Flight changing in Detroit

[AlisonFromUK]

We've always flown direct before, never changed, but we've just booked a holiday for April but the flight changes in Detroit. I have no idea at all how this works, what you have to do when you land in Detroit.

Probably sounds mad to a lot of you who do this all the time, but what happens? Is it all pretty painless? Do we have to do much regarding getting paperwork and luggage sorted?

I just want to know what to expect instead of wandering around the airport like a total plonker:lol: LOL

[carissa]

Hello:D

It's very painless, all you have to do is get off your plane and go to the gate of the plane from Detroit to Orlando. No security or picking up your luggage, your luggage will be put on your next plane. If you have a sufficient amount of time between flights this would be a good time to get lunch.
Have Fun, April is just around the corner.:wiggle:

[mistybeatle]

i had a layover in that airport when i went to germany. it's very easy to navigate and not very big. it'll be a piece of cake.

[dcfromva]

Here is a link to the Detroit Metro Web page (http://www.metroairport.com/)

..and moving this over to the Transport board...

-DC :ears:

[Babymischief]

Don`t worry... Detroit airport is not very big, have flown into and out of there hundreds of times and take a book... hardly any shops to shop and eat :o( You will not get lost.

[Vikki]

I always thought you had to check in again, and repeat it all, I never realised it was that simple......hum, perhaps it might be worth looking into for the next trip......

[dcfromva]

I always thought you had to check in again, and repeat it all, I never realised it was that simple......hum, perhaps it might be worth looking into for the next trip......
Vikki,
It depends on which way you are flying... If you are coming from the UK and DTW is your first point of entry into the US, then you have to collect your baggage and clear customs and immigration and all that stuff.

However, if your flight is going the other way from Orlando going home to the UK, then all you have to do in DTW is go to the next gate and catch your plane to the UK--your baggage should be checked to your first point of entry into the UK.

-DC :ears:

[ukwdwnut]

my cousin did this a few years back, overall the journey took, 14-15 hrs, didnt change at detroit, not sure where tho :D

[AlisonFromUK]

so when we land in Detroit from the UK we will have to collect luggage and then go and check in - but coming home we just have to go to the gate when we land in Detroit. Is this right?

[Kevin]

so when we land in Detroit from the UK we will have to collect luggage and then go and check in - but coming home we just have to go to the gate when we land in Detroit. Is this right?
Yep that's right, when you land in Detroit from UK it is your entry to USA, will have to check luggage and have finger print and eye photo but it is made easy no problems. On return in USA it is an internal flight so no luggage check that will happen in the UK. Went via Detroit in October, very good signposting no problem getting the connection, it will break the journey up for you then when you land in Orlando you do not have to go through customs, saves a bit of time

[ukwdwnut]

kevin, how long from uk to orlando overall? :D

[Kevin]

kevin, how long from uk to orlando overall? :D
All depends on flights Mike. Probably around 12 hours via Detroit if you get a good connection.

[ukwdwnut]

ok thanks kevin :D

[jill]

hi all, im flying to orlando via philadelphia in 29 days (so my daughter tells me, she could probably quote the minutes and seconds too if i asked). is it the same at philadelphia for changing, we only have 1 1/2 hours in philadelphia, is that sufficient time to get from one plane to the next and also get through customs. any advice would be appreciated

[JuniorMickey]

It's the same process no matter which airport you fly into. You clear customs at the first US Airport you arrive at

[AlisonFromUK]

Sorry - just double checking... ok you go through customs, but will we have to get our cases before booking onto orlando flight? that sometimes takes ages getting your case off the carosel. I hope it doesn't take too long as we have about 90 minutes before our flight to Orlando. :unsure:

[Vikki]

Vikki,
It depends on which way you are flying... If you are coming from the UK and DTW is your first point of entry into the US, then you have to collect your baggage and clear customs and immigration and all that stuff.



Ah I see, thanks for that. I just don't know if it's worth it. I wouldn't think it'd be too bad going, as the longer journey will just build the excitment, but going home it would seem like an awfully long journey.....

[Kitten]

Speaking from personal experience, we have never had to pick up our bags at the first airport, the airline has always transferd our bags onto the connecting flight, all we have ever had to do at air port one, is go through imigration, and then wait for our connecting flight to MCO or LAX. Maybe it has changed since we last did that, but thats the way it has always been on our trips.

[uscwest]

I haven't flown internationally in several years now. However, almost every time I flew I was flying to the Pacific so I had to stop somewhere in the US prior to my return to Washington D.C. Now I am a US Citizen obviously but I ALWAYS had to get my bags, go through customs and then place my bags on a conveyor belt to transfer them to my connecting flight. I never had to go through checkin for the connection though, just show up at the gate and board as I already had my seat assignment from my initial check in.

[dcfromva]

Speaking from personal experience, we have never had to pick up our bags at the first airport, the airline has always transferd our bags onto the connecting flight, all we have ever had to do at air port one, is go through imigration, and then wait for our connecting flight to MCO or LAX. Maybe it has changed since we last did that, but thats the way it has always been on our trips.
Kitten,
You didn't have to present your bags when you went through customs at your first airport of entry?

-DC :ears: