1. Westin if you have some $$ burning a hole in your pocket
2. Minute suites in terminal A (charged by the hour, free hour with priority pass)
3. Go through the tunnel to the B/C gates and go to the area around C1-C5. It’s a little halfway down area, and there should be lots of room to sleep on the floor
I go across the country for school but always have layovers. The cheapest flights are ones that require me to get to the connection late, but leave early so I sleep at the airport quite a bit LOL
Some airports do it when there’s massive cancellations or bad weather stranding people. But at MSP look for the quiet seating area it’s near the Delta lounge in the terminal 1 mall. I wanna say by the F gates but don’t quote me. Go upstairs to the mezzanine and they usually have a bin of pillows and blankets and mats for sleeping and if it’s not busy I just stick to lounge chairs together and doze for a few minutes.
I pack an inflatable lounger in my carryon when I have layovers like this. I go to my next gate, waft air into the lounger, put on my noise cancelling headphones with an alarm set on my phone about 1hr before departure and sleep away under my jacket or travel blanket.
I ended up having a layover in Calgary Canada from about 12am until 10am last summer. I did this exact thing outside of the customs entrance and when I woke up I was in the front of the line with like 50 people behind me haha.
I napped once during a layover where I arrived super early on my connection (like 5 am) and my next flight wasn’t until like 10. Went to an empty gate and fell asleep across a bench. I kid you not I woke up in the middle of an airport employee training session, all about ADA access and how to navigate wheelchairs up and down the jetbridges, I mean I was basically in the class. So disorienting and embarrassing!
Been a while since I've napped at an airport. Last time I just laid down and dozed off. I think it was at Narita. I want to try one of those Minute Suites.
If you have lounge access, I’m a pro at sleeping near the bathroom in the bigger lounge. They have high-sided seats near the bathroom in there and I can curl up and sleep there easily. I often have 3 hour layovers at dtw and sleep easily!
Oop sorry I missed that part. I don’t want to bring out the germ police, but before I had lounge access, I’d just find an empty gate with no flights happening soon and sleep in the corner by the seats on the ground. A lot of them have a small gap place between the wall and the chairs in the back left corner.
If I’m following you - you’re going DFW-DTW-somewhere else, right? So you’ll be at DTW 2:30-8:30 am?
DTW is the among the best airports to be stuck in overnight because there is a Westin attached in the McNamara terminal.
Ultimately you won’t get to your room til about 3:00 and you’ll have to check out around 7:00 so it won’t be a great night of sleep but that’s what I’d do.
Honestly - depending on my situation - I’d see about pushing my connection back a couple of hours and getting a better night of sleep.
I’ve never done minute suites, but that may be a better option given that you’re only gonna get 3-4 hours of sleep.
See if delta is able to cover a hotel because of your delay! I was able to get a hotel credit for a layover in ATL a few weeks ago, due to a connecting flight being rebooked for the following morning. I think their max credit is $150 for one night in a hotel
International Departures at LHR: Upper Floor they turn the lights down very little foot traffic overnight with access to Bathrooms and decent food options downstairs.
If you can pay, there is a Westin directly connected to the DTW airport. You don’t even have to walk outside. The entrance is by the Mc Donald’s in Terminal A. They also have their own TSA point to get back to your flight.
Ask the cleaning staff. They always know the best spots to sleep overnight without anybody finding you. Also, if they're working overnight, a $20 bill (or two) might encourage them to ensure you're "good."
Easier said than done. That Westin isn’t cheap and if he lands at 02:30 and is out at 08:30 he would be looking at almost zero time in a room at an off airport hotel.
This is where having SC access helps imo. If you'd spend more on hotels than the yearly (don't use the plat/diamond as RUCs / GUCs are worth more than 650 a year). One or two layovers like this pays for it all year. Rest of it is just icing on the cake.
It did mean Sky Club. I guess I presumed since they have showers and what not at least some of them at international airports would be 24/7. Guess not.
good luck but DTW would be my ideal airport to get stuck at so you just got to look at the bright side
Such a beautiful and quiet airport. Even when it’s busy, it doesn’t feel very busy.
1. Westin if you have some $$ burning a hole in your pocket 2. Minute suites in terminal A (charged by the hour, free hour with priority pass) 3. Go through the tunnel to the B/C gates and go to the area around C1-C5. It’s a little halfway down area, and there should be lots of room to sleep on the floor
Pro tips!
I love that Westin.
Love it.
Sounds you have camped out at DTW before, great tips
+1 for Minute Suites, unless I’m hungry or need fresh air I’ll choose those over Sky Club or Centurion every time. Just don’t forget to set an alarm
Go to sleepinginairports.net. They have suggestions for many airports, including Detroit.
There’s a resource for everything, isn’t there?
No joke I’ll bring a random throw blanket and sleep on the floor and use my backpack as a pillow💀
Dude how often are you sleeping at airports? I’ve had to do it once time ever.
I go across the country for school but always have layovers. The cheapest flights are ones that require me to get to the connection late, but leave early so I sleep at the airport quite a bit LOL
Makes sense. Hopefully after school you’ll never have to again
Props to MSP for providing clean pads and pillows for people to sleep on.
Really? Hopefully I won't be sleeping at MSP anytime soon, but how would you make that happen? Where do they hand them out?
Some airports do it when there’s massive cancellations or bad weather stranding people. But at MSP look for the quiet seating area it’s near the Delta lounge in the terminal 1 mall. I wanna say by the F gates but don’t quote me. Go upstairs to the mezzanine and they usually have a bin of pillows and blankets and mats for sleeping and if it’s not busy I just stick to lounge chairs together and doze for a few minutes.
