I've had nothing but positive interactions with the liNKCity staff over the past year and a half. The new director and sales manager have made numerous improvements to move liNKCity in the right direction. While their service may not be benficial to all, I apperciate their customer service.
Yip I'd say some "adjustments need to be made" no doubt about it. http://youtu.be/yNa5tQu3zmY
No. When a major remodel/rebuild is needed then consider scrapping what you have till then use what you have. I have talked to many people who have used the airport several world travelers many times over it is the best, easies tot get in and out of.
Billions go a long way to pay for the extra manpower /guards needed post 9-11 for security. Nothing wrong with providing jobs in the community. Construction jobs sound good but many of them would come from out of state build it and leave. The extra personnel to operate several buildings are here to stay and pay taxes.
Frankly I find it absolutely ridiculous that at this time we are even entertaining a new airport. First and foremost what Kansas City would benefit from is a lightrail. We need a transportation infrastructure beyond our mediocre bus system and congested streets. I lived in Phoenix Arizona when they finished lightrail construction and it did a great deal of good for the people in the city and the businesses along the lightrail routes. So why is it that Kansas City seems so reluctant to step up and move beyond the United States largest town to a world class city?
Fix the roads and crumbling infrastructure with that billion dollar investment, then maybe we can talk about wasting money on an airport that only benefits the yokels that make political hay from it, and their contractor friends. This is the perfect example of what is wrong with Kansas City; poor planning and even worse execution.
Are you kidding what this is all about is lining the pockets of everyones buddies . They could spend a ton less and use what they have it's not that bad and I can promise you that this new airport will happen and after it does that I can point out a few places where security can be breached just like the old airport...
Not everyone thinks KCI functions all that well for passengers. It only seems that way because they are the ones fighting the potential for change, and their voices are therefore loudest at the moment. I fly ~ 25 times a year, and KCI is barely adequate. It's definitely not some jewel worth preserving.
It seems those who complain compare their experience at KCI to some mega-airport like LaGuardia, Ohare, or Atlanta. Those are ridiculous comparisons. Most airports that handle about as much traffic as ours are just as easy--if not easier--to navigate with one central terminal. They all have parking at various price levels, from economy to terminal garages, and those garages are not usually full as KCI's Terminal B garage frequently is. Most of them have short walks from ticket counter to security to the gate.
What they also have are places beyond security to get a decent cup of coffee and adequate restroom facilities. KCI does not, and I dare you to spend a significant delay beyond security in Terminal B and not get frustrated. Other airports also have flexibility for carriers to add or subtract service; KCI does not.
Is a ten-figure project the only answer? Maybe not, but the status quo isn't a valid solution either.
Apparently, everyone aknowledges that it currently functions well for passengers but for the business of airline travel, from the standpoint of baggage thru security, it does not function well. Additionally the existing structure needs repair and maintence due to neglect. Thirdly, there is lost revenue on account of the inability to secure more airline business.
Change is difficult but often does open up new possibilities that are unseen. Probably it is inevitable that change will come to MCI. I agree with Robert MacRae having traveled to cities with rail systems that link airports with intended destinations.
Folks in PV upset about a development of property that doesn't necessarily meet with their uppity sense of aesthetics for their personal properties - SHOCKING!!!...not.
Would these be all the same people who tried to cause a major traffic jam at Indian Hills middle school when the the closing of MV was being discussed by asking EVERYONE (whether a parent or not) to drive through the drop off area at Indian Hills to clog up the process? Heaven forbid a school be closed to help the district survive, even though was not even close to attendance capacity.
Who really goes to an airport for fine dining and high end gift shops?? Get me on and off the plane as quickly and with as little hassle as possible. I travel extensively for work and live in the KC area and even if i park in the KCI Economy parking lot i know that once i step off the plane with my carry on, i will be in my car in about 20 min or less. @justmywords----What exactly is it about KCI that doesnt work??
For all the lip service about security and enhancing the customer experience, it's ultimately about squeezing more dollars out of passengers on their way through.
Most airports today are shopping malls with planes parked out back. The reason KCI feels old-fashioned is that it was designed to take you from curb to plane as quickly as possible. I guarantee you the new design will make sure passengers have to walk past as many shops as possible.
My only gripe about the airport is that it's too far out of town. I'd rather see money spent on a light rail system linking the airport with downtown.
A BILLION DOLLARS Yikess! On something that does not need to be done at all! This is a resume' stuffer idea. Air travel get more expensive every year = less who want to use it.
