Routes / New York / New York to Detroit

New York Detroit

3 nonstop pairs · 6 nonstop airlines · 511 nonstop flights/week

Detroit Metro is a Delta hub, so Delta flies full-size A320s and 737s from LaGuardia and Newark while American and United mostly put regional jets on this route. On a two-hour flight, that gap adds up: legroom and overhead bin space both change with the aircraft.

If you want the cheapest fare, book Spirit out of LaGuardia or Newark. Spirit runs A320s and A321neos here, so you get a mainline-size cabin at a budget price. If you want something nicer without paying much more, Delta out of LaGuardia is the pick: hourly departures, full-size jets, and if anything goes wrong, Delta can rebook you onto dozens of other flights because Detroit is their hub.

If JFK is your airport, JetBlue flies A220-300s on this route. That is one of the best economy seats on a short domestic flight. Delta also flies out of Kennedy, but check the equipment before you book. Some departures are CRJ-900s, which seat about 70 people in a cabin that feels like a bus.

From Newark, United serves Detroit but flies CRJ-550s and CRJ-700s. Delta runs 717s and A319s on the same route, a better ride for a similar fare.

Have a specific need? Use the decision guide below to filter by your airline, where you live, lounges, or where you're staying in Detroit.

Best Overall

EWR → DTW

2 airlines 223/wk 1h 59m

77% on-time

Delta Air Lines, United Airlines. Also bookable via Spirit Airlines. Delta from LaGuardia for hourly departures, hub rebooking, and the shortest drive from Manhattan.

Explore EWR → DTW

Strong Alternative

JFK → DTW

2 airlines · 153/wk · 2h 24m

JetBlue, Delta Air Lines. Also bookable via American Airlines, GXA. JetBlue from JFK has fewer daily flights but the A220-300 offers the widest economy seat on the route.

31%

New York → Detroit 1 airline · 135/wk · 2h03m Good

Nearby cities with nonstop service

~60mi Philadelphia → Detroit 7 airlines · 175/wk Nearby ~101mi Hartford → Detroit 2 airlines · 111/wk Nearby ~22mi White Plains → Detroit 3 airlines · 29/wk Nearby

Nearby cities · connections only

~11mi Teterboro No nonstop to Detroit Connecting ~40mi Islip No nonstop to Detroit Connecting ~61mi New Haven No nonstop to Detroit Connecting ~83mi Allentown/Bethlehem No nonstop to Detroit Connecting ~99mi Atlantic City No nonstop to Detroit Connecting ~104mi Wilkes-Barre/Scranton No nonstop to Detroit Connecting

Decision Guide

Pick What Matters to You

Show me the best pair for...

Best pair by where you're coming from

Your location determines which airport is closest and most convenient.

JFK via AirTrain and subway or LIRR from Jamaica, 60 to 75 minutes total. Newark is faster from Penn Station: NJ Transit takes around 25 minutes. Both airports have nonstop international service.

JFK is the closer airport. The drive is 30 to 50 minutes depending on Belt Parkway traffic. A train to Howard Beach, then AirTrain to the terminal. Newark adds a river crossing and at least 20 extra minutes.

JFK is in Queens. Depending on your neighborhood, the drive is 15 to 30 minutes. The easiest airport connection in the metro area.

Newark. No question. I-78, I-95, or the Garden State Parkway depending on direction. No river crossings, no city traffic.

Both airports are roughly equidistant and neither is convenient. JFK requires subway transfers. Newark means getting to Penn Station first. Budget extra time from the Bronx either way.

Newark via I-287 avoids Manhattan entirely. JFK means driving through the Bronx or taking Metro-North to Penn for the subway connection. Newark is the better call from most of Westchester.

For most New York-area travelers, EWR → DTW is the default.3 airlines, 223 flights/wk.

Explore EWR → DTW

Best pair by where you're staying in Detroit

Your Detroit airport matters as much as your New York airport.

The GM headquarters, convention facilities, and the main business hotel cluster sit along the riverfront. About 21 miles from the airport, around 30 minutes by car. The People Mover circulator loops through the downtown core.

