Getting a soda into MCI

Is there any way to get a bottle of water or soda into the gate area at MCI? I usually take something to drink with me on the flight instead of having to wait for the attendant to give you a little bottle of water an hour later. But with no concessions beyond the checkpoint, is there any way to do this in Kansas City?

Wow, there is really nowhere to get a drink past security in MCI? Yikes. Worst case scenario you can take an empty water/soda bottle through and fill it at a drinking fountain...provided they have one!

Really? No concessions beyond the checkpoint? That's amazing. The MCI website lists a number of concessions but doesn't specify if they're only before the checkpoint.

MCI was built back in the early 70s, way before the days of TSA and a "secure" area. It was designed to get you quickly from curbside to gate. With security now, the concessions are left out of the secure area.

Edit: OP, security has always been quick for me at MCI. You could spend your time outside security hydrating and pass through security when boarding begins.

I realize that the OP might be Delta centered but this isn't really a Delta topic.

Yeah but you think they'd setup a cart/kiosk or something past security. Just about every airport has those.

There are vending machines inside security and, IIRC a small kiosk.

You almost have to have been to MCI to understand. There are 3 circular terminals. The distance from the front doors to the gate doors probably isn't more than 60 feet in depth. Each set of two or three gates has it's own security line. Once you are through security, you are in an area the size of a typical gate area. No access to anywhere else at that point.

This was an excellent design in the days before the TSA. One of the quickest airports there was.

Security lines ther are short since they are so gate specfic. If you need services, just wait to the last minute to board.

Not sure how to solve the problem of actually bringing water on board though. Fortunately you're usually on a short flight to MSP or MEM.

The short answer to the OP's question - NO.

MCI is a small clone of DFW. Except that the DFW concourses and check in area are wider, allowing for a security separation barrier between the secure concourses and the check-in area.

I dislike MCI, especially with the security configuration (it's private security at MCI, operating to TSA standards). I went through there a LOT a couple of years ago when I was commuting from DC-SAT (it was/is a YX hub, and at the time YX was a GREAT choice).

Some areas have concessions inside (I think WN has limited concessions, and US did), but most of the offerings are outside the secure area. Even the airline clubs are outside.

Were the airport to be more heavily trafficed it would be a great candidate for bulldozing a terminal and starting from scratch (ala the new AA terminal at DFW).

As this is not really a DL-specific issue, I am moving the thread to the FT Midwest Forum.
Obscure2k
DL Moderator

There is a kiosk with sandwiches, salads, cheese, fruit, sodas, juices, water, and coffee inside security at the Delta/NW gates in Terminal B at MCI.

Thanks. That was the reason I posted in the Delta forums - I know that the Midwest gates had a small stand in theirs, but I did not see one coming out of there on Delta. So I assumed the Delta gates might be different.

I agree that the MCI terminal is a bit... challenged. The area for luggage is also very tight, making a big mess there.

Seeing as how they have such a large roadway inside the terminal crescent, I would think they would simply block off a large portion of the inner ring corridor, leaving outside the secure area only the check-in desks, and then build a halway/passage that is outside the secure area along the sidewalk/inner lane to allow people to get around. That would make sense to me, but perhaps it is not seen as a huge issue.

Personally, I like the fact you can be dropped off and even if you have to get in line at the counter, you can be at your gate in a few minutes.

There is a sandwich/soda/water cart in there as well as restrooms. I bought a soda from it last time I was there, 2 weeks ago.

It's my understanding that MCI was "built-to-order" for TWA back in the day and was supposed to be TWA's "Airport of Tomorrow". (Modeled after something TWA had started at JFK). Originally it was something of a revolutionary design for an airport. The basic idea was that you could park your car inside the circle (garages are within the last 10 or so years... used to be a simple parking lot) and walk directly to your gate... As a result, it makes a fantastic in/out airport. Sucks if you have to change flights, however.

The DFW airport (opened as DFW in 1973) was actually modeled after MCI (opened in 1972).

As to the original question. There is a simple sandwich/beverage cart inside of the DL gates. (I believe there is a similar cart inside security at each gate area).

There *USED* to be a nice quiet Crown Room inside the DL gates as well, but that was closed a little over a year ago. (I'd love to see it return, but I'm not holding my breath).