I have a choice of connecting either via MSP or DTW on a flight from SFO (dep Saturday a.m.) to IAD. I'd appreciate any comments regarding "connection ease" and times.

Thanks!

My main criteria would be avoiding the CRJs that ply the MSP/IAD or DTW/IAD routes. Early morning and late afternoon flights might yield a DC-9 or perhaps an even larger plane. Mid-day you might get something small and evil. Other than that not inconsequential consideration, it's a wash.

Why are the CRJs so bad?

After years of "trying" to use MSP as a DC based traveller, I now believe DTW has the upper hand for two reasons. When you connect, there is less walking at DTW. It's one big hallway with a tram that runs up the middle. And more importantly, a DTW connection gets you more miles Just a hair more, but if the price is the same, miles are miles.

I agree that DTW is the easiest place to make connections. I just came in today from DCA and it was a DC9, not a CRJ.

MSP can be good - if you have time and desire a power-walk. I much prefer DTW now. Those big TV screens are enormous, aren't they?!?

The difference between the two for the EQM difference is 34 miles more through MSP so that's insignificant. If you are traveling on 2/25, then the 6:30 am flight from SFO is scheduled to connect in MSP a CRJ to IAD. I don't like it due to the cramped cabin in addition to having to walk a long distance to the concourse A to get on the flight (it's scheduled to go from G19 to A7). The flight through DTW is scheduled to connect at adjoining gates (pretty tough to beat). The mid-day flight through MSP is better connecting from G19 to C15 so just walk across the connecting bridge.
So the decision is up to you. Do you want 34 miles more for cramped cabin or longer walk to connect or not. If you are flying on a different Saturday, the connecting gates may be different but the CRJ will most likely NOT change.

HJ

Come again? You get a 500 mile minimum credit for flying DTW-IAD. If you factor that in, a DTW cx gets you about 80 miles more than MSP. Still not significant, but you're also not trading miles for big airplanes. I would attempt to avoid the MSP-IAD CRJ in any event.

I can't resist....

As a 10+ year platinum, I used to choose MSP, to break the flight into two segments that were closer to the same length.

Last week, for the first time since bailing ship on NW, I did IAD-SFO non-stop on UA. Three class 777, shaved almost 90 minutes off the total time, what WAS I thinking with NW for all these years.

Thanks for all the input. Decided to go for DTW.

(and no choice with regards to NW vs a direct flight - we're on a RTW ticket... )

Cheers!

I was in the same boat for a recent trip to SFO. I have been throwing business at NW for over 15 years now but am starting to give up. Took UA non-stop IAD to SFO and back, a 777 outbound and a 767 on the return. Nice change of pace.

A lot of good points have been raised about switching in DTW, but in terms of reasons to go through MSP, I would add that it breaks the trip up more and if you can get upgraded MSP-IAD at a "meal time" you will get an additional meal in FC (might get one from SFO of course too). Now, if your only viable connections are onto a CRJ in MSP, I would never never do that.

Depending on where you have to be in DC metro, consider DCA as long as you have to connect. I live/work downtown and will pay whatever it takes to avoid the trek to IAD (far, far, far from everything!). IAD is good for transcons/international travel (ie. the UA option mentioned above). Definitely go with DTW for connecting; if you are delayed on a PM flight from the west coast, you have a much higher chance of spending the night somewhere other than DC if you arrive late into MSP. There is a 9pm DTW>DCA flight that can usually save you if you are late into DTW though. Miss that 6:45 out of MSP and you're toast.