Minneapolis Preview
Content
10/2/2010 Delta Airlines Service Toledo to Minneapolis/St. Paul Preview As many of you know, airline service at Toledo Express Airport has dwindled from the heydays of 2000-2002 when 6 separate airlines served the airport. On October 31st, Delta Air Lines will switch from its current four round trip flights per day to Detroit Metro Airport to two round trip flights per day to Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Also changing are the type aircraft from a 34 seat Saab 340 turboprop to a 50 seat Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ). The flights will be operated by Delta Connection partner Mesaba Airlines, the current airline flying the Toledo to Detroit Metro route. This post will give a preview of what to expect when taking the service from Toledo to Minneapolis. It will have pictures, suggestions, and also some sample fares. Please note, fares are subject to change at any time, and will likely be different than those published here. As noted above, the air service will start on October 31st with flights leaving Toledo at 7:15am and 6:09 pm and arriving Toledo at 5:44 pm and 9:39 pm. The flights are scheduled at about an hour and 45 minutes each direction. The aircraft flying the route will be a 50 seat Canadair CRJ-200 regional jet with a two by two seating layout. The aircraft does have a flight attendant for inflight service en route and a lavatory onboard.
Delta Connection CRJ-200
If you have never used Toledo Express Airport, check-in is on the first floor of the main lobby. Delta currently has two self serve check-in kiosks for you to use if you have no bags to check. You may also check-in from home via Delta.com. You will be able to print your boarding pass at home, and go directly to the gate at Toledo Express. For those of you with web-enabled smartphones, you will be able to check in for your flight from Minneapolis via your smartphone. Your boarding pass will arrive as a text message, which will be scanned at the security checkpoint and gate. Departing out of Toledo, Delta uses gate number four. There is plenty of space to sit in the terminal around the gate, and there is even a children’s play area located directly across from the gate.
Delta Check-in Counter
Delta’s Gate – Gate 4
Your actual flying time will last approximately an hour and twenty minutes or so depending on the route of flight and the wind speed at cruising altitude. Most, if not all, Delta flights over 45 minutes will have a beverage service which range from juices to sodas to cocktails. Most likely you will be offered a small snack of peanuts, pretzels, or Biscoff (cookies) graham crackers. Upon arrival at Minneapolis-St. Paul, you will most likely find yourself parking at a gate in the A, B, or C concourse of the Lindbergh terminal. If you have checked baggage, a tram or moving sidewalk will speed the journey to baggage claim. Courtesy carts are also available for those needing assistance.
Map of ABC Gates
B Concourse
A Concourse
For those of you who are staying in Minneapolis who are renting a car or utilizing the Light Rail tram to downtown Minneapolis or going to the Mall of America, there is a little trick to make things a little quicker. Instead of proceeding down to baggage claim, you will want to find the Skyway Concourse Connector. It is located between gates C12 and C13 as highlighted below. For those doing business in Minneapolis will find this concourse connector an easy way in and out while utilizing the Toledo to Minneapolis air service. There is a separate (and lesser used) security screening checkpoint for anyone who has a boarding pass located in this Skyway Concourse Connector. This is quite a convenient way to get in and out for renting cars or taking the light rail tram.
Concourse Connector to the Light Rail Transit Station, Rental Cars, G, and F Gates
Direction to Concourse Connector from the Gates
Concourse Connector hallway
Since not all of you may be going to just Minneapolis but making a connection on to flights to other cities, this section will be just for you. Below is an outline of the entire Minneapolis-St. Paul Lindbergh terminal. Delta flies primarily out of all gates except the E concourse, which handles pretty much all of the other airlines. While it appears like everything is long distances, there are many aids to get you from gate to gate. As described before, there are courtesy carts, moving walkways and even a tram. The tram goes from concourses A and B to the beginning of concourse C with a stop at gate C8.
Map of Minneapolis-St. Paul Lindberg Terminal
Tram from A concourse to C concourse
If you have a long layover, there are many things to do in the airport. Favorite restaurants are plentiful and scattered throughout the airport and there’s even a mini mall with a food court located smack dab in the middle. There are local and national stores that range from sports to souvenirs. Need to know which gate your next flight is departing from? Information screens are located throughout the entire terminal and are very large and easy to read.
Shopping court in the Lindbergh Terminal
Food court in the Lindbergh Terminal
View out of the window of the food court
Flight Information Displays
Have a child with you? No problem. At gate C12, there is a fun playground to help pass the time and wear him or her out before that next flight.
Children’s play court at gate C12
For those of you wanting to get a little work done or relax on the internet, there are plenty of places to plug in your lap top or IPOD. The airport has wifi provided by Boingo Wireless, which does charge for access. Boingo also provides the wifi at Toledo Express. Located throughout the terminal are “internet stations.” They are basically high density cubicles which have power ports and a few had Ethernet jacks. If you are an elite traveler with Delta (or any Skyteam partner), there are there Delta Sky Clubs in the terminal. For those of you who chose Minneapolis as your final destination, returning to Toledo isn’t really that difficult to navigate. Driving up and checking in at the main terminal check in counter is a cinch. Signs and directions are plentiful as you approach the terminal. The Delta counters are located at the furthest end as you are driving up so don’t get out of the car too early. Again, you can check in before you arrive at the airport, either online or via your smartphone. There are plenty of self service kiosks in the terminal to speed the process as well. If you are checking a bag, the Delta counters are between two security checkpoints. If the lines are too long at those two, you may choose any of the other four checkpoints.