NO BILLION DOLLAR BOON DOGLE THANK YOU.
Nonsense.
The layout at KCI as it is now not only works but nearly everyone who uses it--whether a lot or a little--like it and like its convenience and accessibility.
There's no reason in the world we can't take Terminal B, make it the security clearance terminal, as either wanted or needed, and then run enclosed walkways out to Terminals A and C, thereby getting everything needed--security, convenience, additional concessions (if they come) and cost savings. To a) throw away an airport and then b) build an extremely costly new one is both financially and environmentally irresponsible to the point of stupid.
Mo Rage
JustMyWords hit it dead on the head. I'd love to hang out at the concessions prior to the gate but I won't because the expense and the risk of missing my flight is greater if I'm on that side of the glass. It's just not worth it.
"But Ford says the concession argument is dead on arrival for local travelers, who typically migrate beyond security before they have a need for nice restaurants and bars." I think Ford is missing the point. Local travelers 'migrate beyond security' not because they just love the options on the other side, or even prefer them. They do it because they don't want to risk being stuck on the wrong side of security, fighting a long line when their plane is boarding (or worse, departing).
No matter how you try to spin it, the layout at KCI stinks. A new, single-terminal airport would be outrageously expensive, but so are repairs, maintenance, and work-arounds at the existing airport. It seems like it would be six of one, half dozen of the other in the long run, or even the not so long run. Why not move towards getting rid of an annoying, clunky design in the process? Sure, from the outside, KCI looks great on paper - beautiful curved lines, a theoretically sleek flow from one terminal to the next - but it doesn't work.
PV Fam, thank you for providing a response. It's sad that MVNA will continue to rant about what they don't like but not provide details on what they do like and would find acceptable. I've said it several times already, I would be shocked if the current proposal made it past the council. So what next?
I only listen to KKFI for the musical programs, and they excel at that.
Commercial radio sucks putty balls.
Being a Libertarian, its hard for me to stay tuned for very long when the left-leaning political programs come on, unless its a topic I take to heart.
Since 90.9 the Bridge has announced it will now focus on more music programs, as well as get a more powerful transmitter (thanks to the recent PBS acquisition), KKFI will soon have some serious competition in the music category around town. A stronger signal for 90.9 will put them on a lot of radios in KKFI's turf that currently cant pull their signal.
I wonder if anyone at KKFI has crunched the numbers and pounded out the percentages to find out whether or not its the music, or the public affairs programming that brings in the most revenue when it comes to deciding what type of show to fill an opening with?
Maybe Charles Ferruza will join the discussion and provide a little insight.
Kansas City, missouri:
1) around downtown, there are some "downtown ambassadors",
some liar hater criminals of "banana chief" mr. Tubss, harassing me.
2) THE MAYOR DON'T EEVEN HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT WHAT A POLITICIAN IS,
I KNOW HIS BOSSES MIGHT BE JUST RACIST HATERS, BUT politicians
should have sense of the honor and defend the poor and vulnerable
people, not the powerful haters, as A GOOD MENTAL SLAVE.
3) THE GOVERNOR? THAT IS An inept MORON ROBOT.
4) DOWNTOWN COUNCIL? A BUNCH OF CORRUPT IDIOTS, FIRST
THEY SHOULD LEARN WHAT A DOWNTOWN IS...WELL, AS I ADVICED THEM,
RENAME THIS AS "KANSAS SHITTY, MISERY"...INCLUDING SPRIRITUAL
AND HUMAN MISERY...the real misery is being an ignorant mental slave hater...
I tried the porchetta at Pigwich outside of the Local Pig butcher shop recently--highly recommended. I plan on working through the rest of the sandwiches on the menu soon!
Re: “The Tutera Group isn't getting much resistance to its plan to wall off a chunk of Prairie Village for the Medicare set”
It is not the charge of the Mission Valley Neighbors Association to discuss what they would like. Their mission statement clearly reveals that they are not "anti-developement". The property is not zoned commercial. It is zoned R1-A, i.e. low density residential and should remain so. High density infill in a residental community is not desireable. This is David vs Goliath situation. MVNA is David and The Tutera Group is Goliath. The Tutera group is a Giant monitarily with vast influence. They have a first class PR goup - The Parris Group -hired to to their public relations. It would not be surprising if this goup has been involve in these posts. They were the group for Bill Clinton and more recently President Obama-visit their website- they are high powered. The press has also apparently been influenced in this regard. MVNA is prepared for a long protracted encounter.