DTW Tucson Trip

Apr 2–6, 2026 · Flight options to visit the brother

Brother's Schedule (SFO ↔ TUS)

Arrives TUS: Thu Apr 2, 10:45am
UA 5433 · SFO → TUS
Departs TUS: Sun Apr 5, 8:50am
UA 4683 · TUS → SFO

Constraints

From: Detroit (DTW)
To: Tucson (TUS) or Phoenix (PHX)
Depart: Thu Apr 2 eve / Fri Apr 3 / Sat Apr 4
Return: Sun Apr 5 / Mon Apr 6
PHX note: ~1.5 hr drive to Tucson, but cheaper nonstops
Points: Chase UR + Amex MR available
Flight Options
Option 2
PHX — Saturday Nonstop Dash
Sat Apr 4 → Sun Apr 5 · 1.5 days together
Outbound · Sat Apr 4
DTW → PHX
Frontier · 5:02pm → 6:30pm
Nonstop · 4h 28m
$130
Return · Sun Apr 5
PHX → DTW
Frontier · 9:24pm → 10:58am+1
1 stop (DEN) · 10h 34m
$385
Option 3
PHX — Friday to Monday
Fri Apr 3 → Mon Apr 6 · 2.5 days + buffer
Outbound · Fri Apr 3
DTW → PHX
Frontier · 6:00am → 7:37am
Nonstop · 4h 37m
$294
Return · Mon Apr 6
PHX → DTW
Frontier/Southwest · morning flight
Est. nonstop ~4h or 1-stop ~6h
~$80–150
Option 4
Direct to TUS — No Car Needed
Fri Apr 3 → Sun Apr 5 · 2 days together
Outbound · Fri Apr 3
DTW → TUS
Southwest · 6:40pm → 10:10pm
1 stop (DEN) · 6h 30m
$351
Return · Sun Apr 5
TUS → DTW
Southwest/United · afternoon/evening
1 stop · ~6h
~$400–500
Option 5
AA Nonstop via Avios — Points Play
Sat Apr 4 → Sun Apr 5 or Mon Apr 6
Outbound · Sat Apr 4
DTW → PHX
American Airlines · 7:36am or 6:08pm
Nonstop · 4h 29–39m
10,000 Avios + $5.60
Return · Sun or Mon
PHX → DTW
American Airlines · nonstop options
Nonstop · ~3h 47–55m
10,000 Avios + $5.60
Option 6
AA Nonstops — Emily’s Vacation (Cash)
Tue Mar 31 → Sat Apr 4 · 2.5 days with brother + 2 bonus days
Outbound · Tue Mar 31
DTW → PHX
American · 6:08pm → 7:37pm
Nonstop · 4h 29m
$549 RT
Return · Sat Apr 4
PHX → DTW
American · 4:24pm → 11:11pm
Nonstop · 3h 47m
incl. in RT
Option 8
Frontier Nonstop — Emily’s Dates, Budget Price
Tue Mar 31 → Sat Apr 4 · Cheapest nonstop on these dates
Outbound · Tue Mar 31
DTW → PHX
Frontier · 6:00am → 7:39am
Nonstop · 4h 39m
$469 RT
Return · Sat Apr 4
PHX → DTW
Frontier · afternoon/evening
Nonstop or 1-stop
incl. in RT
🃏 Points Breakdown

★ Using Chase UR & Amex MR

BA Avios (Best for AA Nonstops)

Transfer Chase UR or Amex MR → BA Avios at 1:1. Book AA nonstop DTW↔PHX.

10,000 Avios/way

+ $5.60 taxes each way. ~2.0¢/pt value on a $315 AA fare.

Chase Portal (Best for Frontier)

Book that $130 Frontier nonstop through Chase Sapphire Reserve at 1.5¢/pt.

8,667 UR points

For the $130 Frontier fare. Good value if you don't want to deal with Avios transfers.

Chase → Southwest RR

Transfer to Southwest Rapid Rewards. The $231 DTW→PHX nonstop = ~16,500 pts at ~1.4¢/pt.

~16,500 RR pts/way

Good for flexibility — Southwest allows free changes/cancellations.

Amex → Delta SkyMiles

Delta runs nonstops DTW↔PHX starting at $245. Award availability varies.

~10,000–18,000 mi/way

Delta pricing is dynamic. Check delta.com for award prices on your dates.

Which option do you like?

Pick your favorite and we'll book it.

Flight Assistant
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