Airport Questions

[DoctorHurricane2003]

Has anyone here flown through Detroit Metropolitan/Wayne County (DTW) and/or Memphis International (MEM)?

[HurryKane]

I've flown through Memphis but it was about 3-4 years ago. Whatcha need to know?

[nystate]

I have flown through Detroit. I love that airport, it is so modern, clean, and efficient!

I assume that you are flying on Northwest...Those Diesel-9s are a fun ride if that is what they are putting you on.

[DoctorHurricane2003]

Any major problems with either? What good food places do they have, etc.?

I'm trying to get a diagnosis before I go...lol

I think I'm going to be on a pretty big plane between DTW and MEM, and maybe a MD-80 between MDT and DTW and a CRJ between MEM and PNS. I can't remember..lol

[ohiostorm]

Depending on which terminal you fly into in Detroit, one is horrible while the other has been modernized and remodeled. The MD- 80 is a good plane. Not as much thrust on takeoff as some others like the 737 or ones similar in size but a nice aircraft. I flew on one with American Airlines when I flew to Los Angeles. I'm not too fimiliar with Memphis other then its the biggest cargo airport in the country. I work at Pittsburgh International so I hear people talk about different airport.

[Brent]

I flew into and out of Memphis in Early January 2001(pre 9/11). It was pretty small and cramped. I wasn't there long and was in a hurry(plane was late getting in)... so I don't remember much about the food.

Here's the website for them though: http://www.memphisairport.org/

and Detroit(never been): http://www.metroairport.com/

I flew on an MD-80 one leg... it's pretty good. Just DO NOT sit in the back behind the wings(where the engines are) unless you want a very noisy(and I do mean LOUD) flight. The farther away the better.

[nystate]

Well if you are flying Northwest you won't be on an MD-80...they don't operate any. However, you will probably be on a DC-9, which is basically the predecessor to the MD-80. DC-9s are more fun anyways. The CRJ you are flying on can be fun, although from my experiences they aren't the most comfortable airplanes in the world to fly on.

Detroit's main terminal, McNamera terminal, is 1 mile long and is full of shops and restaraunts. There is a tram raised above the ground if you need to get from one end of the terminal to the other in a hurry. You can find the restaraunts/shops at the airport in the links that Brent provided.

Have fun!

[ohiostorm]

Is that the new terminal?

[gtalum]

Detroit's Concourse A is the nice new Northwest terminals. You won't have any problems finding food or getting around in the mile-long terminal. They have a very easy-to-navigate tram that goes from one end of the terminal to the other, with a stop at each end and one in the middle. It is signed very well as to whether you should walk or take the tram to your gate.

If you are arriving or departing on a regional jet or a propeller-plane, you will have to transit a tunnel between concourse sA and B, but it's very easy and very well-signed.

MEM is very small, and the concourses are very narrow and crowded with low ceilings. If you have time, though, grab some excellent barbecue at one of the two barbecue joints. There is one barbecue joint in each of the two "top" legs of the Y that the terminal forms.

[DoctorHurricane2003]

Cool, thanks guys! Yeah I was planning to get small meal at one of DTW's 63418431094313149043 food places, and getting like a BBQ sandwich at MEM.