YQG vs DTW?
 

While I realize this requires jumping alliances, I am curious to know if DTW DL flyers ever get a deal good enough to use YQG instead of DTW?.I imagine it would probably need to be one hell of a deal to be worth the border crossing but again, curious.

Based out of DTW! Few things to consider:
1) Where am I going? If I am going to Toronto (YYZ,YTZ) or Montreal (YUL) or anywhere in Canada in that direction, I always shop out of Windsor (YGQ) too. For me, the drive entry into Canada with Nexus and all that is pretty easy, so the difference between Int'l from DTW or Domestic after a drive through customs is negligible. Granted, I also live 15 min from DTW and about 30 total with CBP from YGQ.
2) What is the actual price difference for me? As a now Skyteam guy, I'd much prefer to get that Delta Embraer out of DTW if I can get the points, but I've got Porter or such for dirt cheap from YGQ heading East that makes it worth driving over.
3) If I am heading west or international to the east, there is definitely more calculus. Delta likes to offer DTW - YYZ - YYC when I go westbound, and connect via WestJet. I'm not a fan of that, especially when I can connect via SEA or MSP to get to YYC, or with this summer schedule there is a non-stop YYC-DTW RT once a day. If I am going international to the East, I will look into YGQ but many times its still more valuable for me to just drive the 4.5 hours to Toronto. One less flight variable as far as connecting to Europe, I have a bit more control driving than flying, don't need to worry about another leg for checked bags (especially these days through YYZ). Not worth it for me to cross the border just to catch a small flight that is marginally cheaper. Plus again, if I book say Porter or Air Canada from YGQ to YYZ and something happens to that flight, I may miss my Europe outbound.
4) Rare, but in some cases I can get flights either to US destinations like Miami or Caribbean/South America much cheaper by flying from Windsor to Canadian hub then onward. If there is a large price difference that sometimes can be tempting, have only done it once. Again, I still prefer my SkyTeam flights but sometimes the cost of Business/First on Air Canada or other non-SkyTeam is much better that I don't care.

I hope I didn't ramble too much but let me know if you have other questions or if I can expand further! Living so close to both I have done the math on a lot of this stuff lol.

Last week I took a taxi from DTW to YQG. It was $135 but the 5 of us saved $1,000+ on our flight across Canada so well worth it. No Uber or Lyft offered on this routing.

Before I started chasing status with Delta I did YQG-YYZ-LHR on Air Canada and the experience at YQG wasn’t necessarily bad, but the airport is so small and lacking in amenities that the next time I opted to just drive the family to Toronto and fly YYZ-LHR direct.

If the deal’s good enough, my loyalty could drift… but just be prepared for this airport to have nothing. iirc the only food option was a vending machine and we had to wait outside of security because the airport is so small they didn’t let us go through until closer to departure.

When I lived in DTW, YQG (Windsor, ON if it hasn't been explained) was the closer, faster option, even with the border crossing. I never did fly out of it as I have an unnatural love of the DTW airport, and especially the (at the time) WorldClub's. Going most places in the US called for a YYZ connection and it just wasn't worth it.

Anyone remember signing stones at DTW? Good times.

There are often good deals YQG/YYZ or YTZ on either Porter or AC. Far pleasanter crossing at the tunnel than clearing at YYZ. I also did YQG-YTZ-YOW for business several times as there was better schedule flexibility than out of DTW (plus I was working at the Ren Cen).

The day flight YQG-YYZ-LHR is a hidden joy---leaves YQG at 6 and gets into LHR about 9 pm. You're getting up early anyway, just get it done and out of the way.

DL seems to have 2 Skymiles seats per WestJet flight either out of Detroit or Windsor---they don't offer connections, though....just the single segment.

I always check YQG and YXU along with YYZ/YTZ to compare with DTW (and MBS/LAN/AZO) for international. Important to remember that Skyteam does offer connections out of YXU (London) even though they generally don't out of YQG.....and also remember that DL pulled out of FNT so it's pointless to check for DL out of FNT/YQG.

For a few years I had to travel ATL>YXU>ATL every 2 weeks. I always managed to score one ways for 12,500 SM connecting in YYZ and noticed every flight had exactly 4 seats available. Cash price was usually around $350 each way. YXU is about 2-2.5 hours from both DTW and YYZ depending on traffic.

Thank you, all, so much! Being GRR based, it has always intrigued me once I found out YQC existed!

Side note: Wouldn't DTT be fun again? I know an LLC tried many years ago.

My $135 taxi from DTW to YQG took about 40 minutes via tunnel.

I took the Tunnel Bus from the Mariner's Church at the corner of Randolph Street and Jefferson Avenue in Detroit to the Windsor International Transit Centre at 300 W. Chatham Street in Windsor while doingt a Lake Erie Circle Tour by rail and bus. At the Windsor Centre, you can connect on to the #8 bus, "Walkerville", which serves both the VIA Rail station and the Windsor airport. The fare was $7.50 in either US or Canada funds; I did not take the #8 when I got to Windsor. The bus leaves the stop in Detroit, very near the Windsor tunnel toll plaza, at 41 minutes after each hour on the weekdays.

That sure beats Qshuttle prices.

I never had the chance to fly out of there! I remember Southwest flew out of it in the late 90's. PTK could be cool.