Detroit skyline across the Detroit River. Flights from Phoenix to Detroit

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Phoenix to Detroit

Compare partner fares from Phoenix Sky Harbor to Detroit Metro, and see which terminal six airlines use at each end of the route.

PHX to DTW · 1,668 mi · 4h 9m est.

PHX to DTW
1,668 miles
4h 9m nonstop (estimated)
7 airlines in our fare results

Photo: Andrew Heneen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Phoenix to Detroit flight insights

Average flight time

~4h 9m (estimated)

PHX → DTW

Cheapest cached price

$145

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Nov 6, 2026.

Planning a trip from Phoenix to Detroit? The average flight time on this route is ~4h 9m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $145 (last checked Nov 6, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Phoenix to Detroit covers a straight-line distance of about 1,668 miles. Based on that distance, a nonstop flight would take approximately ~4h 9m (estimated). Actual flight time varies by airline, aircraft and routing.

Phoenix to Detroit at a glance

PHX to DTW is about 1,668 miles in a straight line. The curved line is an illustration; the route your airline flies may differ.

Route Quick Facts

Quick facts for flights from Phoenix to Detroit on Eazair
Origin	Phoenix (PHX)
Destination	Detroit (DTW)
Average Flight Time	~4h 9m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$145
Fares Last Checked	Nov 6, 2026
Distance	1,668 miles (PHX to DTW)
Time in Detroit	2 hours ahead of Phoenix until Mar 14, 2027
Airlines in our fare results	7

Local time in Detroit is 2 hours ahead of Phoenix until Mar 14, 2027, then 3 hours ahead of Phoenix. Phoenix is on Mountain Standard Time, Detroit on Eastern Time.

Flight deals from Phoenix to Detroit

Here you can compare fares from Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW). The airport's undated nonstop list names American, Delta, Frontier and Southwest for Detroit; schedules change, so check stops. Southwest, Delta, American, United, Frontier and Sun Country have appeared in EazAir's fare checks for this route. Southwest and American fly from Terminal 4 in Phoenix and the rest from Terminal 3. In Detroit, Delta arrives at McNamara and the other five at Evans.

Arriving by light rail, get off Valley Metro Rail at 44th Street/Washington and follow the walkway with moving sidewalks to the Sky Train, which is free and serves both terminals. Rental car returns connect the same way, since the Sky Train stops at the Rental Car Center 24 hours a day. PHX says Waymo offers curbside drop-off at the Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 ride share locations, and the airport asks domestic travelers to arrive 2 hours before departure.

Delta arrivals at McNamara reach rideshare on Level 4 of the McNamara Parking Garage: cross the Skybridge, then take the Ground Transportation Center elevators on Level 6 down to Level 4. Taxis dispatch from the middle of that Ground Transportation Center. For buses, SMART Route 125 and FAST Michigan Route 261 serve both terminals, and SMART Route 280 serves Evans only. If you need the other terminal, a shuttle connects McNamara with Evans about every 10 minutes.

EazAir's first 5 fare checks for PHX to DTW, run from 28 Sep to 15 Oct 2026, each sought the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days later. Those 5 checks gave 3 different results, with the highest at least 3 times the lowest; the lowest came on 28 Sep, the first day checked. Frontier without a bundle and the Sun Country base fare include a personal item but no carry-on. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Phoenix to Detroit flights

Departure · Phoenix

Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)

Mountain Standard Time

Arrival · Detroit

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)

Eastern Time

About Detroit

Areas to know in Detroit

Corktown
Midtown
Downtown / Greektown

Weather in Detroit

Cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers.

Phoenix to Detroit: airport and fare guide

Checked on 17 Oct 2026 against the airport, airline and transit pages listed under Sources. Airports and airlines change these details, so confirm them with your airline before you fly.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International's nonstop list (no date shown) shows Detroit (DTW) served by American, Delta, Frontier and Southwest. Schedules change, so check the stops shown with each result.

Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Mesa is a separate airport that also serves the Phoenix area, so check the airport code on every result.

