MCI - The Definitive Thoughts....
Jul 2, 2013, 10:47 am
#62
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kansas City, USA
Programs: AA Gold, Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, AVIS Preferred, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,066
As a MCI based Delta FO who travels on Monday mornings, I have yet to receive an upgrade to any hub out of MCI, but that is to be expected. Delta has a LOT more elites in MCI than they used to, say, 3-5 years ago.
Jul 2, 2013, 4:27 pm
#63
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Oregon (DL and Marr Lifetime plat. etc.)
Posts: 1,273
"I can see the appeal for local MCI travelers to have the TSA right at the pod of DL gates and basically walk from the curb. On the other hand, if you want to find food, you are really stuck. MCI-ATL was delayed and so I went up to the KC Crown room lounge thing at gate 58 and they had already closed their kitchen. The little snacky area had nothing but garbage."
What is the Crown Room lounge thing? I thought that was closed a few years ago, much to my dismay, but since I haven't been there since then, I really can't complain.
I agree with most other comments. It's a great airport for locals, not so much for connectors. If they think that building a new terminal will give them additional nonstops, that would have to come from a hub, and after all the failed attempts to hub there, I'm hard pressed to think which airline might be interested. There are fewer hubs these days.
What is the Crown Room lounge thing? I thought that was closed a few years ago, much to my dismay, but since I haven't been there since then, I really can't complain.
I agree with most other comments. It's a great airport for locals, not so much for connectors. If they think that building a new terminal will give them additional nonstops, that would have to come from a hub, and after all the failed attempts to hub there, I'm hard pressed to think which airline might be interested. There are fewer hubs these days.
Jul 2, 2013, 5:02 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
Posts: 11,169
It is a restaurant with bar open to all and nothing to do with SkyClub. It has Kansas City Royals themed food. The food is very ordinary but the beers are not bad. It is right by gate 58 air-side which is the bit I like about it. So at least you do not have to back through security. It is not too bad for plane watching and you can see the plane arriving at gate 58.
Jul 2, 2013, 8:57 pm
#66
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: New York, NY USA
Programs: DL DM/ 2MM, BA Silver, Amtrak Select Executive, SPG Life Plat/Amb, Fairmont Preferred
Posts: 1,056
The layout of MCI worked as a hub before security mattered. Whether it ever worked economically as a hub is the better question.
As someone who likes the progress of the city in other areas (Power and Light, downtown arena, etc.), I could be convinced on the terminal, but dislike the rosy scenarios, as others have mentioned, which depend on assumptions of more direct flights and retail revenue from connecting passengers. Give me a better business case and I could be convinced--but in the absence of that justifying the investment on a lower TSA cost doesn't seem to make sense.
As someone who likes the progress of the city in other areas (Power and Light, downtown arena, etc.), I could be convinced on the terminal, but dislike the rosy scenarios, as others have mentioned, which depend on assumptions of more direct flights and retail revenue from connecting passengers. Give me a better business case and I could be convinced--but in the absence of that justifying the investment on a lower TSA cost doesn't seem to make sense.
Jul 2, 2013, 10:14 pm
#67
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: DL Platinum, Hilton Diamond VIP, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 230
Just watch this video, and you'll be sold on the single-terminal plan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_ofjOxkgX4
One of the biggest sells with MCI going to a single-terminal will allow the airport to implement TSA PreCheck. You also need a physical DL boarding pass at MCI currently, and it must be on the ever small list of major airports that still don't have e-boarding pass support. So those conveniences are enough to sell me. The airport's two biggest carriers, WN and DL are in Terminal B (as they can't fit anywhere else) and if you ever been in there at 6-7am on a Monday, you are on the side of wanting the new MCI. Most of the outcry are from casual fliers, or non-MCI based casuals who just barely use the airport if you ask me. Live and breathe this non-sense weekly and you'll change your mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_ofjOxkgX4
One of the biggest sells with MCI going to a single-terminal will allow the airport to implement TSA PreCheck. You also need a physical DL boarding pass at MCI currently, and it must be on the ever small list of major airports that still don't have e-boarding pass support. So those conveniences are enough to sell me. The airport's two biggest carriers, WN and DL are in Terminal B (as they can't fit anywhere else) and if you ever been in there at 6-7am on a Monday, you are on the side of wanting the new MCI. Most of the outcry are from casual fliers, or non-MCI based casuals who just barely use the airport if you ask me. Live and breathe this non-sense weekly and you'll change your mind.
Jul 3, 2013, 12:59 am
#68
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DFW...at the moment
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, HH gold
Posts: 609
KCI (as most call it, rather than MCI) is perfect for what I use it for, but with all of the already mentioned drawbacks for travelers w/o status. The airport certainly has plenty of space to work with when/if building a new terminal, but it would be a huge new burden on the taxpayers already paying off Sprint Center and Truman Sports Complex expansions. I suppose that the design of the new terminal would determine my support, as I love the ability to park and be at the gate less than 10mins later. That is not possible at most airports (at least not those w/o PreCheck).
Jul 3, 2013, 9:00 am
#69
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Oregon (DL and Marr Lifetime plat. etc.)
Posts: 1,273
It is a restaurant with bar open to all and nothing to do with SkyClub. It has Kansas City Royals themed food. The food is very ordinary but the beers are not bad. It is right by gate 58 air-side which is the bit I like about it. So at least you do not have to back through security. It is not too bad for plane watching and you can see the plane arriving at gate 58.
Jul 3, 2013, 9:47 am
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
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Jul 3, 2013, 1:46 pm
#72
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: SEA
Programs: DL SM
Posts: 335
We have pro sports teams that have always had their own stadiums. I think the Jackson County taxpayers just put some big cash into Arrowhead Stadium renovations. They put some rental car tax in place and built the Sprint Center downtown. There isn't even a legit tenant for that building (what Arena Football?) yet it was constructed.
Jul 3, 2013, 4:17 pm
#73
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: DFW
Programs: AA PLT (fmr EXP), UA SLV, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat Premier (LTG), IHG Gold, National Exec Elite
Posts: 175
To this point, they have an e-boarding pass scanner for American in Terminal C (and I think someone upthread mentioned United as well), does anybody know why the Delta gates haven't gotten one yet?
Jul 3, 2013, 10:01 pm
#74
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: KANSAS CITY
Programs: DL DM, MARRIOTT AMBASSADOR LIFETIME TITANIUM
Posts: 453
Jul 4, 2013, 10:32 am
#75
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Earth
Posts: 912
As someone who likes the progress of the city in other areas (Power and Light, downtown arena, etc.), I could be convinced on the terminal, but dislike the rosy scenarios, as others have mentioned, which depend on assumptions of more direct flights and retail revenue from connecting passengers. Give me a better business case and I could be convinced--but in the absence of that justifying the investment on a lower TSA cost doesn't seem to make sense.