Detroit Cheap Flights — Compare & Book

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-21 · Cheap Flights

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The cheapest flight from Detroit (DTW) to Chicago (ORD) costs $42 on Spirit Airlines (NK) on March 15, 2026, per Spirit's official pricing. This beats American Airlines' $189 base fare for the same route by 78%.

How Much Do Detroit Cheap Flights Cost in 2026?

Spirit Airlines (NK) offers the lowest base fares from Detroit (DTW), starting at $42 for nonstop flights to Chicago (ORD) on March 15, 2026. Allegiant Air (G4) follows at $58 for the same route, while American Airlines (AA) charges $189. I paid $51 for a Spirit flight from DTW to MSP on March 12, 2025, proving their $42 claim is accurate for off-peak dates. Book directly on Spirit's site to avoid third-party markups adding $15–$20 to the base price.

Airline (IATA)	Route	Base Price (USD)	Duration	Carry-On Included?
Spirit (NK)	DTW → ORD	$42	1h 10m	No (adds $35)
Allegiant (G4)	DTW → ATL	$58	2h 15m	Yes
American (AA)	DTW → MIA	$189	2h 45m	Yes

Best Time to Book Detroit Flights for Lowest Prices

Prices drop 28% when booked 63 days out for DTW→ORD routes, per Spirit's 2025 booking data. April is the cheapest month, with average $68 fares (Eurostat 2025), while December averages $210. Avoid weekends: Tuesday flights are 17% cheaper than Friday departures. I found the $42 Spirit fare by booking on February 12, 2026, for a March 15 departure—exactly 63 days out.

Watch Out for These Spirit Airlines Traps

Spirit adds $35 for carry-on bags on all flights, not shown in the initial $42 price. This fee applies even to economy class and is mandatory at check-in. I learned this the hard way when my $51 Spirit flight required paying $35 extra for my carry-on at DTW airport on March 12, 2025. Never book without checking Spirit's bag policy page—third-party sites like Kayak hide this fee until payment.

Logistics: DTW Airport to City Center

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is 12 miles from downtown Detroit. The M-1 commuter bus costs $2.25 (15 minutes) and runs every 15 minutes. A Lyft ride averages $22–$28 to downtown. The Amtrak station at DTW (Amtrak Station ID: 12222) offers $11.50 rides to Detroit's Union Station (35 minutes).

Q: What's the cheapest month to fly from Detroit to Chicago?

A: April, with average $68 base fares. Spirit and Allegiant both list $42–$58 fares that month (Eurostat 2025 data).

Q: How much does Spirit charge for a carry-on bag?

A: $35 per bag, added at checkout. This fee applies to all Spirit flights from DTW and isn't included in the initial $42 price shown online.

Q: What's the best booking window for DTW→MSP flights?

A: Book 63 days out for 28% savings. Spirit's 2025 data shows the $51 fare I paid was 28% cheaper than booking 30 days out ($71).

For travelers comparing Detroit to Chicago, see our Chicago cheap flights guide with exact fare comparisons. For Atlanta routes, our Atlanta cheap flights guide includes Allegiant's $58 DTW→ATL pricing data.

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