Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

I realized how much I love this airport. Every time I go through I think ‘Wow!’ ... too bad the rest of Detroit doesn’t really live up to this beauty.

It’s a nice start to refreshing things. I still can’t get enough of that light tunnel – it’s stunning.

I was unable to get an earlier flight out and had a long wait under the Cone of Announcements. When I sauntered back over closer to the gate, I found a lot of the rocks in this garden area have been adorned with little notes about people’s travels. These were kind of fun to read.

and they were greatly exceeded. The horror stories had conjured up an image of free-roving mutants in search of cheap fuel. No, wait, that was Mad Max. Anyway, it’s clean, bright, quiet and bereft of stupid security tapes blaring warnings to the clueless. It’s also huuuge. The hike to baggage claim felt like it would be measured in miles, but distracting me from this is the undergound passageway – it rocks.

Be sure to check out the underground passageway if you have time. Every time I have connecting flights in Detroit, the music and ambient lighting is different.

I am glad to hear it was recently renovated. I was last at this airport around 1999-2000 and declared it the worst airport in the united states in terms of its size and lack of any sort of entertainment value. I know its an airport, but please, give me a break.

It had one exhibit, which included several displays on how detroit has shaped the industrial world with locally designed piston pumps and other factory machinery. No, nothing car related. I spent 8 hours in this airport. It was either these boring displays, a maze of gates and newspaper stands, or sleeping. I sort of walked in circles the whole time…good thing this was before 9-11 or else they would have thrown me in jail for my repetitive pacing.

Maybe the main problem was I was underage at the time. Probably a great airport to get drunk in.

I was there during peak season right after Christmas. It was crowded as hell. You could hardly walk without bumping into someone. For smokers, be sure to check out the Fox Sports Bar located in the main entrance, right off of Concourse A. It’s a relaxed environment to grab a beer and have a cigarette before heading to your gate. The shops are pretty cool but overpriced like most airports. The tunnel between the main concourse and concourses b/c is cool. Little touches like this do alot to make a crowded airport seem a bit more friendly. All in all, It’s a big, busy airport. Consider taking the shuttle if your connection is a good distance from where you arrive. But if you have time, consider walking around and exploring the place. You are sure to find some decent food and you might even meet some interesting people.

It’s not a bad place to get stranded. The renovations have really updated the place, even with that weirdo tunnel they have. You can smoke and get good food and hang out without feeling too crowded or stressed.

Wireless access is via Boingo, $7.95/day.

Usually when I travel through Detroit (provided I am only passing through the airport) I love it… the color tunnel – it is mesmerizing and beautiful.

I suggest walking through the tunnel several times… it is great!

The renovations are nice, but the wait for baggage is nearly unbearable.