Leaving from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)

Airline	PHX terminal
Southwest	Terminal 4
American	Terminal 4
Delta	Terminal 3
United	Terminal 3
Frontier	Terminal 3
Sun Country	Terminal 3
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

Valley Metro Rail stops at 44th Street/Washington, which connects by a walkway with moving sidewalks to the 44th Street PHX Sky Train station. The free Sky Train runs to Terminals 3 and 4.
If you are returning a rental car, the free PHX Sky Train runs from the Rental Car Center to both terminals around the clock.
PHX says Waymo offers curbside drop-off at the Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 ride share locations.
The Terminal 3 checkpoint is open 24 hours, with TSA PreCheck from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Terminal 4 has checkpoints A to D. Checkpoint A is open 24 hours, and TSA PreCheck runs from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. PHX says PreCheck hours may change.
PHX asks domestic travelers to arrive 2 hours before departure. Wait times are on the skyharbor.com home page and on terminal screens.

Arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)

Airline	DTW terminal
Delta	McNamara Terminal
American	Evans Terminal
United	Evans Terminal
Southwest	Evans Terminal
Frontier	Evans Terminal
Sun Country	Evans Terminal
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

DTW says some boarding passes may show the McNamara Terminal as EM and the Evans Terminal as WE.

DTW has two separate terminals, McNamara and Evans. The Terminal to Terminal/Westin Shuttle leaves about every 10 minutes from each Ground Transportation Center and the Westin Hotel entrance.
In McNamara, the ExpressTram runs along the mile-long Concourse A: South Station for gates A1 to A28, Terminal Station for A29 to A55 and North Station for A56 to A78.
McNamara's Terminal Station also gives access to check-in, baggage claim, ground transportation and the tunnel to Concourses B and C.

Getting from DTW	Where to board	Where it goes
Detroit Air Xpress	Evans: Ground Transportation Center. McNamara: Departures Level near Door 1. Runs every day from 3:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.	Downtown Detroit.
SMART and FAST buses	Same stops. SMART Route 125 and FAST Michigan Route 261 serve both terminals; SMART Route 280 serves Evans only.	Downtown Detroit and surrounding suburbs.
Michigan Flyer and AirRide	Same stops. Inside both terminals, follow the Public Transit signs.	Ann Arbor (both) and East Lansing (Michigan Flyer).
Rideshare	McNamara: Level 4 of the McNamara Parking Garage, across the Skybridge and down the Level 6 Ground Transportation Center elevators. Evans: Level 1 of the Big Blue Deck, across the Skybridge.	Wherever you booked.
Taxis	McNamara: middle of the Ground Transportation Center on Level 4. Evans: upper level of the Ground Transportation Center.	Your destination.

What the lowest fares include

Fare	Carry-on	Checked bag	Seat	Changes
Delta Main Basic	Delta says every passenger can bring one carry-on and one personal item free.	Delta charges for checked bags on domestic flights unless you qualify for a waiver, such as Medallion status or an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card.	Assigned after check-in. You may be able to buy a seat ahead of time for a fee.	Refunds are not allowed after the 24-hour risk-free cancellation window. Delta says a change or cancellation may be possible for a fee, with any value left as an eCredit.
American Basic Economy	Included, plus a personal item.	Not included, except for some AAdvantage status members and eligible cardmembers.	A free seat is assigned at check-in, or you can pay to choose one.	Generally not allowed. American describes a 24-hour window and some credit options on its Basic Economy page.
United Basic Economy	Not included on domestic flights. One personal item only, unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying MileagePlus card.	Not included; check United's bag fee calculator.	Assigned by United before boarding.	Changes may not be allowed. Refund if cancelled within 24 hours of booking, under United's 24-hour policy; after that, partial travel credit.
Southwest Basic	Southwest's policy allows one carry-on and one personal item.	Checked bag fees apply to Basic fares.	A free Standard seat is assigned at check-in. Preferred and Extra Legroom seats cost extra.	Only by upgrading to a Choice fare or higher. Cancelling at least 10 minutes before departure gives a flight credit, which for Basic expires 6 months from booking.
Frontier, without a bundle	Not included. One personal item only.	Not included. Prices vary by travel date and when you buy.	Costs extra, or a seat is assigned after check-in.	Not covered here. Check Frontier's rules before you book.
Sun Country base fare	Not included. The base fare includes a personal item.	Not included.	Costs extra to choose, or a seat is assigned at check-in.	A change fee and any fare difference may apply. Sun Country says to cancel the original reservation before departure to change the ticket.

