Is 45 minutes enough at DTW? 20% of inbound flights landed too late for it, allowing 30 minutes to reach the next gate. Book 90 minutes to keep the risk under 1 in 10, or 105 in July.
Separately, 2.0% of flights into DTW were cancelled or diverted (3.1% in July). That isn't a missed connection in the same sense: on one booking the airline rebooks you, though it can still cost you the day.
Check your exact itinerary through DTW →
Missed-connection risk by layover and month
Share of flights that landed at DTW too late for the connection (cancellations not included), pooled over 2023–2026. Read across your travel month.
| Layover | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 min | 29% | 22% | 24% | 20% | 23% | 26% | 30% | 24% | 16% | 16% | 17% | 26% | 25% |
| 50 min | 22% | 15% | 18% | 14% | 16% | 19% | 23% | 18% | 11% | 10% | 12% | 19% | 18% |
| 60 min | 17% | 12% | 14% | 10% | 12% | 15% | 18% | 14% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 15% | 14% |
| 75 min | 13% | 9% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 12% | 14% | 10% | 6% | 5% | 7% | 11% | 11% |
| 90 min | 10% | 7% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 12% | 8% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 9% | 9% |
| 120 min | 7% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 8% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 6% | 6% |
Counts flights that landed; cancelled and diverted inbound flights are reported separately above. Assumes 30 minutes to get off the plane and reach the next gate, and that the onward flight leaves on time. A terminal change or re-checking bags needs more.
Late in the day is riskier
Share of flights that would miss a 60-minute connection, by scheduled arrival time at DTW (past 12 months). Delays pile up through the day.
Riskiest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| ORD Chicago | 6,151 | 21% |
| ROC Rochester | 1,318 | 20% |
| FLL Fort Lauderdale | 2,705 | 19% |
| AZO Kalamazoo | 1,096 | 19% |
| MCO Orlando | 3,594 | 18% |
| DCA Washington | 2,973 | 18% |
| MDW Chicago | 2,109 | 17% |
| MIA Miami | 1,755 | 17% |
| TVC Traverse City | 1,184 | 17% |
| BOS Boston | 2,575 | 17% |
| RSW Fort Myers | 1,773 | 16% |
| ATW Appleton | 1,150 | 16% |
Safest flights in
| From | Flights | Miss 60 min |
|---|---|---|
| SAN San Diego | 1,269 | 6% |
| SLC Salt Lake City | 1,530 | 7% |
| BDL Hartford | 1,243 | 7% |
| AUS Austin | 1,309 | 8% |
| SEA Seattle | 2,063 | 8% |
| RDU Raleigh | 1,496 | 8% |
| MCI Kansas City | 1,350 | 8% |
| MSP Minneapolis | 1,884 | 10% |
| CMH Columbus | 1,892 | 11% |
| IAH Houston | 2,768 | 11% |
| LAX Los Angeles | 2,364 | 11% |
| LAS Las Vegas | 2,765 | 12% |
Last flights of the day from DTW
If your inbound runs late and you miss one of these, the next flight is usually the next morning. Typical last scheduled departure over the past three months:
| To | Last departure | Flights / day |
|---|---|---|
| JFK New York | 7:45 p.m. | 4.6 |
| MDW Chicago | 7:50 p.m. | 5.8 |
| TPA Tampa | 7:59 p.m. | 4.3 |
| CLT Charlotte | 8:05 p.m. | 8.9 |
| STL St. Louis | 8:05 p.m. | 5.7 |
| MSP Minneapolis | 8:05 p.m. | 5.6 |
| IAH Houston | 8:25 p.m. | 7.5 |
| PHX Phoenix | 8:25 p.m. | 6.2 |
| SEA Seattle | 8:34 p.m. | 6.9 |
| LAS Las Vegas | 8:40 p.m. | 6.2 |
| FLL Fort Lauderdale | 8:40 p.m. | 5.5 |
| DFW Dallas | 8:46 p.m. | 9.7 |
| ATL Atlanta | 8:55 p.m. | 13.2 |
| LAX Los Angeles | 8:55 p.m. | 5.5 |
| MCO Orlando | 8:58 p.m. | 7.8 |
| ORD Chicago | 9:03 p.m. | 17.1 |
| DCA Washington | 9:24 p.m. | 7.1 |
| CVG Cincinnati | 9:27 p.m. | 5.7 |
| PHL Philadelphia | 9:35 p.m. | 8.9 |
| BNA Nashville | 9:35 p.m. | 6.8 |
| DEN Denver | 9:36 p.m. | 9.5 |
| IAD Washington | 9:38 p.m. | 6.6 |
| EWR Newark | 9:40 p.m. | 8.6 |
| BWI Baltimore | 9:40 p.m. | 6.6 |
| LGA New York | 9:50 p.m. | 7.9 |
| BOS Boston | 9:59 p.m. | 7.3 |
| IND Indianapolis | 10:50 p.m. | 6.7 |
| CMH Columbus | 10:50 p.m. | 5.8 |
| GRR Grand Rapids | 10:55 p.m. | 6.7 |
| CLE Cleveland | 10:57 p.m. | 5.8 |
Questions
Is 45 minutes enough for a connection at DTW?
Often, not always. Over the past year 20% of flights into Detroit landed too late to leave 30 minutes to reach the next gate on a 45-minute layover. With 60 minutes it was 14%; with 90, 9%. Separately, 2.0% of inbound flights were cancelled or diverted; on one booking the airline rebooks you.
How long a layover do I need at DTW?
To keep the risk of a late inbound below 1 in 10, about 90 minutes on an average month and 105 minutes in July, the worst month. Add time if you change terminals or need to re-check bags.
An estimate from past arrival delays, not a guarantee. On one ticket, the airline will rebook you if you misconnect. On separate tickets you're on your own, so leave far more time. Method.