Kansas City Airport

I had a connecting flight in Kansas City yesterday from St. Louis. This was the first time I had been to MCI and was not aware of the layout and ended up outside of the secure area. The security lady was not very nice in the way she explained the situation. We went back through security (with a child) and then realized that all bathrooms and food were located outside the secure area. We changed the baby diaper in full view of other passengers sitting around and when everyone got on the plane there was a long line to use the restroom. This is the most ridiculous airport layout I have ever seen. Additionally there were birds flying around in the airport unsecure and secure areas. This is not too sanitary.

Kansas City International is an example of an airport that has the passenger in mind. This airport is the easiest to navigate out of any major airport in the country. With the recent renovations now done passengers will be greeted to a more friendly atmosphere and amenities that we have come to expect. The airport has virtually no wait times at security checkpoints and the drive to the gate feature is still truly remarkable. You can be dropped at the curb and be about 30 feet from your gate area. This is something that other airports fail to do. The biggest downside (to many) is the lack of amenities beyond security checkpoints. In most gate holding areas there are no restaurants gift shops and restrooms. To use any of these you must exit the sterile area and go through security once again after visiting them. This makes most passengers connecting at this airport angry. However the city has announced that restrooms will be built in the gate holding areas apparently this is the biggest complaint they have seen in recent years. To tell the truth I prefer the gift shops and restaurants outside the sterile area. Those living in KC have come to expect the lowest airfares in the nation. To have these inside the gate areas would create the opportunity for a airline to create a hub here and drive prices northward. This is why this airport is truly remarkable. It continues to attempt to discourage hubs and drive prices down with low-fare airlines offerings. Kansas City 's mix currently suits its passengers tremendously and one that should be quickly adopted at other major airports.

I like the relatively cheap fares in and out of MCI and I am used to the inconveniences of the airport's layout. I actually think they've done a great job with the airport despite the fact that it wasn't designed with today's security and amenities in mind. I must complain about one thing however. MCI is one of the few airports allowed to keep its private security screening force after the TSA took over most everywhere else. While these folks do a great job in keeping us safe they could do better in communicating with passengers. Case in point: I wear a pair of slip-on loafers whenever I fly which is at least 25 trips per year. In every other airport in the world I can keep my shoes on through the security checkpoint. At some places they have asked me if my shoes have been through before and since they don't set off the magnetometer I'm fine. At MCI they never ask me to remove my shoes but they always take me out and do the spread-eagle search on me. In the past they have never told me why I'm singled out for individual screening but on my last trip (4th this year) they told me that "my shoes fit a profile" for additional checks. "Can I just take off my shoes and send them through the X-Ray?" I asked very politely. And with rather brusque treatment I was made to undergo an embarrassing search that involved unbuckling of my belt unbuttoning of my pants untucking of my shirt removal of my shoes etc. And for the fourth time this year the ordeal is capped off with the scanning of my wallet through the x-ray machine which after scanning is left for anyone to swipe while I undergo this extensive search. I know we have to be safe post-9/11 and I'm all for enhanced security procedures. But why is MCI the only airport in the world where I go through this? And why have they never just told me to take my shoes off before walking through security? I think the private security staff at MCI needs a refresher course in courtesy. And adopting screening procedures more consistent with those at other airports would help a lot too.

Minimal walk from gate to baggage curb to ticket counter for most airlines seems to be a couple hundred feet at most.. The close-in parking garage is ideal for late runners with just a short walk across the street to the counters making Kansas City one of the easiest airports I have ever encountered. Recent terminal renewal has provided more concessions a brighter appearance and everyone that works in the airport seems to be helpful with none of that LGA attitude. On the down side all gates are inside their own sterile area and a trip to the bathroom means having to leave the sterile area to be rescreened. Fortunately most airlines screening lines are quick moving.

This month I flew from Baltimore to Salt Lake City on Southwest with a stop in Kansas City. MCI needs to be updated - you have to go through security at each set of gates because MCI was designed so that you can drive right up to the gate. This is inconvenient for passengers like me who were connecting and there's no concessions or restrooms when you get to the gates which can be quite a bummer especially if your flight is delayed after you get to the gate. Also the lighting was dim and the terminal looked old and I wasn't impressed with the variety of concessions. If a new redesigned terminal were built MCI would be a great place for an airline hub as it's within 2-3 flying hours of anywhere in the continental U.S.