, Sun Country, Sunwing Airlines, Swift Air, VivaAerobus, Volaris, World Atlantic Airlines, and Xtra Airways.
Lounges in the Evans Terminal
The only airline lounge available in the Evans Terminal is the Lufthansa club lounge, which is located between gates D6 and D8. It’s open most days from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.
You will need a valid boarding pass for a departure that day, as well as one of the following:
- First Class/Business Class passengers
- Lufthansa HON Circle Members & Senators
- Star Alliance Gold members
- Priority Pass Holders
This will allow you and one companion access to the lounge for up to 3 hours.
If you are a member of the military there is also the Freedom Lounge near gate D17.
Restaurants at the Evans Terminal
The Evans terminal has quite a few restaurant options for its size, including some well-known chains like Chick-fil-a, Outback Steakhouse, and Pei-Wei.
On the other hand, if you want a little taste of Detroit, I recommend Anita’s Kitchen for Middle Eastern food or National Coney Island for a Detroit Style Coney Dog and Fries. If you just want a local beer, Atwater Brewery and Jolly Pumpkin Brewery are two great, local options!
See the complete list of restaurants on the DTW airport website.
Inter-terminal Transportation:
Unfortunately, DTW doesn’t have a tram that connects the two terminals. They have a shuttle bus service that is scheduled to operate every 10 minutes. However, I have had to wait much longer than that at times. You might get lucky and a shuttle will be waiting for you, but you may have to wait up to 20 minutes for one to come pick you up.
So if you have to move between terminals, there is a way to do it, it just isn’t smooth or fast.
McNamara Terminal
The McNamara Terminal is Detroit’s largest terminal and is almost exclusively set up for Delta, which a couple of gates set aside for their SkyTeam partners, Air France and Aeroméxico. It opened in 2002 and is named after Wayne County Executive Edward H. McNamara.
As someone who has flown well over a million miles with Delta, this is the terminal I spend most of my time in.
The McNamara Terminal has 3 concourses (A, B, & C). Concourse A is where international flights and larger planes fly in and out. Concourses B & C are for smaller, commuter planes.
Airlines Operating Out of DTW McNamara
Here is a list of all the airlines that currently fly out of the McNamara terminal, along with their reservations and baggage service phone numbers.
| Airline | Reservation Phone Number | Baggage Service Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Air France | 800-237-2747 | 800-325-8224 |
| Delta Air Lines | 800-221-1212 | 800-325-8224 |
| Aeroméxico | 800-237-6639 | 800-237-6639 |
| WestJet Airlines | 866-666-6224 | 866-666-6224 |
Delta Skyclub Lounges in the McNamara Terminal
Delta is the only airline with lounges in the McNamara terminal. There are 4 spread across Concourse A and another that services Concourse B & C.
The largest one is right after you get through security. It is definitely the busiest due to its location, but also has the most seating and the largest selection of food. Just around the corner from it is the newest Sky Club. This one is much smaller but feels fresher and has a premium selection of alcohol.
| Lounge Name | Location | Operating Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Sky Club (Largest) | Concourse A, near Gate A38 | 4:15 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Delta Sky Club (Newest) | Consourse A, near Gate A43 | Concourse A, near Gate A43 |
| Delta Sky Club (2nd Level South Tram Station) | Concourse A, near Gate A18 | 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Delta Sky Club (2nd Level North Tram Station) | Concourse A, near Gate A68 | 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Delta Sky Club (Concourse B & C) | Concourse C, near the entrance to Concourse C | 6:00 AM – 10:30 PM |
If you are a member of the military there is also the Freedom Lounge near gate A43.
Restaurants at the McNamara Terminal
The McNamara terminal also has a large selection of restaurants from well-known chains like PF Changs and Longhorn Steakhouse to local options like Andiamo (Italian) and Plum Market.
My go-to spot every time is Plum Market. They have great grab-and-go food, Zingermans bakery items, and coffee, plus a nice selection of cocktails and premium wines.
Security and Customs at DTW
DTW follows standard security procedures implemented by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Expedited security programs like TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR are available at the airport, enabling eligible passengers to enjoy faster screening processes.
DTW has a total of 4 security checkpoints:
McNamara Terminal:
- Ticketing lobby, level 3
- Level 2 bridge between the terminal and parking garage
- Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport Hotel
Evans Terminal:
- Ticketing lobby, level 2
Security wait times are available on the DTW home page, but they are not specific to an individual checkpoint, only by the terminal.
DTW also has dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes, dedicated Clear lanes as well as Global Entry for international travelers.
Additional Airport Information
DTW provides various additional services and amenities to cater to travelers’ needs. These include information services, children’s play areas, baby facilities, guidelines for traveling with pets, duty-free shopping, designated smoking areas, prayer rooms, money exchange, luggage storage, and important contact numbers for airport assistance.
