  Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 1027 Registered: 09-2005 |
I have been pricing out a trip to Korea to visit my brother and Northwest continues to have one the best prices (leaving from Ottawa). Other than the fact I am not sold on flying Northwest to Asia, the main disadvantage is that there will be large layovers at DTW (of 5 and then 7 hours). While the Northwest terminal is wonderful, a seven hour layover begs for a seasoned traveller to head into the city. However, as everyone probably knows, there is no cheap, efficient and direct transit from DTW to Detroit. For a quick run into the city, the taxi fare is too expensive. Also, if I had a 24 hour layover I would consider SMART, but there is no way that I would take such a convoluted and long route even with a seven hour layover. I am a big proponent of Philly's rail system which will get you downtown and back for about $11 taking 30 minutes from the airport to downtown with service running every 30 minutes. I understand the proposed AA-Detroit commuter line will serve DTW, but until then why is there no cheap, direct, public transit service running from DTW to Detroit? If there was, I would lean towards flying Northwest. Since there is not, United (and Chicago) will likely get my business -- in fairness, the layovers are also a lot shorter. | ||
Lghart Member Username: Lghart Post Number: 118 Registered: 03-2004 |
I have the same problem as I'm a commuter in and out of Detroit as work is in another city. Seems like there would be a market for a van/bus service that serviced the downtown hotels and maybe a couple of other locations. Similar to what they have in other cities. Best bet for a short stay at low dollars would be to find the cheapest rental car for the day and drive into the city. If you catch them at the right time, you can get cheap rentals around $20.00/day | ||
Rax Member Username: Rax Post Number: 41 Registered: 11-2007 |
Your purchasing a flight to Korea, but you're worried about a 40 dollar cab ride? | ||
Tiorted Member Username: Tiorted Post Number: 105 Registered: 02-2006 |
http://www.metroairport.com/tr ansportation/ http://www.checkersedan.com/ra tes.php http://www.metroairporttaxi.or g/rates.htm | ||
Lghart Member Username: Lghart Post Number: 119 Registered: 03-2004 |
To and from Downtown will run you around $100 in a taxi, done it several times, lots of fun... | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 1029 Registered: 09-2005 |
Rax, the purpose of the trip is to go to Korea. The layover has presented me with an opportunity for a quick visit to Detroit (a city I have been to many times). The fare would actually be $82 plus tip so around $90. The issue is not whether I have $90, the issue is whether I want to spend that $90 in order to spend a couple hours in Detroit. In most cities, I would be able to run downtown for a few hours and then head back for about $10 round trip. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 2338 Registered: 04-2006 |
You could rent a car. It probably will be in the $40 range in total... | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 1030 Registered: 09-2005 |
$40 would still be quite expensive for a student or someone with a slight interest in seeing Detroit for a couple of hours. Also, renting a car does involve taking shuttle buses, line ups at rental car lots, and having to stop to put a few dollars of gas in the tank prior to returning the vehicle. That can be a bit of a hassle. But it certainly is an option. That being said, $40 is certainly more than it costs for return trips to Toronto ($5.00), Philly ($11.00), Chicago ($3.00) and back twice. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 1310 Registered: 12-2005 |
So even though NW has the cheapest fare, just because you don't want to spend $40 for a rental car to see Detroit, you are going to spend more for a United flight to Chicago - even though you won't have time to see much of anything in their town. Sounds like you will be "cutting off your nose to spite your face"! | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 1550 Registered: 01-2005 |
Ha Ha Ha Ha RAX...my sentiments exactly. New York we ain't when it comes to public transportation...but it's definitely a cheaper cab ride than you'd pay if you were, oh say, taking a cab from JFK to Manhattan. In my limited experience traveling...7 hours seems like a long time until you have a few cocktails, do some work on the internet, explore the airport a bit, wait in a boarding line for 45 minutes... If I were you, I wouldn't bother leaving the airport. I would pay the daily fee to use NWA executive club and its privelages. I think you can arrange it for long layovers. The one's in Detroit are VERY nice. I think they call it a WorldClub Day Pass or something. | ||