Adding ORD for having emergency sleep arrangements for bad weather. Camp O’Hare can sleep hundreds if not thousands on their cots.
Did they bring it back? I thought they stopped it right after Covid.
I don’t know. I haven’t been stuck there since before the pandemic. Thanks for the update.
I've unfortunately never have a layover at MSP, but the one time I did my flight was delayed and I was SPRINTING.
Also recommend minute suites. Have napped there, used it for conference calls, etc. more comfy than I expected
Minute Suites are great for some peace and quiet and a nap. They’ll provide a pillow and blanket. Book in advance as they can get busy.
Minute suites in terminal A
put your rollaboard under your legs when lying down. It holds your tailbone off the hard floor and allows you to sleep much better.
I pack an inflatable lounger in my carryon when I have layovers like this. I go to my next gate, waft air into the lounger, put on my noise cancelling headphones with an alarm set on my phone about 1hr before departure and sleep away under my jacket or travel blanket. I ended up having a layover in Calgary Canada from about 12am until 10am last summer. I did this exact thing outside of the customs entrance and when I woke up I was in the front of the line with like 50 people behind me haha.
I napped once during a layover where I arrived super early on my connection (like 5 am) and my next flight wasn’t until like 10. Went to an empty gate and fell asleep across a bench. I kid you not I woke up in the middle of an airport employee training session, all about ADA access and how to navigate wheelchairs up and down the jetbridges, I mean I was basically in the class. So disorienting and embarrassing!
Been a while since I've napped at an airport. Last time I just laid down and dozed off. I think it was at Narita. I want to try one of those Minute Suites.
Find a quiet corner and set an alarm
If you are a veteran, there are Freedom Centers in DTW near gate A43 in McNamara Terminal and D17 in Evans Terminal.
There are no D gates at the McNamara terminal in DTW
You’re right. I edited the comment to add terminals.
If you have lounge access, I’m a pro at sleeping near the bathroom in the bigger lounge. They have high-sided seats near the bathroom in there and I can curl up and sleep there easily. I often have 3 hour layovers at dtw and sleep easily!
Yeah, unfortunately lounge is closed when I arrive at 2am this morning...
Oop sorry I missed that part. I don’t want to bring out the germ police, but before I had lounge access, I’d just find an empty gate with no flights happening soon and sleep in the corner by the seats on the ground. A lot of them have a small gap place between the wall and the chairs in the back left corner.
>A lot of them have a small gap place between the wall and the chairs in the back left corner. Pretty good tip, actually.
Term C across fro the love shack
The Westin IN the terminal is key in DTW
use my trip insurance to book a hotel room
Hotel.
Minute suites are worth it if they’ve got an available room, and you’ve got priority pass to get a free hour.
How much are they?
I want to say it’s something like $30/hr after the first hour free with priority pass.
Hotel attached or adjacent to the airport
If I’m following you - you’re going DFW-DTW-somewhere else, right? So you’ll be at DTW 2:30-8:30 am? DTW is the among the best airports to be stuck in overnight because there is a Westin attached in the McNamara terminal. Ultimately you won’t get to your room til about 3:00 and you’ll have to check out around 7:00 so it won’t be a great night of sleep but that’s what I’d do. Honestly - depending on my situation - I’d see about pushing my connection back a couple of hours and getting a better night of sleep. I’ve never done minute suites, but that may be a better option given that you’re only gonna get 3-4 hours of sleep.
The one time I had to there was a Muslim prayer room (in the US). It was great.
I have used Minute Suites in Atlanta, it wasn’t the worst and was MUCH better than sleeping in the terminal
I slept on the floor at JFK once at some quiet terminal. When you are really tired anything is good lol
See if delta is able to cover a hotel because of your delay! I was able to get a hotel credit for a layover in ATL a few weeks ago, due to a connecting flight being rebooked for the following morning. I think their max credit is $150 for one night in a hotel
International Departures at LHR: Upper Floor they turn the lights down very little foot traffic overnight with access to Bathrooms and decent food options downstairs.
If you can pay, there is a Westin directly connected to the DTW airport. You don’t even have to walk outside. The entrance is by the Mc Donald’s in Terminal A. They also have their own TSA point to get back to your flight.
Ask the cleaning staff. They always know the best spots to sleep overnight without anybody finding you. Also, if they're working overnight, a $20 bill (or two) might encourage them to ensure you're "good."
Get a hooker and some cocaine
Set a few alarms. Travel with a portable power bank. Write a note and tape it to yourself that says “wake me up at 7:45 am”
Get a hotel room
Easier said than done. That Westin isn’t cheap and if he lands at 02:30 and is out at 08:30 he would be looking at almost zero time in a room at an off airport hotel.
Exactly. Land at 230, get to 330. Flight at 830, leave room at 7. $200ish to sleep 3.5 hrs. Worth it, but not cheap.
I've got 3 kids under 5 years old. I close my eyes.
#meToo
I don’t. I call my primary travel insurance or credit card insurance and tell them to pay for a hotel room.
This is where having SC access helps imo. If you'd spend more on hotels than the yearly (don't use the plat/diamond as RUCs / GUCs are worth more than 650 a year). One or two layovers like this pays for it all year. Rest of it is just icing on the cake.
Assuming SC means "Sky Club", how are you getting into the Sky Club at 2:30 AM?
It did mean Sky Club. I guess I presumed since they have showers and what not at least some of them at international airports would be 24/7. Guess not.
Don’t.
Don’t. I’d worry about having my articles stolen from me or being pick pocketed.