McNamara Terminal

3 ExpressTram stations split McNamara’s huge A concourse

Gate A1 to A78 runs in a straight line, and the red ExpressTram floating above the concourse is the only thing that makes the scale feel reasonable; it’s about 2–3 minutes from the North station near A18 to the South station near A70, versus 15–20 minutes to walk end‑to‑end with a roller bag. Delta owns this terminal, with Air France, KLM, Aeromexico, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic also using McNamara for SkyTeam and joint‑venture flights.

Delta hubs here, including most long‑haul international at A gates

Transatlantic flights for Delta, Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic mainly leave from mid‑ to high‑A gates, while Korean Air and Aeromexico also plug into that same A pier. If you’re connecting from a US domestic Delta flight into an international departure in the A60s–70s, assume at least 10–15 minutes of walking or a tram ride plus escalators.

B and C concourses handle Delta Connection regional jets

The B/C satellites sit off the main A concourse and are linked by an underground walkway that looks short on the map but regularly takes 8–10 minutes at a brisk pace from mid‑A to the far end of C. Most of the 50‑seat and 76‑seat regional flights board here, and regulars describe the gate areas as tighter and more crowded than the main A concourse by a noticeable margin.

Security lines move best at the far‑north checkpoint

McNamara has multiple TSA points, and Detroit locals keep pointing to the north‑end checkpoint, away from the central Delta Sky Priority line, as the sleeper pick during the 5:30–8:30 a.m. bank. Flyers on Reddit say they routinely save 10–15 minutes by walking down to that less obvious checkpoint instead of joining a 100‑plus‑person queue in the middle of the terminal.

Mid‑A has the power outlets; far‑A has the empty seats

Along the windows around gates A30–A40 you’ll find rows of seats with built‑in power outlets and USB ports every few spots, while people complain that the central food‑court cluster near the tram’s Central station fills every chair and floor space during peak banks. If you want distance from the crowd, users report the A70s and A80s often have open seats even when the terminal is busy.

Crowds spike around the food court and tram Central station

The tram’s Central station roughly lines up with the busiest food and restroom zone in A, and frequent flyers describe it as “mall‑level packed” when the big Delta arrival/departure waves hit in the morning and late afternoon. Several regulars grab food there, then immediately walk or tram 10–15 gates away to actually sit and eat in relative calm.

ExpressTram is a gift when it’s running, a problem when it’s not

The tram usually runs the length of the concourse from about early morning until late evening, but Reddit reports say it sometimes shuts down for maintenance or after the last mainline bank, leaving only your feet for those A1‑to‑A70‑plus moves. Flyers mention missing 35‑minute connections when the tram was offline and both flights were at opposite ends of A or split between A and C.

Regulars game their connections and gate choices

On r/delta and FlyerTalk, frequent DTW flyers say they intentionally book longer layovers, often 60–90 minutes, if they see an itinerary that forces A‑to‑B/C or far‑end‑A‑to‑far‑end‑A. Another common move: ride the tram from Central to North or South, then walk the last 5–10 gates so you’re not stuck waiting if the tram is busy or paused at a station.

Watch your minimum connection time in McNamara

People coming off regional jets in B/C and connecting to long‑haul in the A60s–70s report that 35‑minute legal connections feel dicey, especially if boarding starts 40 minutes before departure on the onward flight. If your itinerary shows anything under 50 minutes involving B or C, treat it as “tight” and move with purpose the moment you step into the A concourse.

Quick tip: build a 15‑minute buffer for long‑concourse moves

If your boarding pass shows an inbound near A1–A20 or in B/C and an outbound in the A60s–80s, add 15 minutes to whatever your gut says you need, then aim to be at the next gate 30 minutes before departure. That mindset makes the size of McNamara a non‑issue and keeps a late tram or crowded walkway from turning into a missed flight.