Ford Motor Company headquarters and a concentration of auto-industry offices. Closer to the airport than downtown, around 15 minutes by car. Hotels line Michigan Avenue near the Ford campus. If your meetings are at Ford, stay in Dearborn and skip the drive east.

Corporate campuses and auto supplier offices spread across the northern suburbs. Stellantis has a presence in Auburn Hills. The drive from the airport runs 40 to 55 minutes depending on I-75 traffic. A rental car is the only practical way to get here.

The Detroit Institute of Arts and Wayne State University anchor Midtown, just north of downtown. Corktown, to the west, has newer hotels and some of the strongest restaurants in the city. Both areas are a short ride from downtown hotels.

The University of Michigan and a cluster of research and tech companies. About 25 miles west of the airport, roughly 30 minutes by car heading away from Detroit. Closer to the airport than downtown is. Hotels fill up on football weekends and graduation.

Business hotels within a few minutes of the terminals, connected by free shuttles. Useful for early morning departures or overnight layovers when there is no reason to drive into the city.

DTW is the right Detroit airport for most travelers.Check individual route pages for ground transport from DTW.

Explore EWR → DTW

Which pair your airline flies nonstop

Loyalty programs drive airport choice for frequent flyers. Here's where each airline operates.

Airline	EWR–DTW	JFK–DTW	LGA–DTW
American Airlines	—	✓	✓
Delta Air Lines	✓	✓	✓
United Airlines	✓	—	—
GXA	—	✓	—
Spirit Airlines	✓	—	✓
JetBlue	—	✓	—

Most airlines fly EWR → DTW.3 airlines serve multiple pairs.

Explore EWR → DTW

Ranked by on-time performance

On-time = departing within 15 min of schedule. Higher competition tends to keep airlines punctual.

77% on-time. 3 airlines competing means schedule padding is tight and delays get absorbed.

31% on-time. 4 airlines competing means schedule padding is tight and delays get absorbed.

44% on-time. 3 airlines competing means schedule padding is tight and delays get absorbed.

EWR → DTW has a 77% on-time record.High competition keeps airlines punctual.

Explore EWR → DTW

Lounge access by airport and terminal

Premium lounge access varies dramatically by terminal. This alone can determine airport choice for some travelers.

The rebuilt Terminal B has airline club lounges with seating, Wi-Fi, drinks, and light food. Access through airline loyalty programs or eligible credit cards. The new terminal makes the lounge experience better than what LaGuardia used to offer, which was close to nothing.

Club lounges in Terminal C for eligible passengers. Same access rules: airline status, credit card membership, or a same-day qualifying ticket. Quality is standard domestic lounge level.

The rebuilt terminals have better gate seating, charging outlets, and food options than the old LaGuardia. On a short domestic flight, the gate area is fine. Spend the lounge walk-in fee on dinner at the destination instead.

American Express Platinum or Centurion cardholders. Cocktail bar, sit-down dining, showers. One of the better Centurion locations. Access is card-based regardless of airline.

Large club with runway views, full bar, and hot food. Gets crowded during the evening international push. Delta One and SkyMiles status get you in; everyone else needs a same-day Delta boarding pass plus a qualifying credit card.

American and British Airways premium cabin passengers. Quieter than T4, with showers and a dining room. BA passengers flying Club Suite have access here before JFK to Heathrow flights.

Open to Mint passengers on JetBlue. Smaller than the legacy carrier clubs but less crowded. Food and drinks included. The terminal itself has decent food options if the lounge is full.

A collection of carrier-specific lounges including Turkish, Air France, and Korean Air. Quality varies. The Turkish lounge is a standout if you have access.

United Polaris passengers and Star Alliance business class. Full sit-down restaurant with table service, shower suites, daybeds, and a cocktail bar. One of the best airline lounges in North America. If you are flying United Polaris business class, arrive early and use it.

Standard United Club with hot food, bar, and seating. Multiple locations in Terminal C. Gets crowded during the evening departure wave. United Club membership, Star Alliance Gold, or certain credit cards get you in.

The rebuilt Terminal A has fresh lounge space. Carrier-specific lounges are still filling in. The terminal itself is well-designed with better food options than the old building.

Multiple Delta Sky Club locations along the McNamara concourse. Access through Sky Club membership, eligible first class tickets, or qualifying American Express cards. Full bar, hot food, and Wi-Fi. The locations near the center of the concourse fill up during peak connection waves in the afternoon.

