Should KC build a new airport? (Kansas City, Belle: car rental, rentals, movers)

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by denverian

So is the plan for a new terminal on the south side of the airport not a done deal?

Nothing is a done deal. Especially this. With the economy the way it is, It will be easy for the Feds to say screw KC and give money to some other airport becuase so many people in KC (including some MO polititions) like KCI the way it is.

It sure doesn't help sell KC to visitors. Recent google reviews. (I am so vocal about this because so many people in KC think KCI is fine and hate the idea of changing it. Posts like this might help some people see the light).

This airport is a dump. I've never seen such a filthy, crowded airport in my life, and the people who work there don't see the need to be even a little bit friendly. I will avoid flying through ever again.

A horrible airport. Dingy, ugly, and not user friendly. I was at the Southwest terminal, there were a total of (for the men) 2 restrooms that had a grand total of 2 urinals and 2 stalls, and we had it better than the ladies. My wife and my mother had to wait in lines whenever they had to go. There was only one place to eat, a little Quizno's cart (rude), unless you left security and got your Sbarro or Burger King, brought it back through the X-Ray machine, and ate in the terminal. One word to describe this airport: HORRIBLE comes to mind.

I travel alot. I have been in airports all over the country. Based on my experience with the Frontier gates, the KCI is hands down, the worst major airport I have ever had the misfortune of flying through. It is ugly and dingy, weird lighting. Bare concrete walls, bare concrete roof panels, with blown on foam insulation. Low class. Never been to a former soviet block nation, but It is what came to mind. Utilitarian, no frills, ugly, gulagish. The terminal geometry and gates were obviously set up pre911 and the circle within a circle geometry makes the main concourse open to everyone from outside via multiple doors. So every door to the gates off the concourse has security agent sitting there on his/her butt to keep you from going in or out......you can only go in though one gate door where a helter skelter security retrofit exists and it is crammed. In the concourse there are no signs to the security entrance you have to "ask around" or just run recon to figure it out. Once you successfully get through security to the outer ... over the country. Based on my experience with the Frontier gates, the KCI is hands down, the worst major airport I have ever had the misfortune of flying through. It is ugly and dingy, weird lighting. Bare concrete walls, bare concrete roof panels, with blown on foam insulation. Low class. Never been to a former soviet block nation, but It is what came to mind. Utilitarian, no frills, ugly, gulagish. The terminal geometry and gates were obviously set up pre911 and the circle within a circle geometry makes the main concourse open to everyone from outside via multiple doors. So every door to the gates off the concourse has security agent sitting there on his/her butt to keep you from going in or out......you can only go in though one gate door where a helter skelter security retrofit exists and it is crammed. In the concourse there are no signs to the security entrance you have to "ask around" or just run recon to figure it out. Once you successfully get through security to the outer circle where the actual gates to the aircraft are, to walk from gate to gate, there are narrow spots where it is literally single file. Serious. Single file. Sqeezing between seating that should be removed to allow foot traffic through, and partitions between every other gate. One person going slow, and you are shuffling towards your gate. No matter you might be late for you connection, you CANNOT go around the person in front of you. No room. At one point, someone stocking food at one of the few junk food kiosks had a cart in the narrow zone. Oblivious. Food.....Paid $10 for a crappy sandwich on dry bread, with a couple nasty pieces of factory turkey amalgam (?) meat. Worst part. That was the best food available. I cannot speak for the airport in total, but the area in and around gates 80-85 where Frontier is needs some major remodel. No offense to the security people, but it is a total and ridiculous waste to have security at every gate door with a big red sign on it not to enter. I sat near one and the number of confused travelers who could not find a way out, or back in was amazing. This airport has had over a decade to adjust to the new order of things. Nice work. It is one big band-aid on a major eyesore and pain in the butt to travel through.

[KCDump]

KC's airport is a direct reflection of the town, time has passed it by.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by KCDump

KC's airport is a direct reflection of the town, time has passed it by.

Not true at all. KCI should have an airport that is a reflection of the city and KC is bouncing back with a lot going for it.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Not true at all. KCI should have an airport that is a reflection of the city and KC is bouncing back with a lot going for it.

Just imagine if it had a better geographical location with good proximity to other cities..

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Just imagine if it had a better geographical location with good proximity to other cities..

Yea, but then KC wouldn't have all the stuff it has. KC has the amenities of a much larger city because it is the primary city for hundreds of miles and is a vacation destination for many small metros in the midwest.

If KC was 2 hours from four other metros, it would be about as lame as some of those metros (Indy, Columbus, Sacramento etc).

So it's a toss up. KC is a more self sustaining city that many cities in the 2-4 million population range which is one of the things I like about KC the most.

I do wish KC has more natural recreation nearby. Water, Mountains etc, but every city is not perfect.

If KC had mountians and or oceans, it would cost far more to live there etc.

[msamhunter]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Yea, but then KC wouldn't have all the stuff it has. KC has the amenities of a much larger city because it is the primary city for hundreds of miles and is a vacation destination for many small metros in the midwest.

If KC was 2 hours from four other metros, it would be about as lame as some of those metros (Indy, Columbus, Sacramento etc).

So it's a toss up. KC is a more self sustaining city that many cities in the 2-4 million population range which is one of the things I like about KC the most.

I do wish KC has more natural recreation nearby. Water, Mountains etc, but every city is not perfect.

If KC had mountians and or oceans, it would cost far more to live there etc.

Uh what? KC has nothing Indianapolis (nothing, nada, zilch) doesn't as a matter of fact on more than one occasion, you've had to concede KCs lack of compared to Indianapolis so why keep up with the same tired dog and pony?

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by msamhunter

Uh what? KC has nothing Indianapolis (nothing, nada, zilch) doesn't as a matter of fact on more than one occasion, you've had to concede KCs lack of compared to Indianapolis so why keep up with the same tired dog and pony?

I've never conceded anything to Indy other than I said they did a good job with the superbowl.

But it's good to see you are still doing a forum wide search for "indy" every 30 minutes.

[Okiegirlfriend]

I remember landing at the old KC Municipal Airport close to downtown KCMO in 1964. The planes had to go straight down to hit the runway!

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Okiegirlfriend

I remember landing at the old KC Municipal Airport close to downtown KCMO in 1964. The planes had to go straight down to hit the runway!

It must have been similar to landing in San Diego

I have one very vague memory of going to that airport to pick someone up. I must have been around 3 years old. After that, my only memories are of KCI.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by denverian

It must have been similar to landing in San Diego

I have one very vague memory of going to that airport to pick someone up. I must have been around 3 years old. After that, my only memories are of KCI.

I have flown into MKC probably 50 times and it never gets old. A cesna (or helicopter) is quite a bit different than boeing or airbus though as you can come in from just about any angle and make the approach, including downtown.

I would think most jets would have to land at MKC from the North, so you wouldn't see much although the view of downtown is awesome as you come into that airport.