Lghart Member Username: Lghart Post Number: 120 Registered: 03-2004 |
$45 plus tolls to Manhattan from JFK, very similar price. Subway and airtrain is $7 | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 1031 Registered: 09-2005 |
Mikeg: the price difference is less than $40, but that really doesn't matter. What does matter is that there is no cheap and efficient way to get from DTW to Detroit. Other Metros have it -- why can't Detroit? I mean, the roads already exist.... | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 2340 Registered: 04-2006 |
quote: Actually, no it isn't a similar price. That $45 cab fee is one way. The airtrain is $5 one way plus $2 subway far (oneway). So actually, you're looking at a $14 ride to/from JFK. Ottawa, I do agree that there is no cheap efficient way to get to Detroit (or anywhere in metro Detroit) from DTW without a car, but I think this was a poor argument in favor of it. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 450 Registered: 08-2007 |
I suspect the reason there isn't a shuttle bus to downtown Detroit is because business travelers would use it, thus not hiring a cab or limo. The cab/limo folks contribute quite heavily to our County Executive and thus have Ficano's ear on this issue. If the question is should there be a cheap shuttle to downtown? yup. If the question is why there isn't a cheap shuttle, I surmise the answer is linked to our political big-wigs. For a different idea, take a cab to The Henry Ford/Greenfield Village instead. It'll cost you about 30 bucks RT and will let you take a peek at some pretty amazing sights like Brian Mulrooney's chin implants, Margret Trudeau's thong collection, and a RCMP gay friendly recruiting posters. Impressive. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2374 Registered: 01-2005 |
Stay south of the 38th parallel. It's kind of like Eight Mile Road.  | ||
Tompage Member Username: Tompage Post Number: 48 Registered: 01-2005 |
I live in midtown Detroit, and I regularly take SMART 125 to DTW. Yes, I'd prefer rail or an express bus. But, on the whole, SMART 125 isn't a bad alternative. In fact, I took 125 this past Friday to DTW, and will take it back to downtown tomorrow from the airport. TRU (detroittransit.org) recently asked me to write an article about SMART 125 from downtown to DTW. Here is an excerpt from this upcoming article explaining the cost issues: "The trip from downtown Detroit to DTW takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. For comparison purposes, Google maps reports the distance between the foot of Woodward and Jefferson and the airport as 21 miles. Google estimates the time required for this trip as 25 minutes (35 in heavy traffic). Using the federal mileage reimbursement rate of $0.485 per mile, 42 miles calculates to $20.37 vehicle costs. Of course, this doesn’t include parking. Compare this to $3.00 round trip bus fare! "So, yes, the bus is slower than a car. About an hour slower each way. Don’t forget this is just the transportation time to the airport. SMART drops you off at the terminal. Figure in the time spent parking (just try to find a spot at holiday time!) and schlepping your luggage through the lots to the terminal, and it’s pretty much a wash in time. "As they say, do the math! $3.00 round trip bus fare versus $20.37 plus parking ($10 a day). Compare this to say $40 to $50 cab or limousine ride – one way, and taking the bus is a real money saver." | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 411 Registered: 08-2006 |
Ottowa's right, you people are crazy to think that anyone would just flop dow $100 for a RT cab ride. Yeah right! The cost to get downtown should be no more than $15. Thankfully SMART does offer a bus. Tompage has the info. so does their website: http://www.smartbus.org/Smart/ Ride+SMART/System+Map/ So you figure 3hrs round trip on the bus, that leaves you a good 2-4 hours to enjoy the city. not ideal, but doable. | ||
Courtney Member Username: Courtney Post Number: 162 Registered: 06-2004 |
7 hours would be cutting it way close to leave the airport, no matter what transportation option you chose. Even IF the first flight landed at the time it was supposed to and you got off the plane in record time. Conservatively an hour off 7 there to get just out of the airport, likely more if you decided to get a rental. Coming back, you'd want plenty of time to get through security (again) and board, so 2 hours there. So 4 hours to get through traffic around the airport, on the freeway during rushhour (iirc, those flights are usually early evening), and do sightseeing (while rushing to make sure you made it back to not miss the flight) isn't what I'd call enjoyable. Of course, if you missed the flight, you might always end up with a 24 hour layover, which would be plenty "visitable". | ||
