New Airport

[Babs Johnson]

A brand new terminal opened yesterday at MCI Kansas City International Airport, replacing the severely outdated old terminals.

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/kansas-city-airport-new-terminal-opening

The old terminals were obsolete soon after opening, since they were designed in the 1960s before security measures were in place and it was a hassle to retrofit for them. Then after 9/11 enhanced security complicated matters even more.

Its location should have made it a natural for connections, but the design prevented it. Too many passengers would need to exit the secure area and then go through screening again for connections.

New place looks nice. Maybe I’ll visit this summer to check it out. Royals baseball and Worlds of Fun theme park.

Old terminals



New terminal with one remaining circular.



Layout of new terminal

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Most of us locals are still skeptical of it primarily the ease of getting from curb to gate. We'll get our first crack at it in a month and a half. My husband may get one earlier if he goes on a business trip between now and then.

I am excited for some of the new features it will have and think they've really tried to be as forward thinking as they can. I'd like to explore the cabin simulator for one. I did hear some complained yesterday about wifi being spotty but they've said they've done a lot of ensuring the signal is available all over.

I will say unfortunately there has been an extreme case of corruption from multiple sides (the city, mayor, legal consultant, outside engineering firm, minority and women-owned business promises, etc) for this airport that has put a stain on it. Many may never think about it but it's a heavy thing to balance.

There has been a promise of investment by the airlines in routes. Since the airport is being paid for in large part to passengers flying through it that part better pan out. I think they are trying to court a non-stop transatlantic flight. Last one we had was short-lived with Icelandair air to Iceland.

What my husband and I are scratching our heads about is the leaving open of the old circle parking and garages. One will be used for employee parking but the other will be for travelers. The new parking garage should hold plenty of parking spots just by itself. We use The Parking Spot so I'm interested to hear how their process goes for that. It was easy to catch one of those before but obviously the process will change with 2 levels.

Selfishly I wish the lounge was not a Delta only one. We have a CC that gains us lounge access and it would have been nice to have had that company instead of Delta who is already heavily restricting who has access.

For those interested they did change the website from flykci to flykc https://flykc.com/

 

[RedAngie]

I’ve been hearing about this for several years. I’m glad it’s finally open.

I was only there once, in 1989, and don’t remember the old terminal being a hassle. Maybe it was; I just don’t recall. It was via Eastern Airlines. Now THAT was a hassle in its final years.

 

[RedAngie]

Double posted.

 

[bcla]

Was there an issue that prevented just linking the terminals together? In Seattle they’ve got several terminals connected and linked through a subway. Locally (for me) OAK and SFO have walkways linking the secure areas.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Was there an issue that prevented just linking the terminals together? In Seattle they’ve got several terminals connected and linked through a subway. Locally (for me) OAK and SFO have walkways linking the secure areas.

It had nothing to do with linking, they already were linked via bus service (B&C since A has been closed for a while).

KCI had multiple security checkpoints servicing a group of gates each which ultimately became the issue post-9/11. Not usually too big of an issue with locals but certainly a pain point for connections most things were limited once you got past through security (restaurants most of them, bathrooms limited, shopping none was past security, etc).

They've been wanting a new airport for a long time now but because it is owned by the City it requires a voter approval and voters always turned it down largely due to not wanting to have to pay for it but also because most didn't see it as a necessity. When the plan (which is now full of corruption) was released that private backing in conjunction with airport fees and tickets paying for it (which meant those of us on the KS side pay for it now) it ended up passing. So now those who help pay for it are those who use it.

 

[Babs Johnson]

I remember our flight was delayed and my wife had to exit the secure area to use the ladies room and go through security again.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I remember our flight was delayed and my wife had to exit the secure area to use the ladies room and go through security again.

