Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is putting on its holiday best,entering the busy Thanksgiving travel season. Local culinary favorites such as Plum Market andZingerman’s recently opened in the McNamara Terminal, near Gate A-36. Detroit-based Corridor Kitchen, serving artisan meats, sausages and charcuterie, along with Grobbel’s Gourmet Deli opened this past weekend, just in time for Thanksgiving travelers.
The terminals are alive with holiday music and decorations. Earlier this week, sounds of the season, such as Manheim Steamroller hits, the Charlie Brown Christmas song and others began playing in the McNamara Terminal’s light & sound tunnel that connects Concourse A to the B/C gates. Keith Ferguson, Detroit’s own Self-Taught Street Musician and Musical Director for the Spinners will also be entertaining guests on a brand new white baby grand piano that just arrived at the McNamara Terminal’s signature water feature and illy café. Ferguson has played with Anita Baker, Cheryl Lynn, Martha Reeves and Stevie Wonder among others, and will be a regular at the McNamara Terminal, performing in the new water feature lounge.
To help travelers navigate the terminals, the airport has also completed installation of twenty-three new state-of-the-art digital terminal directories, with two unique 98-inch ultra-high definition (UHD) 4K displays, which will feature boarding pass scanners that visually plot the shortest path to a customer’s gate. The 98” displays are the largest in the world installed for passenger wayfinding.
New airlines and additional routes have also arrived since the last holiday season. Virgin Atlantic started new non-stop service to London, and JetBlue and Frontier began service to three destinations in Florida. Detroit’s hub carrier, Delta Air Lines, also announced they will initiate new non-stop international service to Munich, Germany starting in May.
“We have had a busy, productive and successful year at our airports,” said Airport Authority CEO Thomas Naughton. “These new routes and passenger amenities should help all our travelers navigate and enjoy our terminals with ease, and in the spirit of the season.”
Tips for Holiday Travelers
Ø ACTIVE LOADING & UNLOADING AT THE TERMINAL CURB FRONTS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
o NEVER leave your vehicle on the arrivals or departure curb unattended. Unattended vehicles will be ticketed and towed.
o The curb fronts at both terminals are reserved for Active loading and unloading ONLY and can become extremely congested during peak times. Airport Police will be doing their best to move motorists along to prevent traffic back-ups. Take advantage of the airport’s Short Term Parking at both terminals is $4 for thirty minutes or less, and $6 for up to an hour.
o Pre-Arrange a meeting location with the traveler you are picking-up. In addition to short-term parking lots, two complimentary cell-phone lots are available at the North and South ends of the airport. Please visit the following link for a map:
https://www.metroairport.com/TravelerInfo/Arriving/MapsDirections/AreaMap.aspx
Ø Know your airline, and/or terminal before arriving at the airport. Detroit Metro Airport has two terminals; the McNamara Terminal and the North Terminal. Delta Air Lines, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, and KLM operate from the McNamara Terminal. All other airlines, including charters, operate from the North Terminal. For airline contact information visit: https://www.metroairport.com/Airlines.aspx
Ø Arrive early! Everything is easier when you’re not rushing. During the holidays, the airport welcomes a higher percentage of inexperienced travelers who may need extra time. It is important to arrive early to avoid the stress of rushing to your flight. We recommend arriving 90 minutes before a domestic flight, and 2 hours before an international flight. Allowing extra time will enable you to park, check your luggage, proceed through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening, and travel to your departure gate.
Ø Don’t wrap gifts before traveling. Packages that are wrapped may need to be opened by TSA, causing disappointment and delays at the screening checkpoints
Ø Check your bags for prohibited items BEFORE arriving at the airport. Attempting to proceed through TSA screening with prohibited items in your bag will delay the screening process for you and other passengers. To find out what exactly is considered a prohibited item visit: www.tsa.gov, and remember it doesn’t have to be a weapon to be considered a prohibited item. All liquids and gels over 3.4 ounces are prohibited in carry-on luggage.
Ø Arrange for special needs in advance. The Airport Authority and its partners are committed to providing a welcoming and convenient travel experience for all passengers. Travelers who may require special assistance should advise their airline or TSA ahead of time. More information for travelers who may have special needs can be found at: https://www.metroairport.com/Accessibility.aspx, or TSA Cares at: 855-787-2227.
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