Rax Member Username: Rax Post Number: 42 Registered: 11-2007 |
Not trying to be a jerk, but what are you really going to see in 2 hours? Especially if you've already been to Detroit several times. | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 412 Registered: 08-2006 |
Well i know Ottawa has casinos. OP could check out the reopened DIA. That'd be enough to see it. | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 1552 Registered: 01-2005 |
Upinottawa what's the point of this thread? To see if 7 hours at Detroit's airport is enough to see the city, or start a debate about light or hard-rail transportation to downtown detroit from the airport? For the second one...duh. We all agree. This is beating a dead horse. Having said that...nobody should be surprised that it's harder to get from DTW to Detroit than JFK to Manhattan, ORD to Chicago or SFO to San Francisco...those are all destination cities. DTW is busy yes, but not as a destination...as a hub. As for the first question...I don't think getting a cab, rushing around, going back through security, all that shit in 6 or 7 hours, is worth a side trip to Detroit. If you want to come here and stay for a few days, then do it. Hotels certainly are cheap enough. If the ticket is cheaper through Detroit, congratulations. If you're layover isn't long enough to visit Detroit too, then don't beat us over the head about public transportation to/from dtw from downtown...again. Geesh. I guess I just don't get the argument you're making about coming through detroit for the layover...and I'm growing increasingly annoyed with myself for even responding to this thread. Ahem. Breath...breath. ok that's better... ;) | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5703 Registered: 11-2003 |
jjaba has your solution several times over. 1. Take a taxi to the Arab-American Museum, Dearborn. Tour the museum and across the street is a great middle eastern restaurant, better than anything in Canada. Ask your driver to pick you back up at an appointed hour. For extra time, walk the streets of East Dearborn. 2. Landing Strip Club, Romulus. Near airport. Walk around in Romulus to cool off. Take taxi back. Metro Airport is IN Romulus, Michigan. 3. Arrange for the Ford Rouge Plant Tour by schedule. Seven total hrs. is more than enough. Any leftover time can be spent at The Henry Ford Museum or Greenfield Village. A plesant day of tours. 4. Taxi to W. Vernor and Junction (Detroit) for a coney island lunch at Duly's. Walk in neighborhood in SW Detroit, soak in the culture, eat some Mexican pastries, and return by taxi. Ask your driver to pick you up at scheduled time. 5. Arrange with somebody on this Forum to pick your Canadian ass up for a private tour. We love Canadians and will go the extra mile for you. You buy the coneys or the tips at the strip club. jjaba, showing some American hospitality. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 2346 Registered: 04-2006 |
^Actually, Metro Airport is in Detroit. It's surrounded by Romulus... | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 419 Registered: 08-2006 |
jjaba's got some good ideas. Forget downtown if you've seen it already. Check out some of the vibrant neighborhoods. Vernor/Junction is an awesome area if you're in to seeing some of the local scene. | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 1032 Registered: 09-2005 |
Alright, let's get back to basics, my original points were: 1. a seven hour layover is usually long enough for someone to visit a major city for a few hours and then get back to the airport to catch a connecting flight; and 2. DTW has no lost cost, direct transit option to the area's major center, i.e. Detroit, although most other major centers provide such service (either by rail, bus, rail/bus, etc.). The thread is not about me (I have been to Metro Detroit well over a hundred times and I have no great desire to make a dash downtown for a couple of hours), it is about asking why there is no cheap and direct transit option running between now and the time the proposed AA-Detroit rail line starts to allow travellers to spend a couple hours in Detroit rather than at the airport. | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 423 Registered: 08-2006 |
I guess the answer to your question is because the AA-Detroit commuter line is going to be built. Why offer temporary "cheap" options if the commuter line IS GOING TO BE the cheap option. | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 1033 Registered: 09-2005 |
Why not? Running a direct bus that takes I-94 would be fairly easy. | ||
Rax Member Username: Rax Post Number: 45 Registered: 11-2007 |
No demand for it. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5704 Registered: 11-2003 |
