How To Navigate Detroit Metro Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Off of Interstate 94
Detroit, MI 48242
(734) 247-7678
www.metroairport.com
It's no secret: Flying can be a taxing experience to many, and airports themselves can be difficult to navigate. At times, especially during busy flying season, DTW can be somewhat overwhelming, but with the help of courteous staff and knowing a bit about the airport before you arrive, your trip through DTW can not only be an easy one, but a pretty enjoyable one too, as the airport itself has plenty of great things to see and experience.
One of the biggest helping points in the Detroit Metropolitan Airport arsenal is the Airport Ambassadors program, which is a large group of volunteers who make their way around the massive airport looking for lost or confused travelers in an effort to help educate them and get them to where they are going. There are many of these individuals around, especially during large events and holiday times, and you can find them simply by keeping your eyes open. Odds are, they've spotted you and are heading over to help before you ever knew they were there. Airport Ambassadors are just one of the many ways that DTW helps to ensure that getting around at a stressful time is a piece of cake for their customers.
Let's face it, a lot can happen when you're traveling, be it issues at the office, family items or even uploading that new selfie of you to social media; sometimes you just need to be able to connect! At Detroit Metropolitan Airport, they've got you covered. DTW has now partnered with Advance Wireless Group to offer travelers some of the best wi-fi connection available, including while you're thousands of feet in the air in mid-flight! In order to connect from inside the terminal, set your Wi-Fi enabled device's SSID to "Detroit Airport Wi-fi" and open your browser. Then you're all set! No worrying about using up your precious data while waiting for your next flight or during a layover!
Ride The ExpressTram To Get Around Quickly
Detroit Metropolitan Airport's McNamara Terminal, Concourse A, is the world's second-longest airport concourse at nearly one mile in length! Because it is so long and definitely no easy trek for many passengers to make, the ExpressTram system was developed and specially-built for DTW by Otis Elevator Company for their one-of-a-kind terminal. Think of it as kind of a raised "L" train, like you'd see in downtown Chicago, but much more sleek and futuristic with its shiny red exterior booming along the stark white track. Traveling up to 30mph, the ExpressTram can quickly drop off and pick up passengers who need to get to their terminal in a hurry, with plenty of stops throughout Concourse A. Of course, the tram is free for travelers to ride, and they can take the tram around the terminal as often as they need to. This is a great way to save time (especially for speedy connecting flights!).
Sure, while knowing the history of the airport may not seem like the biggest advantage in getting around, it will help you pause to take a moment to appreciate just how large, old and complex DTW airport actually is. First dedicated in 1930 as Wayne County Airport, DTW got its start in the early days of flight (its first plane landed there a few months before the dedication). In the late 1940s, it was decided that the airport would become Detroit's primary airport, and with that decision, the choice to expand and grow soon followed. In 2009, during the Great Recession, DTW became one of the first major airports to join the social media effort with accounts on Facebook, Twitter and others, and despite the economic downturn, Detroit Metro Airport still exists as one of the most exciting and dynamic airports in the world.
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