No major airline-operated lounges in the North Terminal. Travelers without lounge access will find the terminal small enough that the gate areas and nearby restaurants serve the purpose. Check current Priority Pass or pay-in options before counting on a pre-flight lounge here.

Your airline and cabin class determine which lounges you can access.Check route pages for terminal assignments.

Explore EWR → DTW

Ranked by flights per week

More flights = more flexibility. Miss your flight, catch the next one. Schedule depth is insurance.

223/wk (~32/day) — 3 airlines. A departure roughly every 45 minutes at peak.

153/wk (~22/day) — 4 airlines.

135/wk (~19/day) — 3 airlines.

EWR → DTW: 223 flights/week.Miss one flight, wait 45 min for the next.

Explore EWR → DTW

Getting to the airport

Cost and time vary by mode. Train is more predictable than driving.

From midtown Manhattan, 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Around $30 to $40 by taxi. The Grand Central Parkway connects directly. Morning rush into the city and evening rush out are the times to avoid.

Runs from all LaGuardia terminals to the Jackson Heights subway hub in about 10 minutes. Transfer to the 7, E, F, M, or R train for Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens. The cheapest way to the airport from anywhere with a subway connection.

Runs across 125th Street in Manhattan to LaGuardia, connecting to the A, B, C, and D trains and Metro-North at Harlem-125th Street. Useful from the Upper West Side, Harlem, or the Bronx. Around 40 to 50 minutes from the West Side.

No rail link to LaGuardia. If you drive, parking runs around $40 per day in the terminal garages. Cell phone lots are free for pickup. The airport is compact enough that the walk from parking to gates stays short.

AirTrain to Jamaica Station, then Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station in around 20 minutes. Faster and more comfortable than the subway, and you avoid dragging luggage underground. This is the best option for midtown Manhattan.

AirTrain to Jamaica or Howard Beach, then the E or A train into Manhattan. Total time is 60 to 75 minutes. Cheap but slow, and dragging luggage through the subway at rush hour is miserable.

Flat rate of around $110 from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan, plus tolls and tip. Predictable pricing but travel time depends entirely on traffic. The Van Wyck Expressway can turn a 40-minute ride into 90 minutes during rush hour.

Pre-booked car services run around $70 to $100 depending on vehicle type. No flat-rate guarantee like yellow cabs, but you get a driver waiting at arrivals. Worth it if you are landing late or have a lot of luggage.

Train from New York Penn Station to Newark Airport station in around 25 minutes, then AirTrain to your terminal. Frequent service, cheap, and immune to tunnel traffic. The most reliable way to get to Newark from Manhattan.

No flat rate from Manhattan to Newark. Expect around $60 to $90 depending on traffic and tolls. The Lincoln Tunnel and NJ Turnpike can double your travel time during rush hour. Fine on weekends or off-peak.

Bus service from midtown Manhattan (Port Authority, Bryant Park, Grand Central) to all terminals. Takes 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Around $19 one way. A budget option if you are not in a rush.

If you live in northern New Jersey, the drive is straightforward. I-78, I-95, or the Garden State Parkway depending on your direction. Parking is expensive long-term. Cell phone lots exist for pickup.

Weigh transit time against schedule flexibility.A faster airport with fewer flights may not save you time overall.

Explore EWR → DTW

Red-eye vs daytime departures

Departure timing affects jet lag, hotel costs, and how you spend your first day.

New York and Detroit share the Eastern time zone, and the flight is about two hours. Red-eye departures do not exist on this route. The last flights leave in the evening and land before midnight.

EWR → DTW has the most departure options.Check the route page for schedule details.

Explore EWR → DTW

Premium cabin options

Business and first class products on this route, ranked by value and quality.

Delta flies A320s, A321s, and 737-900s from LaGuardia with domestic first class in a 2-2 recliner layout and meal service on morning departures. From Newark, the A319s and 717s have the same first class in a slightly narrower cabin. From JFK, some departures are CRJ-900s with a small 2-1 first class section. The LaGuardia narrowbody is the best first class seat on this route.

