New KCI terminal should open in late February (Weaubleau: restaurants, shopping mall)

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Weaubleau

Unfortunately, KC had to live with these mistakes, and in a weird case of Stockholm Syndrome, many KC residents came to embrace these mistakes as actual good features that they were loath to give up when presented with a much superior option.

I equate this to the people who don't want to give up tailgating prior to the Royals game. The only reason anyone would tailgate before a baseball game is due to the lack of options around the stadium for entertainment. Who wants to set up a tailgate for 30 minutes prior to a weeknight game in a broiling hot blacktop parking lot? Then to think that is superior to grabbing a beer at an air conditioned bar within walking distance to the game!

I +1'd you on this, but just to play devil's advocate on the tailgating:

Tailgate parties are informally organized by friends who probably don't consider what they spent on the food and drinks they bring to the game "spending money on the game", while they might put buying beer and food in a nearby restaurant and bar in that category.

If I really wanted to be snarky, I'd say the trouble with your argument is that you used the word "think" to describe the tailgate diehards.

[rrampage]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

I +1'd you on this, but just to play devil's advocate on the tailgating:

Tailgate parties are informally organized by friends who probably don't consider what they spent on the food and drinks they bring to the game "spending money on the game", while they might put buying beer and food in a nearby restaurant and bar in that category.

If I really wanted to be snarky, I'd say the trouble with your argument is that you used the word "think" to describe the tailgate diehards.

Those who tailgate are doing themselves an economic service. The food/drink at the game or nearby establishments are going to be laced with steam from the prices lol.

[VietInKC]

Just had my first experience at the new MCI! Impressed at the new design, it finally feels like an airport worthy of KC. The only inconvenience I had was the arrivals getting picked up, but it is a sacrifice definitely worth making. They just need to enforce the no parking at the curb until your party is actually there to be picked up rule better. That's what cell phone lots are for.

[rrampage]

Originally Posted by VietInKC

Just had my first experience at the new MCI! Impressed at the new design, it finally feels like an airport worthy of KC. The only inconvenience I had was the arrivals getting picked up, but it is a sacrifice definitely worth making. They just need to enforce the no parking at the curb until your party is actually there to be picked up rule better. That's what cell phone lots are for.

I find some places are better at enforcement than others. I did notice that MCO seems to be pretty good with that.

[KC_Retiree]

Originally Posted by rrampage

I find some places are better at enforcement than others. I did notice that MCO seems to be pretty good with that.

This seems to have become mainly a late night problem (like after midnight) when the last few flights come in and the airport gets temporarily very busy. From what I understand, there has been minimal enforcement past midnight and people sit in the arrival lane indefinitely. The easy solution is to keep the traffic police around until all flights have arrived. It would help if they made a larger cell phone lot a little closer to the terminal.

[rrampage]

Originally Posted by KC_Retiree

This seems to have become mainly a late night problem (like after midnight) when the last few flights come in and the airport gets temporarily very busy. From what I understand, there has been minimal enforcement past midnight and people sit in the arrival lane indefinitely. The easy solution is to keep the traffic police around until all flights have arrived. It would help if they made a larger cell phone lot a little closer to the terminal.

You're right. I am guessing the cut off for the late flights was made due to budget restrictions. Maybe that is considered an extra "cost" of flying in so late.

[Weaubleau]

[quote][Those who tailgate are doing themselves an economic service. The food/drink at the game or nearby establishments are going to be laced with steam from the prices lol.[quote]

I do agree, but to list tailgating as a major reason to oppose a downtown baseball stadium is short sighted at best. To me tailgating is a pastime to do before football games, where you are making a day of it, rather than a baseball game that you are attending on a weeknight, where you may have to rush to even get to the game by first pitch, especially as they keep moving the start times earlier and earlier (6:40 for April and May this year!) If you get off work at 5, that is barely enough time to get home from work and to the game on time.

[MarketStEl]

So I've now flown into the new KCI, and I'm mighty impressed!

Separating arriving from departing traffic, and having enough space in the central terminal building to handle both, makes a huge difference in the experience.

But everything about the new airport feels bigger, roomier and more welcoming.

Finally, KC has the airport it deserves.

[KC_Retiree]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

So I've now flown into the new KCI, and I'm mighty impressed!

Separating arriving from departing traffic, and having enough space in the central terminal building to handle both, makes a huge difference in the experience.

But everything about the new airport feels bigger, roomier and more welcoming.

Finally, KC has the airport it deserves.

Good post! It's wonderful to depart and return to KC via a real functioning airport now. All but the most stubborn have accepted the huge improvement in the logistics of travel and image of KC that the new KCI represents.

[Weaubleau]

It's just nice to have a real airport here rather than a giant bus depot that is being used as an airport.