Alpena County Regional Airport

I love this airport!

Convenient: APN is closer to me than MBS and way closer than FNT.

Cost-effective: Driving to MBS, FNT, or worse yet DTW, takes hours and adds mileage to your vehicle. I justify the additional cost of APN by considering travel time, mileage, and cost to park at MPN or FNT. Using the IRS car mileage reimbursement rate (62.5 cents per mile as of June 9, 2022, but this rate can change several times a year), I multiply this rate and the distance to either MPN or FNT. For MPN, which is 100 miles away from me, the cost of wear and tear on my vehicle is $62.50. Long-term parking at MBS is currently $8 per day. APN currently does not charge for short- and long-term parking. On a perfect day, this trip will take me 2.25 hours to drive. I value my time to be worth more than minimum wage, even today's inflated minimum wage. Together, these costs justify me spending an extra $150 to fly into DTW to catch a connecting flight.

Comfortable: The new terminal is bigger and more comfortable than the old Quonset hut they used to use.

Beautiful new terminal building. However it has one big glaring problem: no rental car counters. The airport even has a designated "rental car return" area in the parking lot, but it doesn't have any companies to use it. Definitely an issue for visitors to the area that needs to be resolved.

Clean airport and newly remodeled. Car rental is a bit bizarre-- you can obtain a reservation, but there is no booth, just a man who will come and get you to travel 15 minutes to an off-site location.... not necessarily a bad thing, but something very odd (you'll have to figure it out for yourself).

Nice delta connection to Detroit that comes and goes.

Only use this once in awhile when arriving in No.MI from LAX terminal avoiding DTW. Very helpful and easy going attendants. Small so no hassle getting in or out or through TSA.

This is my "Casablanca" airport! You know, boarding and DE-planing OUTSIDE using stairs. Always reminds me of that movie!

Only thing is Delta is the major carrier (I like Delta too) and since this is such a small airport there are no direct flights to or from LAX, the layover is a killer. But of course it's obvious there is not enough of a market and never will be. I'm just happy they connect for me.

It's about one of the smallest but quickest airports I've ever passed through! I think they only get two flights in and out everyday on Delta to Detroit. One in the morning and one in the evening. Baggage claim is a freaking breeze! No carousel. Just a set of double doors through which you claim your bags. I got mine within 10 minutes after landing I think. That's gotta be a record! Check in is a breeze. The guy that works the ticket counter later works the gate and is super friendly. Everything is small scale here except the TSA. They have a full complement of staff at the lone gate but again with two flights a day on regional jets you pass through in a breeze. All in all its the best tiny airport I've ever been through!

If you are checking a bag don't bother folding or packing anything as it will be unrolled, flipped through, un pocketed, unfolded. I thought if your bag was to be examined it was to be put back as it was opened. Super small airport in a small town which means some convenience but it's aggravating to know I spent an hour getting ready to fly home with some semblance of organization and it was undone in 10 minutes. Maybe I'll ship UPS next time and save the airline fee...

Small, quick airport. Parking is free, even long term. Don't expect anything but vending machine food and drinks. And there is nothing after security. The airport is very small, only flying out twice a day. You don't need to come more than an hour ahead of time making everything easier and quicker. Everyone you talk to is friendly. And TSA does a good job. Another woman and I were both selected for a random search and they provided a female officer to provide the search. Although this may seem like common sense, some don't think of it and it allowed me to feel much more comfortable. Even though they have limited flights, I hope to be able to fly out of here for as long as I live in Alpena.