No first class cabin, but every seat on the A220-300 is wider than standard economy on a 3-3 narrowbody. Even More Space seats in the front rows add extra legroom for an upcharge. On a two-hour flight, the difference between JetBlue economy and a domestic first class recliner may not justify the fare gap.

American from LaGuardia and United from Newark fly E175s with first class in a 1-2 layout. More privacy than mainline 2-2, but the seat is narrower, the overhead bins are tight, and the cabin feels compact. Acceptable for two hours if the schedule lines up. Check the aircraft type before paying a premium fare.

Check route pages for cabin details per airline.Business class products vary significantly between carriers.

Explore EWR → DTW

Connecting through New York from a domestic flight

Nonstops run all day from three airports. Routing through Charlotte, Philadelphia, or Chicago doubles the travel time on a two-hour flight and saves nothing on fare. If your preferred departure time is taken, check a different New York airport before booking a connection.

Book LGA → DTW. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 3 airlines, 135/wk.

Book JFK → DTW. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 4 airlines, 153/wk.

Book EWR → DTW. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 3 airlines, 223/wk.

Avoid cross-airport transfers. No direct transit links between most metro airports. Budget 4+ hours minimum if you must.

Check which New York airport your domestic flight arrives at, then book Detroit from that same airport.EWR arrivals → EWR–DTW · JFK arrivals → JFK–DTW

EWR → DTW

Know Your Airports

New York & Detroit Airport Profiles

Each airport has a personality. Terminal quality, transit access, lounge scene, and crowd levels vary dramatically — sometimes more than the flight itself.

New York Metro

Newark Liberty has three terminals, and Terminal A opened as a full rebuild in 2023. The old Terminal A was demolished and replaced, and the difference is dramatic. Terminal C is United's hub, massive and busy, with most international flights departing from here. Terminal B handles most other carriers.

The AirTrain connects all three terminals and the NJ Transit / Amtrak rail station. Unlike JFK, the terminals are closer together and the AirTrain loop is faster. Security at Terminal C can back up during afternoon and evening international departures.

The airport sits in New Jersey, around 10 miles from Manhattan. That proximity is deceptive because the drive crosses the Hudson via the Newark Bay or Lincoln Tunnel, and both can be brutal during peak hours. NJ Transit from Penn Station is the more reliable option.

Detroit Pairs

1

DTW

Airlines

3

Flights/Week

223

JFK spreads across four active passenger terminals connected by the AirTrain, and walking between them is not an option. Terminal 1 is the old international building. Terminal 4 is the largest, handling most international carriers. Terminal 5 is the former TWA terminal, now JetBlue's home, with the mid-century curves still intact. Terminal 8 belongs to American and British Airways.

The terminal you depart from depends entirely on your airline. Security wait times vary between them. Terminal 4 tends to be the slowest during evening international departures. Terminal 8 has improved since the co-location of its two main carriers. The TWA Hotel sits adjacent to Terminal 5 if you need to sleep before an early departure or after a late arrival.

JFK feels enormous because it is. Budget extra time for the AirTrain if you are connecting between terminals or arriving by subway. The AirTrain loop takes 10 to 15 minutes end to end.

Detroit Pairs

1

DTW

Airlines

4

Flights/Week

153

LaGuardia is the New York airport that does not pretend to be anything more than a domestic terminal. No international flights, no customs hall, no transatlantic gates competing for security lane capacity. The result is a faster, simpler airport experience than JFK or Newark for any flight that stays in the country. Eight miles from midtown Manhattan, it is also the closest major airport to the city center.

The rebuilt Terminal B replaced what was widely considered the worst major terminal in the country. The new building is bright and open, with real restaurants instead of the food court that used to define LaGuardia dining. Gates connect via an elevated pedestrian bridge with a clear sightline to the Manhattan skyline. Terminal C is equally compact. Neither terminal is large, and gate-to-gate walks stay under ten minutes.

Detroit Pairs

1

DTW

Airlines

3

Flights/Week

135

Detroit Metro

Detroit Metropolitan has two terminals connected by an express tram that takes a few minutes between them. The McNamara Terminal is a single concourse stretching close to a mile. Walking from one end to the other takes around 15 minutes even with the moving walkways. An underground pedestrian tunnel between concourse sections has a color-changing light installation along the ceiling that catches first-time visitors off guard.