Roadway leading into MSP
Looking down the curbside of the main terminal
Delta Check-in counter
Delta serves approximately 134 destinations out of Minneapolis/St. Paul with approximately 400 daily flights. This new service from Toledo will allow for many one stop destinations in the upper Midwest and western parts of the country. Fares to/from Minneapolis right now are running in the $350 round trip range with other destinations out west ranging from $200 round trip to $300 round trip. Seamless, one stop connections to destinations like Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle will make this service such a treat to use. For more information about the service or airports please see www.toledoexpress.com, www.mspairport.com, or www.delta.com
Downtown Minneapolis in the distance with a Delta Connection CRJ-900 waiting at the gate
Delta Connection CRJ-200
If you have never used Toledo Express Airport, check-in is on the first floor of the main lobby. Delta currently has two self serve check-in kiosks for you to use if you have no bags to check. You may also check-in from home via Delta.com. You will be able to print your boarding pass at home, and go directly to the gate at Toledo Express. For those of you with web-enabled smartphones, you will be able to check in for your flight from Minneapolis via your smartphone. Your boarding pass will arrive as a text message, which will be scanned at the security checkpoint and gate. Departing out of Toledo, Delta uses gate number four. There is plenty of space to sit in the terminal around the gate, and there is even a children’s play area located directly across from the gate.
Delta Check-in Counter
Delta’s Gate – Gate 4
Your actual flying time will last approximately an hour and twenty minutes or so depending on the route of flight and the wind speed at cruising altitude. Most, if not all, Delta flights over 45 minutes will have a beverage service which range from juices to sodas to cocktails. Most likely you will be offered a small snack of peanuts, pretzels, or Biscoff (cookies) graham crackers. Upon arrival at Minneapolis-St. Paul, you will most likely find yourself parking at a gate in the A, B, or C concourse of the Lindbergh terminal. If you have checked baggage, a tram or moving sidewalk will speed the journey to baggage claim. Courtesy carts are also available for those needing assistance.
Map of ABC Gates
B Concourse
A Concourse
For those of you who are staying in Minneapolis who are renting a car or utilizing the Light Rail tram to downtown Minneapolis or going to the Mall of America, there is a little trick to make things a little quicker. Instead of proceeding down to baggage claim, you will want to find the Skyway Concourse Connector. It is located between gates C12 and C13 as highlighted below. For those doing business in Minneapolis will find this concourse connector an easy way in and out while utilizing the Toledo to Minneapolis air service. There is a separate (and lesser used) security screening checkpoint for anyone who has a boarding pass located in this Skyway Concourse Connector. This is quite a convenient way to get in and out for renting cars or taking the light rail tram.
Concourse Connector to the Light Rail Transit Station, Rental Cars, G, and F Gates
Direction to Concourse Connector from the Gates
Concourse Connector hallway
Since not all of you may be going to just Minneapolis but making a connection on to flights to other cities, this section will be just for you. Below is an outline of the entire Minneapolis-St. Paul Lindbergh terminal. Delta flies primarily out of all gates except the E concourse, which handles pretty much all of the other airlines. While it appears like everything is long distances, there are many aids to get you from gate to gate. As described before, there are courtesy carts, moving walkways and even a tram. The tram goes from concourses A and B to the beginning of concourse C with a stop at gate C8.
Map of Minneapolis-St. Paul Lindberg Terminal
Tram from A concourse to C concourse
If you have a long layover, there are many things to do in the airport. Favorite restaurants are plentiful and scattered throughout the airport and there’s even a mini mall with a food court located smack dab in the middle. There are local and national stores that range from sports to souvenirs. Need to know which gate your next flight is departing from? Information screens are located throughout the entire terminal and are very large and easy to read.
Shopping court in the Lindbergh Terminal
Food court in the Lindbergh Terminal
View out of the window of the food court
Flight Information Displays
Have a child with you? No problem. At gate C12, there is a fun playground to help pass the time and wear him or her out before that next flight.
Children’s play court at gate C12
For those of you wanting to get a little work done or relax on the internet, there are plenty of places to plug in your lap top or IPOD. The airport has wifi provided by Boingo Wireless, which does charge for access. Boingo also provides the wifi at Toledo Express. Located throughout the terminal are “internet stations.” They are basically high density cubicles which have power ports and a few had Ethernet jacks. If you are an elite traveler with Delta (or any Skyteam partner), there are there Delta Sky Clubs in the terminal. For those of you who chose Minneapolis as your final destination, returning to Toledo isn’t really that difficult to navigate. Driving up and checking in at the main terminal check in counter is a cinch. Signs and directions are plentiful as you approach the terminal. The Delta counters are located at the furthest end as you are driving up so don’t get out of the car too early. Again, you can check in before you arrive at the airport, either online or via your smartphone. There are plenty of self service kiosks in the terminal to speed the process as well. If you are checking a bag, the Delta counters are between two security checkpoints. If the lines are too long at those two, you may choose any of the other four checkpoints.
Roadway leading into MSP
Looking down the curbside of the main terminal
Delta Check-in counter
Delta serves approximately 134 destinations out of Minneapolis/St. Paul with approximately 400 daily flights. This new service from Toledo will allow for many one stop destinations in the upper Midwest and western parts of the country. Fares to/from Minneapolis right now are running in the $350 round trip range with other destinations out west ranging from $200 round trip to $300 round trip. Seamless, one stop connections to destinations like Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle will make this service such a treat to use. For more information about the service or airports please see www.toledoexpress.com, www.mspairport.com, or www.delta.com
Downtown Minneapolis in the distance with a Delta Connection CRJ-900 waiting at the gate
