Is a 45-Minute Layover Enough at DTW?
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County — Detroit
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Risky — 17% miss rate
It's risky — a 45 minutes layover at DTW gives you about a 17% chance of missing your connection.
17%
Miss Rate
81%
On-Time Rate
77m
Avg Delay
Why 45 Minutes Is Risky at DTW
A 45-minute connection at DTW is risky. Based on delay patterns, roughly 17% of travelers on connections like this would miss their flight. We recommend at least 138 minutes.
·Airport reliability: DTW has a 81% on-time rate
−High average delay: When flights are late at DTW, the average delay is 77 minutes
Minimum Connection Time at DTW
45m
Domestic
120m
International
Your layover exactly matches the domestic minimum. You'll make it if everything goes perfectly, but any delay on your inbound flight puts you at risk.
Terminal Transfers at DTW
How to transfer: ExpressTram within McNamara Terminal; bus between McNamara and North Terminal
Transfer time: 3-5 minutes within McNamara; 15-20 minutes between terminals
!TSA re-screening: Required for some terminal changes — McNamara and North terminals are not connected airside. Changing between them requires a bus and re-screening.
Compare Other Layover Times at DTW
Click any row to see the full analysis for that layover time.
What to Do Instead
- →Look for itineraries with 138+ minute layovers at DTW
- →Consider a direct flight if available
- →Book both legs on the same ticket (airline must rebook you if you miss the connection)
- →Choose an early morning first leg — morning flights are delayed less often
Check a Different Layover Time
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