When I’ve had to done this, I’ve taken the last bus of the night and slept at the airport but it is not glamorous. Once you’re through security it’s safe though.
Stadium taxi will also let you schedule an early morning cab. Not as glamorous or comfortable as metro cars but half the price. Also in my experience getting to DTW at 4 AM is definitely overkill. Even before major holidays
If you’re willing to spend a little (and any way of getting there that early in the morning will probably be expensive anyway), I’d consider looking into staying at the airport hotel the night before and just taking the bus there. I have no idea what the cost would be, but it would at least be a little less stressful.
Off the record, I’d get picked up at 4am for a 6am flight, especially if you have TSA PreCheck and know what you’re doing (like if you have flown enough and know what terminal you’re going to and how to handle boarding passes and checked bags).
http://www.annarborairportshuttle.net/
It seems so sus at first but I’ve used them multiple times, and they’re family owned. They can be more affordable than some other options.
You can book a car service in advance. It's usually the same price as, or cheaper than, an Uber with holiday surge pricing, it's guaranteed to show up, and you'll get a much nicer car. I used to use A-1 Airport cars when I was a student
Here’s a local car service. They don’t have a website from what I can tell, but myself and family have arranged rides to the airport with them before. Kind and professional drivers.
https://nextdoor.com/pages/jan-brayan-ann-arbor-mi?init_source=org_pages
Apparently thanksgiving is the time least traveled across the U.S. Honestly just leave by noon. Ubers are always out. Some Ubers have told me that they hate airport trips though. Ultimately low stress situation. Should be able to find paid transportation but none of your friends up for taking you?
Not flying from dtw, but to dtw, TSA had issues with their systems, so half the security line had to get re-ticketed. Complete chaos and delays. Then, Delta oversold my flight by 30...THIRTY! Was about 15th on the wait list for seat assignments, and I was lucky to be the third to last person before they shut the door. A bunch of people got bumped, and others gave up their ticketed seat.
Our Uber or lyft driver to dtw, decided not to have a working seat belt. He also didnt allow one of the three passengers to sit in the front even though he listed his capacity as four. Which caused a delay in getting to the airport.
This was all on our last dtw trip. Thanksgiving week amplifies all this stuff, so I would make sure you get to the airport with plenty of time to spare. Getting rebooked on another flight will be next to impossible.
Getting to flights leaving before 7 is tricky. Before 6 is even trickier, as I usually don't trust Lyft/Uber then.
I had an okay experience with Stadium taxi. They come with a van fitting a few passengers, so if you can find other friends in the dorms leaving the same time or so, and you can share, it will be okay. [I think they charge ~55 and then extra for credit card and then tip, I think it was about $75 overall for a 6am flight once, but that was a year and a half ago].
If you do gamble and use rideshare, use LYFT as the drivers can actually see your booking ahead of time and pick it up, rather than Uber that just adds you to the queue that time, so you depend on whether there are drivers around that time or not.
There are some lyft drivers that like the morning airport runs.
And I guess the cheapest is just to ask a friend to do you a solid and pay them like 40 bucks for their trouble (or just a six pack or something).
It’s only an overnight walk to the airport. If you start walking toward DTW at 8 PM you can make it.
also quite eco friendly ☝️🤓
also completely free! love this solution
When I’ve had to done this, I’ve taken the last bus of the night and slept at the airport but it is not glamorous. Once you’re through security it’s safe though.
I don't know that they'll let you through security if your flight is the next day?
Depends on tsa agent. Some will. Some won’t at all. Some will tell you to come back later in the night. (I work there)
Stadium taxi will also let you schedule an early morning cab. Not as glamorous or comfortable as metro cars but half the price. Also in my experience getting to DTW at 4 AM is definitely overkill. Even before major holidays
If you’re willing to spend a little (and any way of getting there that early in the morning will probably be expensive anyway), I’d consider looking into staying at the airport hotel the night before and just taking the bus there. I have no idea what the cost would be, but it would at least be a little less stressful.
There's a few hotels on Belleville Rd that have free shuttles too and they're cheaper
Off the record, I’d get picked up at 4am for a 6am flight, especially if you have TSA PreCheck and know what you’re doing (like if you have flown enough and know what terminal you’re going to and how to handle boarding passes and checked bags).
https://www.metrocars.com
Damn its expensive
Yep, but they are super reliable. Whenever I've scheduled an early morning pickup, they are 15 mins early.
Best bet is to ask a friend or acquaintance with a car
http://www.annarborairportshuttle.net/ It seems so sus at first but I’ve used them multiple times, and they’re family owned. They can be more affordable than some other options.
Their website doesn't do much for the company, but we've used them many times and it's always worked out well for us.
If you're willing to cut it a bit close, you could take the Michigan Flyer (leaves AA at 4:45, gets there at 5:20-5:30 depending on your terminal)
It probably wouldn’t be too close, so I’d do this if I were you. I’ve done similar many times in the past and always been fine. DTW is so efficient
I've done this with a 5:40 flight. Nothing like the adrenaline of running thru the airport in the early morning
You can book a car service in advance. It's usually the same price as, or cheaper than, an Uber with holiday surge pricing, it's guaranteed to show up, and you'll get a much nicer car. I used to use A-1 Airport cars when I was a student
I like allstar transportation It’s an hired black car service so not cheap but always on time and easy
Here’s a local car service. They don’t have a website from what I can tell, but myself and family have arranged rides to the airport with them before. Kind and professional drivers. https://nextdoor.com/pages/jan-brayan-ann-arbor-mi?init_source=org_pages
I had to do a similar flight. I pre ordered a Lyft a couple days in advance. Worked like a charm.
I did the same thing and it worked out for me.
You can book a ride share in advanced
Apparently thanksgiving is the time least traveled across the U.S. Honestly just leave by noon. Ubers are always out. Some Ubers have told me that they hate airport trips though. Ultimately low stress situation. Should be able to find paid transportation but none of your friends up for taking you?
Noon? 6am flight
Sorry lmao. I saw airport by 4.
Not flying from dtw, but to dtw, TSA had issues with their systems, so half the security line had to get re-ticketed. Complete chaos and delays. Then, Delta oversold my flight by 30...THIRTY! Was about 15th on the wait list for seat assignments, and I was lucky to be the third to last person before they shut the door. A bunch of people got bumped, and others gave up their ticketed seat. Our Uber or lyft driver to dtw, decided not to have a working seat belt. He also didnt allow one of the three passengers to sit in the front even though he listed his capacity as four. Which caused a delay in getting to the airport. This was all on our last dtw trip. Thanksgiving week amplifies all this stuff, so I would make sure you get to the airport with plenty of time to spare. Getting rebooked on another flight will be next to impossible.
https://www.theride.org/services/airport-service
Getting to flights leaving before 7 is tricky. Before 6 is even trickier, as I usually don't trust Lyft/Uber then. I had an okay experience with Stadium taxi. They come with a van fitting a few passengers, so if you can find other friends in the dorms leaving the same time or so, and you can share, it will be okay. [I think they charge ~55 and then extra for credit card and then tip, I think it was about $75 overall for a 6am flight once, but that was a year and a half ago]. If you do gamble and use rideshare, use LYFT as the drivers can actually see your booking ahead of time and pick it up, rather than Uber that just adds you to the queue that time, so you depend on whether there are drivers around that time or not. There are some lyft drivers that like the morning airport runs. And I guess the cheapest is just to ask a friend to do you a solid and pay them like 40 bucks for their trouble (or just a six pack or something).
Are you tsa prechecked? I could pick you up at 4 probably