Dread? Of all the things in life to dread, is 4 hours in DTW one of them? :)

Also, I'll bet it's more like 3 hours, between de-boarding, and boarding. And if you have a SC membership, that covers most of that time. Lots of suggestions here. Just walk A once, and you'll see tons of things to do. Don't forget the area by the SC entrance, that leads toward security.

Ahh, the old DTW, especially the Ho Chi Minh Trail from F to G:D

The DTW list
 

My ordered list for things to do at DTW:

1. Sora Sushi - I have bought a fully refundable ticket just to meet-up with people and have dinner there. ;)
2. Vino Volo
3. Main skyclub overlooking the concourse, followed by any other skyclub.
4. Sitting in the Westin atrium for a zen experience (not a huge fan of the food)
5. Stand at one end of the A concourse and try to look ALL the way down to the other - imagine what mile-long sports you could play.

DTW is my base so I wouldn't use the Wstin health-club

The tunnel is very neat if you haven't seen it and have time to enjoy it. Its not so neat if you are rushing for a 6 am flight, barely awake and the seizure-inducing music/light-show is on.

The tram is new, open, useful and efficient, but it is still just a tram like many other airports have.

I had forgotten how bad the old DTW was 8 years already. It is also nice to see the other terminal replaced as well

DTW is the best place for a long layover.

Suggestions (repeating many previous)

1. Ride the tram the full length to spot the restaurants and shops you might like to visit.
2. At the center station, near A40 you'll find one of the best Sky Clubs outside of Narita.
3. Also near A40 you'll find the entrance to the color tunnel, aka psychedelic tunnel. Bring a sharpie and sign a rock, and look for rocks signed by your FT friends.
4. The color tunnel takes you to "little jet land" aka the B and C concourse. There's a Skyclub at that end of the tunnel too with great views of all the 747s coming from and going to Asia.
5. Listen for the very cool multi-lingual time zone announcements. After four hours you'll be able to recite them in Chinese and Japanese.
6. Also on the PA system listen for the rare screech of the hawks. Elsewhere posted on FT I read these are an attempt to frighten many of the smaller birds who have taken up residence at DTW, although I don't know where they're supposed to go - I've never been able to find the exit from DTW.

Have fun - you'll love DTW.

7. Mock the DLAmex credit card carnival barkers. They are always at the intersection in the A concourse adjacent to the entrance to the tunnel to B/C concourses.

8. Spend some time reflecting on how nice it is that you are not connecting through ATL.

Japanese food at Sora, massages at the Oxygen place, loads of bookstores including at least one mini-Borders, and a wine bar to read your books at.

Could be a lot worse, trust me.

+1

DTW is a true world-class airport and makes other US airports like JFK/LAX look like third world dumps. DTW can truly compete with international super airports like SIN, ICN or NRT.

I always avoid DTW...guess I shouldn't according to these post. I must have had blinders on.

Never mind the sushi - if you've burnt off some calories at the gym you can restore them by pigging out over the deliciously garlicky gyros at the Mediterranean Grill

It must have been your white cane that I tripped over at gate A40. Seriously, either you haven't been to DTW since the new terminal opened or you are legally blind.

+1

For my money there are only three truly enjoyable US airports to in which to spend extended time - DTW, PDX, and the new International Concourses (A and G) at SFO.

Make a visit to Gayle's near gate A21 - some of the best chocolates in the Metro Detroit area - all locally made!

Objectively, DTW is quite different from ATL. Here are just a few objective metrics:

- the concourses are wider than ATL. When people spill out from the gate area into the concourse, you can easily navigate around them or take the moving walkways. ATL has no concourse length moving walkways and navigating around the hordes of people is like playing plinko on the Price is Right. ATL simply has more people in its concourses than DTW does on a daily basis while having narrower facilities by comparison.

- significantly more windows and a much higher ceiling. Rather than having noise reverberate across multiple gates like happens at ATL -- and having minimal natural lighting like ATL -- DTW has an abundance of natural light and high ceilings that allow gate noise to dissipate rapidly.

- The Sky Clubs at DTW are less crowded than the ATL Sky Clubs, even the Terminal E Sky Club at ATL. There is more seating in smaller sectioned off areas and more self-serve areas for water, coffee, snacks, etc.

- DTW has a 4-star hotel attached directly to the concourse with its own TSA checkpoint, allowing you to exercise, eat in a "real" restaurant, or just escape the concourse for an even more peaceful layover in the hotel lobby. You can even get a room if you need it. ATL's "Minute Suites" do not compare to the amenities that the Westin hotel offers.

- statistically, DTW has far fewer delays than ATL does, and the delays are shorter when they do happen.

There are many other subjective things to consider, such as better restaurants & more varied choices (i.e. Sora, the gourmet PB&J place, etc.), better plane spotting and people watching, and enjoying the "psychedelic" light tunnel & center water-fountain, among other things. But since you wanted to talk objectively, these items are best left for another thread.

But really, I have no idea why ATL was even brought into this thread as the OP was concerned about a long layover at DTW, not ATL.

DTW is not remotely in the same league with SIN and ICN.

I know people think I'm being overly hard on the place, but I have spent 4 hours at DTW and was bored by hour 2. Perhaps others are easily amused? I mean, so far we have suggestions to eat sushi, drink a glass of wine, visit very small bookstore, and sit in a chair at a lounge. If that is exciting to you, then great, but I'd still bring a book.