I would think that you would be on the same plane.

I don't know the issues involved with nested tickets, at one point I had two tickets combined at the ticket counter and they did check the luggage all the way through. With your routing there is a possiblity that they would just re-ticket you MSP-DTW. Some airlines do this, I am not sure about NW.

If I was doing this, I think that I would UPS my luggage to Detroit (office,hotel,friend,etc) and do the trip with carry on only. Then if the flight from MSP arrives late, you can de-plane, check in at the gate (or better yet, check in on-line before you leave home) and re-board. Sometimes if the plane is late they can turn it in 20 minutes, so even though it is the same plane if you have to claim luggage and check in and go through security you have missed the flight. Also remember NW requires luggage to be checked 30 minutes before the flight, so even if everything is on time if you have a delay at baggage or the check in line you are still going to miss the return.

[This message has been edited by wldtrvlr (edited Feb 05, 2004).]