Wi-Fi and Charging Stations
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout both terminals at DTW and can be accessed by selecting “Detroit Airport Wi-Fi” from the available connections.
Charging stations are located at most departure gates to ensure your devices are powered up for your journey.
Lost and Found
You are going to have to work a bit if you lose an item in the airport since there is no single lost and found office. Here are the three options if you lost an item when traveling through DTW.
- Security Checkpoints: If you suspect your item was left around a security checkpoint, contact TSA Lost & Found at [email protected]. You could also call (734) 942-3126. The office is located at 11100 Metro Airport Center Drive, Suite 160, Romulus, MI 48174.
- Gate or Aircraft: Check directly with your airline if your item was left on an aircraft or in a gate area. Your airline is also responsible for locating lost baggage.
- If your item is lost elsewhere in the terminal, please file a lost & found claim with WCAA Police.
To report an item you’ve found, please call the Detroit Metro Airport Police Department at (734) 942-2222, Ext. 1.
DTW Airport Parking
DTW offers a range of parking options for passengers. These include official airport parking, pick-up or drop-off parking zones, off-site and hotel parking facilities, as well as designated parking for passengers with disabilities.
Short-term parking is available in the McNamara Parking Garage and the Big Blue Deck. All short-term parking areas offer handicap-accessible parking. Check the latest short-term parking rates here.
Long-term parking is available in the McNamara Parking Garage, the Big Blue Deck, and the Green Lots. Check the latest long-term parking rates here.
Valet parking is also available at the McNamara Terminal parking deck.
If you have an electric vehicle, Detroit Metropolitan Airport has Electric Vehicle (EV) parking stations located at the McNamara and Big Blue Deck parking structures at no additional cost.
Finally, if you are looking for a lower-cost, off-airport parking option, I recommend U.S. Park. I normally park in one of the airport parking structures, but if they are full or if I am trying to save a few bucks, this is the parking option I like to use. The daily rates are half what you pay in the DTW Structures and the shuttle service is fairly dependable.
Car Rentals
If you need to rent a car during your stay, DTW has multiple car rental agencies located within the airport property. Each of which has a shuttle that will pick you up from the terminal and take you to the rental car lot. Shuttle bus stops can be found in the Ground Transportation Centers of both the McNamara Terminal Parking Garage and the Big Blue Deck of the Evans Terminal.
Here is a list of rental car companies at DTW, including links to articles to help you save when you rent from them.
| Rental Car Company | Address | Reservation Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Alamo Rent A Car | 338 Lucas Dr, Detroit, MI 48242 | 800-327-9633 |
| Avis Car Rental | 295 Lucas Dr, Detroit, MI 48242 | 800-331-1212 |
| Budget Car Rental | 287 Lucas Dr, Detroit, MI 48242 | 800-527-0700 |
| Dollar Rent A Car | 334 Lucas Dr, Detroit, MI 48242 | 800-421-6878 |
| Enterprise Rent-A-Car | 330 Lucas Dr, Detroit, MI 48242 | 800-325-8007 |
| Hertz Car Rental | 289 Lucas Dr, Detroit, MI 48242 | 800-654-3131 |
| National Car Rental | 338 Lucas Dr, Detroit, MI 48242 | 800-227-7368 |
| Thrifty Car Rental | 334 Lucas Dr, Detroit, MI 48242 | 800-367-2277 |
DTW Airport Hotels
There only hotel that is in the actual airport itself is the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport Hotel. It’s a nice property with a security gate in the lobby, making it a very convenient place to stay if your flight gets in late or if you have to fly out very early in the morning.
If you are going to stay at this property, see if you are eligible to get a reduced rate via one of the following options:
If you qualify, these rates are a great way to save some money on your hotel stay.
If you don’t want to stay in the airport itself but want to be near the airport there are plenty of options from budget hotels to full-service hotels with shuttles that will take you to and from the airport.
Final Thoughts
In summary, DTW is a great airport to fly in and out of, especially when you know some of the hidden tips and tricks for getting around. Hopefully, you found this guide useful and will be able to take advantage of some of my recommendations and hacks next time you are at DTW!
Safe travels and enjoy your time at Detroit Airport!
DTW has the following options for priority pass members.
McNamara Terminal:
– Be Relax Spa, near gate A18 and gate A46
– Minute Suites, near gate A66
Evans Terminal:
– Anita’s Kitchen, near gate D23
– Lufthansa Business Lounge, near gate D6
Yes. Both the McNamara and Evans terminal have Clear lines for travelers that have TSA Precheck as well as one if you do not have precheck.
DTW is the airport code and abbreviation for Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
Yes. DTW is very safe with plenty of security
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