There were bathrooms within security, 2 stalls IIRC per bathroom (at least over at SWA) so it's likely your wife didn't know where to find them. They weren't plentiful within the security area like you see in many airports but they were there. You never had to exit security to get to one though.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Here's a funny yet good way of explaining why locals here were resistant to a new airport, a comparison of old vs new. Unless you've been here you really couldn't understand how easy and convenient it was to get dropped off at the curb and be right there at security.

https://www.kctv5.com/video/2023/03...IR3cwu56C26Cz7mEdBOXLL0rVSCl6XWKPqfdkZG_KUzgM

 

[Babs Johnson]

There were bathrooms within security, 2 stalls IIRC per bathroom (at least over at SWA) so it's likely your wife didn't know where to find them. They weren't plentiful within the security area like you see in many airports but they were there. You never had to exit security to get to one though.

No, really. We flew via Northwest before it merged with Delta and that set of gates didn’t have restrooms beyond security. My wife asked, and was directed back to the ticketing area. Upon returning, she did notice a sign stating there were no restrooms beyond. This was in 2003.

Fortunately there was no wait to re-enter because our flight was the only one departing from that area at the time and all passengers were already present due to the delay.

Maybe they had to remove the airside restrooms in that location to accommodate increased security measures after 9/11. I don’t remember which terminal.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No, really. We flew via Northwest before it merged with Delta and that set of gates didn’t have restrooms beyond security. My wife asked, and was directed back to the ticketing area. Upon returning, she did notice a sign stating there were no restrooms beyond. This was in 2003.

Maybe they had to remove the airside restrooms in that location to accommodate increased security measures after 9/11. I don’t remember which terminal.

I flew NW a lot because my stepmother was a travel agent and had deals with them and Delta. There was always restrooms beyond security. That doesn't mean there was always one open (such as closed for maintenance or other such issues). The set up before the new airport opened the other day you could walk a bit to get to the bathroom though and in terms of distance outside of security would be closer depending on where you're at.

Either way, your example was 20 years ago so I get it and I'm not defending the lack of bathrooms but would hardly be representative nowadays (or in recent years leading up to the voter approved new terminal). It wasn't the best bathroom situation not doubt about that!

 

[Babs Johnson]

I flew NW a lot because my stepmother was a travel agent and had deals with them and Delta. There was always restrooms beyond security. That doesn't mean there was always one open (such as closed for maintenance or other such issues). The set up before the new airport opened the other day you could walk a bit to get to the bathroom though and in terms of distance outside of security would be closer depending on where you're at.

Either way, your example was 20 years ago so I get it and I'm not defending the lack of bathrooms but would hardly be representative nowadays (or in recent years leading up to the voter approved new terminal). It wasn't the best bathroom situation not doubt about that!

Yes, 20 years ago and it was likely a temporary thing. No doubt they corrected the situation since then.

 

[EACarlson]

I flew in and out of it on a business trip last summer and was very glad to hear the new one was almost done. That has been the weirdest experience I had at an airport going through Pre and then walking halfway around the circle to get to my gate. Of the three restrooms I came across, two were closed and the last was incredibly small for all of the traffic.

 

[Earstou]

I'm not local but KC is one of the airports I drive to for flights. I loved how easy and fast it was to get to your gate and get around. Exiting was always super fast. I'm sure the new terminal will not be as easy.
I still remember picking someone up after their flight. As I drove in, about 15 minutes before the flight is due, I see them standing outside waiting for me. The flight wasn't even supposed to have landed yet, but they had their luggage and were outside already.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm not local but KC is one of the airports I drive to for flights. I loved how easy and fast it was to get to your gate and get around. Exiting was always super fast. I'm sure the new terminal will not be as easy.
I still remember picking someone up after their flight. As I drove in, about 15 minutes before the flight is due, I see them standing outside waiting for me. The flight wasn't even supposed to have landed yet, but they had their luggage and were outside already.

Granted sometimes the luggage was awful but IME most of the time it was much more timely than at other places. I think because you didn't really have to walk far people could complain about the wait but really it was just you arriving at the carousels before they had a chance to make it.

I'm pretty excited for some things about the new airport but will probably forever bemoan the ease and convenience of the experience.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I flew in and out of it on a business trip last summer and was very glad to hear the new one was almost done. That has been the weirdest experience I had at an airport going through Pre and then walking halfway around the circle to get to my gate. Of the three restrooms I came across, two were closed and the last was incredibly small for all of the traffic.