Based on the airlines' own pages, checked on 17 Oct 2026. Fees are left out because they change often. Check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

How EazAir measured fares on this route

EazAir's first 5 fare checks from Phoenix to Detroit ran from 28 Sep to 15 Oct 2026. For the return direction, Detroit to Phoenix, EazAir's first 4 checks ran from 26 Sep to 16 Oct 2026. Each check asked partner travel sites for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days after the check. Results can include connecting flights. The highest result was at least 3 times the lowest. The 5 checks returned 3 different results. The lowest result came on 28 Sep. With only 5 checks, this cannot show a pattern. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

Phoenix Sky Harbor: Passenger airlines (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: PHX Sky Train (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Security screening (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Light rail connection (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Ride share (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Summer travel tips (19 May 2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Public transportation (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DTW: Airline directory (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DTW: Transfer between terminals (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DTW: Shuttle services (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DTW: Public transportation (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DTW: Rideshare (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DTW: ExpressTram (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DTW: Taxis and luxury sedans (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Michigan Flyer (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Where we fly (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Delta Main Basic (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Fares and discounts (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Carry-on baggage (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Bags (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Basic Economy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
United: Basic Economy FAQ (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Fare information (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Assigned seating (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Carry-on baggage policy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Fare types and benefits (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Frontier: What is included in my fare (last modified 25 Mar 2026, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Frontier: Bag options (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Frontier: Bundles (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Sun Country Stories: Your first Sun Country flight? Here's what to expect from booking to boarding (Jul 10, 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Sun Country: Contract of Carriage (Updated October 15, 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
EazAir fare checks for PHX to DTW, 28 Sep 2026 to 15 Oct 2026; DTW to PHX, 26 Sep 2026 to 16 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which Phoenix terminal do I leave from for Detroit?

Southwest and American use Terminal 4. Delta, United, Frontier and Sun Country use Terminal 3. Any Terminal 4 checkpoint, A to D, reaches any Terminal 4 gate.

Which Detroit terminal will I land at?

Delta arrives at the McNamara Terminal. American, United, Southwest, Frontier and Sun Country use the Evans Terminal, according to DTW.

Where is rideshare pickup at DTW?

For McNamara, it is Level 4 of the McNamara Parking Garage, reached across the Skybridge. For Evans, it is Level 1 of the Big Blue Deck, also across the Skybridge.

Do the lowest Phoenix to Detroit fares include a carry-on?

Southwest, Delta and American include a carry-on with their lowest fares. United Basic Economy, Frontier without a bundle and the Sun Country base fare include a personal item only.

Can a Waymo drop me off at Sky Harbor?

PHX says Waymo offers curbside drop-off at the Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 ride share locations.

How far is Phoenix from Detroit?

PHX and DTW are about 1668 miles apart in a straight line. Flight times vary by airline, direction and routing, so check the scheduled time shown with each result.

Airline bag fees

Baggage allowances differ significantly between fare classes (Basic/Light vs. Standard/Flex) and can change over time. Always verify the exact allowance for your specific fare with the airline before you fly.

Checked bag fees from each airline's own website
Airline	Carry-on, basic economy	1st checked bag	2nd checked bag	Source
American Airlines	Included	$45	$55	aa.com, Sep 24, 2026
United Airlines	Not included	$40	$50	united.com, Sep 24, 2026
Delta Air Lines	Included	$45	$55	delta.com, Sep 24, 2026
Southwest Airlines	Included	$45	$55	southwest.com, Oct 27, 2026
JetBlue	Included	$45	$59	jetblue.com, Sep 24, 2026
Alaska Airlines	Included	$45	$55	alaskaair.com, Sep 24, 2026
Frontier Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	flyfrontier.com, Sep 24, 2026
Sun Country Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	suncountry.com, Sep 24, 2026

Domestic US fees per bag, each way, when paid online in advance. "Varies" means the airline prices bags by route and date.

Travel tips

Arrive early for domestic flights

TSA generally recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic departure, more at larger hub airports during peak travel periods.

Pack a mixed carry-on

Keep a change of clothes, chargers, and any essentials in your carry-on rather than only your checked bag, in case of a delay or a bag that doesn't arrive with you.

Ease jet lag on longer routes

On longer cross-country flights, adjusting your sleep schedule a day or two before departure and staying hydrated in flight can reduce jet lag on arrival.

Screenshot your confirmation

Save a screenshot or PDF of your booking confirmation and boarding pass before you travel, in case you lose signal or battery at the airport.

Check in online when it opens

Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. Checking in early can help with seat selection and, on some airlines, boarding group assignment.