Ottawa, this is the Motor City, which means cars. Detroit doesn't have nor care to have bus lanes along canals, light rail, heavy rail, or commuter shuttles at cheap prices. If Detroit was called, City of Brotherly Love, then maybe things would be different. There are scores of American cities with rail or express bus services to airports. Detroit ain't one of them. jjaba would think that going out to Asia from Canada would be better anyways but what does jjaba know. Your dollar is high right now and should buy alot, or is Canada still a tiny market unwilling to compete? Maybe you'd like LAX, SFO, SEA or PDX better. They all go to Asia and then some. jjaba. | ||
Dds Member Username: Dds Post Number: 474 Registered: 10-2006 |
quote: I think jjaba is volunteering. Give him a call. | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 1046 Registered: 09-2007 |
Bigger reason why The City of Detroit needs to make City Airport more attractive. A 10 minute ride to downtown and to the suburbs up Gratiot. Anyway, we do need some type of mass shuttle service to and from the airport. We would need something that's frequent and cheap though. | ||
Mwilbert Member Username: Mwilbert Post Number: 32 Registered: 11-2007 |
There used to be a shuttle bus from Metro to the Ponchartrain and the hotel in the RenCen. I took it many times. I know it doesn't exist anymore, but I don't know why. I think it went to the old Greyhound terminal too. | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 424 Registered: 08-2006 |
Detroit should pioneer a new type of mass transit called AUTOMOBILE MASS TRANSIT. The concept is simple... each person who wants to get around the city simply puts a certain amount of money down per month to borrow one of the wonderful vehicles that are made in the city. They get free reign on where they want to go, and they can choose any car they want. To facilitate this, Detroit and its suburban neighbors sign a pact to build the most comprehensive AUTOMOBILE MASS TRANSIT system in the world. On/off ramps provide easy access to surrounding neighborhoods. Get rid of some of those unsightly abandoned buildings to make room for AUTOMOBILE MASS TRANSIT storage facilities and -- tada, you got yourself a whole new Detroit! | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 1048 Registered: 09-2007 |
Somebody already thought of it and put it into effect 50 years ago. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5707 Registered: 11-2003 |
Southfield's Michigan Inn had a wonderful shuttle service also. It was reliable service, incoming and outgoing, and you had a heated waiting room in the hotel. jjaba thinks there were airline offices there also like AA or UAL. jjaba. | ||
Gsgeorge Member Username: Gsgeorge Post Number: 426 Registered: 08-2006 |
Detroitrise doesn't understand sarcasm. ....that is unless he too is being sarcastic.... Am I incorrect in assuming that some downtown hotels still maintain an airport shuttle service? Certainly the Marriott RenCen? Will the future Westin Book-Cadillac have a shuttle? | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 1052 Registered: 09-2007 |
"....that is unless he too is being sarcastic...." Never would I be sarcastic. | ||
Leland_palmer Member Username: Leland_palmer Post Number: 423 Registered: 08-2004 |
Catch the Michigan Flyer to East Lansing/Lansing http://www.michiganflyer.com/ The fare will be $25 each way for one person, or $40 for a couple and $50 for a family of up to six people. Travel time is estimated at 1 hour and 40 minutes. Service will begin at 4:30 a.m. from East Lansing and end at 9 p.m., leaving every two hours. Return rides from the airport begin at 6:50 a.m. and end at 9 p.m. | ||
Yeti Member Username: Yeti Post Number: 18 Registered: 09-2007 |
You can round trip to Down Town Ann Arbor for $70 http://a2airportshuttle.com/ | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 1035 Registered: 09-2005 |
For $68 CDN you can take a round trip from Windsor to DTW. http://www.robertq.com/Airbus/ index.html That being said, shuttle services are designed to get people from a residence/hotel to the desired terminal and from the terminal to a residence/hotel. This door to door service is going to be more expensive since you are paying for the convenience. On the other hand, public transit to the airport should get a person from a transit hub to the airport and from the airport to a transit hub. This type of "mass" service should be relatively inexpensive and would require a person to haul their luggage to their desired location. DDOT or SMART should be able to provide reasonably direct service for about $10 round trip. Again, most other metros provide this type of cheap service (it is less that $4 round trip in Ottawa). |
