Parking at DTW
 

I havent traveled in and out of DTW for a few years and now I have several trips coming up. Where is the cheapest/fastest placed to park for Northwest these days. This have a good thread somewhere but I havent found it yet.

I have done airlines parking a number of times in the past and came to prefer Thrifys valet parking whcih they have appaenrtly discontinued.

Anybody have some good parking tips?

Thanks

There are several of Airport parking companies, all have good service.
Check on the DTW web site under parking as some of them offer discount coupons.

The off site lots are going to be your best value. This would include US Park on Middlebelt along with Quik Park and Airlines Parking on Merriman. Rates are $9-11 per day, but you can usually find coupons in the local coupon mailers or online. All will follow you to your car, shuttle you to the McNamara terminal and then pick you up at the same spot when you return. There can be a wait for a shuttle if you get back at a busy time, but it is usually not bad.

The McNamara deck itself is the most convenient, but also insanely expensive - $18 a day last I checked. Avoid the big blue deck - shuttle service was horrible last time I tried it, and I've heard the same report from others.

Big Blue Deck does have some crappy shuttle service. Usually it's bad when going back to your car though. I'm usually pretty lucky with shuttle service when I use it for arrivals. I'm lucky though because I expense most of my parking, that means level 6 at the Mcnamara deck :)

Another vote for offsite (unless you don't care about cost). I swear by US Park-- I've never had to wait more than a minute or two for a shuttle, and they always have a free day coupon on their web site. The Blue Deck shuttle service can be painful (upon your return, they drop passengers at two other lots before the Blue Deck).

When I lived in MI, I'd go on line and see who had the best deal. I'd get the phone number so I could call the shuttle if it didn't come for a while. Early on, I had great luck at the Big Blue Garage, but then they outsourced the shuttle and it was really bad.

I lived far enough away that often I'd stay at one of the hotels that had a parking deal with one of the lots. I could generally stay free for the amount I saved on parking.

I always park at Qwik Park. You can print a free day coupon at qwikpark.com. Additonal days are $9.00. Without the coupon it's $10/day. Their shuttle service is excellent.

When McNamara opened 6 years ago, the ramp connected to the terminal was $8/day for long term, last I knew it was $17 and has probably increased.

Previous DTW parking threads:
...flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=606227
...flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=576569

I'm kinda partial to the Airlines Parking folks on Merriman Road. Show your AAA card: .

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keywords: DTW McNamara Detroit Metro offsite park parking

The McNamara deck has now gone to 19$/day :eek:

I have always used US Park and have never had any troubles. My company has a discount arrangement worked out with them, but they always have coupons available on line (one day free, $9 per day for each additional day) at http://www.us-park.com/.

I've been using them for a couple of years -- without repeating too much from other threads --- they're owned by the same people that own US Park and provide the same quality of service.

Negatives -- US Park is near where the charters come in and in an election year it means you can be delayed by a campaign blockade... either on the way to the lot or to the terminal.

Quik Park now has an overflow lot that they may send you to --- you can lose a few minutes outbound, but you make it up on the home bound leg.

Recommendation -- Use QuiK Park, but add a few minutes pad.

Bob h

Keep the terminal in mind, too. If you're flying out of the Smith terminal, park in the Blue Deck in the $10 zone. There is a moving walkway that will take you to the stairwell, then a short walk over to the terminal. No shuttle to deal with, and convenient entrance / exit with credit card, so there's no ticket to lose!

I have parked in the Blue Deck several times and have not seen the moving walkway. Where exactly is it located? Thanks.

It's not often I get to say this...but...I hope they raise it even more. ;)


Since it all gets expensed to my customers I would happily pay more to not have to hunt for spots on midweek afternoons.

I still park in the McNamara parking deck because of the convinience. Although I prefer level 4 just beside the limo parking. Always find a spot and its very easay to hop a cross. Level 6 is too busy.