Pellston — Flying isn’t really very pleasant these days. Well, it’s not exactly the flying that’s so bad; it’s the airport. The lines, the security, the parking, the pointless frenzy and chaos, the sense that you aren’t really a living and breathing human with a name and face, but rather a random number being shuffled through the body-scan machine.
Our terrible flying situation isn’t inherent or predestined. You can start your journey in peace and luxury, instead of misery and insanity. And the truth is you don’t need a million bucks or a private jet. You don’t need much at all, really. You just need to fly out of the Pellston Regional Airport.
Pellston is a small town about 20 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge, with no stop lights, a population of 822, and the nicest airport in Michigan. You’ve probably never heard of Pellston before now. You wouldn’t think that the trick to flying luxury would be way out here either, but it is.
The truth is the airport in Pellston is so small you might confuse it for a Dallas McMansion instead of your gateway to the rest of the world.
Flying out of Pellston, you take off in a small, standard jet on your way to the hubs of Detroit or Chicago. There you will still end up frantically transferring to a new gate like everyone else. But flying out of Pellston does change the worst part of flying: the beginning of your trip.
The lot at Pellston airport is full of open spots and parking is free. Outside the entrance to the terminal, under the overhang, are shuttles waiting to take passengers to Mackinaw City. Inside, the aesthetic is that of a northern lodge.
Deer heads mounted on the wall. Fish hanging on wooden plaques over doorways. Black bears standing in the middle of the baggage claim. The rubber belt carrying suitcases and backpacks slithering around the furry figures.
The signs that direct you to the bathrooms, security, car rental, and business center aren’t the typical kinds you see in other airports. No black, sterile font on cold plastic and steel. All the signs are wooden, hand-carved text. Rustic, then carefully polished.
Hoppies Landing is upstairs. With a full bar, varied menu, and great food, it’s a great place to spend an hour before your flight. There are big windows looking out over the runway and the thick forest to the west. It’s outside of security, so you can grab a bite to eat with whoever is dropping you off, then head downstairs at the last moment to put your bags through the x-ray machine and board.
Security is warm and personal. I know that sounds strange or insane, and I know you probably don’t believe me, but it’s true. No barking orders, no angry looks. Just a few TSA agents welcoming you through the short line, making sure everything is okay, treating you like a human being.
It’s genuinely shocking how relaxed and comfortable it is. The line maxes out at about 30 people. Security is less than 50 feet from the entrance, and just a two-minute walk from Hoppies Landing upstairs. It takes no more than seven minutes to get through and to your gate, of which there are only two in the entire Pellston airport.
It sounds entirely counterintuitive, but if you want to have the best flight experience possible in 2025, you don’t want to drive toward Detroit or Chicago, you want to drive away, out into the country. Leaving from Pellston is an affordable way to hack a luxury flight experience.
The ability to start your journey off with no lines, no headaches, no chaos, and no stress costs just a couple hundred dollars more. It feels like flying in a different era, a different world.
The best kept secrets are rarely divulged, but I’m making an exception because I believe people deserve a better flying experience. If you want to hack your way to a luxury flying experience, the answer is simple. You need to fly out of Pellston.
O.W. Root is a writer based in Northern Michigan, with a focus on nature, food, style, and culture. Follow him on X at @NecktieSalvage.