The North Terminal is smaller and simpler. The walk from security to the farthest gate takes about 10 minutes. Security lines move faster in the North Terminal, and the layout is straightforward enough that you rarely need signage. Both terminals have TSA PreCheck lanes and ground transportation pickup on the lower level.

New York Pairs

3

EWR + JFK + LGA

Nonstop from New York

511/wk

Into Detroit

25 min

Ride-share to downtown

All Pairs

Full Comparison

Every airport combination ranked by schedule depth. EWR–DTW carries 44% of weekly flights with the best on-time record. JFK–DTW adds another 30%. The remaining 1 pair shares 26% between them.

Route	Airlines	Flights/Wk	Duration	OTP
EWR → DTW	2	223	1h 59m	77%	Explore →
JFK → DTW	2	153	2h 24m	31%	Explore →
LGA → DTW	1	135	2h 03m	44%	Explore →

Coverage Matrix

Which Airlines Fly Which Pairs

Delta Air Lines serve both EWR and JFK to DTW — airport flexibility on the New York side.

Not all planes are the same size. The aircraft type below each checkmark tells you whether you are getting a widebody (777, 787, A350) with wider seats and a quieter ride, or a narrowbody (737, A321) with a single aisle. On flights over five hours, the difference is significant.

EWR–DTW

JFK–DTW

LGA–DTW

JetBlue

—

✓
A320, A220-300

—

Delta Air Lines

✓
A319, 712

✓
A319, CRJ-900

✓
A321, 737-900

United Airlines

✓
737-900, E175

—

American Airlines (codeshare)

—

✓

✓
E175

GXA (codeshare)

—

✓

—

Spirit Airlines (codeshare)

✓
A320

—

✓
A320, A320neo

Quick Reference

Route Facts

Total Nonstops

511/wk

Across 3 pairs

Airlines

6

3 on EWR–DTW

Fastest Pair

1h 59m

EWR → DTW

Distance

500 mi

805 km

New York

3 airports

LGA, JFK, EWR

Detroit

1 airports

DTW

Best OTP

77%

EWR → DTW

EWR → DTW JFK → DTW LGA → DTW LGA Routes JFK Routes LGA Delays JFK Delays

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about New York to Detroit flights.

LaGuardia for Manhattan, Newark for New Jersey and lower Manhattan, JFK for Brooklyn and Queens. LaGuardia has the highest frequency with Delta, American, and Spirit. Newark is close behind with United, Delta, and Spirit. JFK has fewer flights but JetBlue's A220-300 offers the widest economy seat on the route.

Yes. Delta flies from all three New York airports and controls the larger McNamara Terminal. If your flight cancels, Delta can rebook you onto a departure from a different airport the same day. American only flies from LaGuardia, United only from Newark, JetBlue only from JFK. None of them have that flexibility.

Ride-share or a taxi. The airport is about 21 miles from downtown on I-94, around 30 minutes outside of rush hour. There is no rail link. The SMART bus runs to the city but takes over an hour and requires a transfer. On a business schedule, ride-share is the only practical option.

Yes. Both cities are in the Eastern time zone and flights leave throughout the day. An early departure from LaGuardia or Newark lands mid-morning in Detroit. Return flights run into the evening. Delta's presence at all three airports gives you the widest scheduling window for both legs.

It changes the ground side, not the air side. Dearborn is closer to Detroit Metro than downtown Detroit is, around 15 minutes by car. Any of the three New York airports works. Pick based on which one is easiest to reach on the New York end.

On a two-hour flight, the main difference is overhead bin space. E175s and CRJs have small bins that force gate-checking of standard roller bags. Economy seating is 2-2 instead of 3-3, so you always get a window or aisle. If you need full-size overhead bin space, book Delta or Spirit, which fly A320-family jets from the same airports.

For a two-hour flight, yes. Spirit fares can run hundreds less than Delta or American, and the A320 cabin has full-size overhead bins. The tradeoff is no premium cabin, no seat assignment until check-in, and bag fees on anything larger than a personal item. If you need rebooking flexibility, Delta's frequency from the same airports is worth the premium.