The biggest problem that you'll have with UA is having to go pretty exclusively to ORD or DEN. LAS and PHX are getting to be Ted-only destinations. Looks like you can also fly a CRJ to IAD or DCA, or US to CLT.

On the plus side, looks like they are adding 757 flights to ORD and DEN.

I fly ORD-MCI several times a year and the fares are pretty good (under $150), but I generally have a Saturday night stay.

Another consideration is that with ORD's weather this year (seems like there have been continuous delays), MCI is always dealing with ground stops to ORD -- since you're only an hour away, they're going to hold you on the ground whenever it gets ugly at ORD (like today).