Try being a woman with 2 stalls plus luggage.

The thing about pre-check is they split off pre-check and regular security sometime ago. So sometimes it would work that your gate would be right by where pre-check spit you out at and other times not. Then the reverse would happen for regular security.

When we flew out at the end of January they had the pre-check dedicated side closed and moved it next to the regular line like they had long while ago (I think staffing and needs determined that at times). So we entered at the same area we had before we had pre-check and used the same gates farthest away that we had been using quite a lot with SWA recently. Still the walk was much more minimal that most of the airports I have traveled through (ahem Vegas, Orlando to name two)

But to your point about walking halfway around the circle that's going to the be the case with the new airport since it's one security checkpoint. It'll just be like majority of airports where your gate may be located quite the ways down from where security is located at.

 

[RedAngie]

Here's a funny yet good way of explaining why locals here were resistant to a new airport, a comparison of old vs new. Unless you've been here you really couldn't understand how easy and convenient it was to get dropped off at the curb and be right there at security.

https://www.kctv5.com/video/2023/03...IR3cwu56C26Cz7mEdBOXLL0rVSCl6XWKPqfdkZG_KUzgM

I like the anchors gently ribbing the reporter’s “antiquated” opinions.

Apparently many KC locals liked the old place and saw no real need for a new terminal.

Was it built just to attract Big Events like the NFL Draft and some World Cup games? Or for aesthetic reasons to replace brutal 1970s architecture? Wishful thinking to gain international service? Develop a hub? All of the above and more?

 

[mom2rtk]

The old airport wasn’t broken so it didn’t need to be fixed. My flight in January I was sitting at my gate, already through security, 12 minutes. And I even checked luggage. And this was fairly typical of my experience there. RIP to the old airport. I will miss it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I like the anchors gently ribbing the reporter’s “antiquated” opinions.

Apparently many KC locals liked the old place and saw no real need for a new terminal.

Was it built just to attract Big Events like the NFL Draft and some World Cup games? Or for aesthetic reasons to replace brutal 1970s architecture? Wishful thinking to gain international service? Develop a hub? All of the above and more?

They've been trying for a new airport for years I think maybe 10-15 years before it was approved. They (meaning the city leaders) would put it on the voter ballot every so many years and it would fail every time.

Certainly having things like the Draft and World cup are good selling points but ultimately that would not have pushed the voters to say yes. The "I don't have to pay for it" did because the money for the airport is privately financed as well as paid for by those who use the airport. Before residents of KCMO would have to fork over the money to pay for it. And def. increasing connections and flights (which we do need for sure) is also a selling point but ultimately it's the money.

Somewhat interesting SWA is the largest by far in market share here and originally the year or two leading up to the voter approval in late 2017 they publicly said "no we don't need a new airport" as in sure they'll take it but they were okay with it as it stood and then they changed their tune and essentially threatened less flights and investments if a new terminal didn't get built. They then promised with the new airport they would put more flights and at least schedule-wise for 2022 they do appear to be keeping with that.

I do think we all knew it was coming eventually because we can't old stay in pre-9/11 days for so long as far as security concerns. I never particularly thought KCI was pretty it was mostly concrete lol but as it stated in the video the floors were pretty and I do believe they transitioned some of that to the new terminal from old terminal A. One thing I liked though about the old airport is it felt cozy and wasn't particularly loud. It's really something that annoys me with other airports how loud they can get with the openness of the terminals. I've found I like lounges now lol. Unfortunately won't be able to use the lounge at KCI.

 

[kdonnel]

The old airport wasn’t broken so it didn’t need to be fixed. My flight in January I was sitting at my gate, already through security, 12 minutes. And I even checked luggage. And this was fairly typical of my experience there. RIP to the old airport. I will miss it.

I’m not sure that is something unique to the old airport.

I have gone from my car to gate in 15 minutes at Atlanta. Park in the hourly lot, check a bag with the skycap, go through security, and sit at my T concourse gate. Add another 10 minutes if your gate is as far as E.

I’ve done the same parking at the International terminal and getting to the SkyClub in F.

Bigger/newer airports can be efficient too.