Mci Airport: How Far Can Families Go?

how far can family go at mci airport

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) offers a variety of amenities and services for families travelling through. The airport prides itself on creating a welcoming and safe environment for all families, with family restrooms available throughout the terminal. These larger bathrooms include a changing station and space for strollers. In addition, MCI provides a range of dining options, shops, and speciality rooms to explore while waiting for flights. The airport also offers convenient parking options, such as economy parking with a complimentary 24/7 BLUE BUS service, surface parking within walking distance to the terminal, garage parking with covered walkways, and valet parking. For those with longer layovers, there are nearby attractions like The Rabbit Hole, an immersive children's museum, and Scott's Kitchen, a barbecue restaurant. However, some recommend staying at the terminal for layovers shorter than four hours to avoid the hassle of returning through security.

Characteristics Values
Location Kansas City International Airport, Missouri, USA
Airport Code MCI
Recommended Arrival Time 2 hours before the flight
Transport Options RideKC, limousine, taxi, car
Parking Options Economy, Surface, Garage, Valet
Facilities Restaurants, shops, meeting rooms, pet relief areas, family restrooms, military accommodations
Services Aircraft fueling, flight charter, ground transportation, accessibility and inclusion assistance

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Family-friendly facilities at Kansas City International Airport

Kansas City International Airport offers a variety of family-friendly facilities to ensure a pleasant travel experience for all. Here are some features that cater specifically to families with children:

Family Restrooms and Nursing Rooms:

The airport provides spacious family restrooms throughout the terminal, equipped with changing stations, ample space for strollers, and lockable doors. In addition, dedicated nursing rooms offer adjustable lighting, comfortable seating, toddler toys, and large changing and washing areas, ensuring privacy and convenience for parents and infants.

Variety KC Inclusive Play Zone:

Located in Concourse B near Gate B54, the Variety KC Inclusive Play Zone is an aviation-themed play area presented by the Variety Children's Charity of Greater Kansas City. This space allows children of all abilities to explore and pretend to be pilots or flight crew. It features kid-sized versions of a plane and an air traffic control tower, with smooth surfaces, low platforms, and transfer stations for wheelchair users and persons with reduced mobility. The play zone is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and does not require reservations, making it a convenient option for families passing through the airport.

Kansas City Air Travel Experience Room:

The airport offers a unique and innovative space called the Kansas City Air Travel Experience Room, which provides a true-to-life simulation of the air travel process. Inside a section of an actual Airbus 321 fuselage, users can familiarise themselves with check-in, security screening, boarding, and flight procedures in a calm and controlled environment. This experience is particularly beneficial for children or adults with autism, anxiety, dementia, sensory sensitivities, or other travel-related challenges.

Quiet Room:

For those seeking a moment of tranquility amid the bustling airport environment, the Quiet Room offers a serene and multipurpose space. It is suitable for meditation, prayer, or simply escaping the chaos of travel. The room features stunning art installations, making it an ideal spot for passengers of all ages to unwind and find peace during their journey.

Dining Options:

Kansas City International Airport boasts a wide variety of dining options to cater to all tastes and preferences. From local favourites like Meat Mitch, City Market stalls, Martin City Brewing, and Buffalo State Pizza Co. to coffee from popular KC roasters, families can enjoy a range of culinary delights while waiting for their flights.

Accessibility Features:

The airport prioritises accessibility and inclusion, offering Braille signage in most public areas for visually impaired individuals. Additionally, all restrooms, including family restrooms, are wheelchair accessible and conveniently located throughout the terminal. The airport also provides a total of four pet relief areas, two of which are indoor and located near specific gates, ensuring convenience for travellers with service animals or pets.

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Transportation to and from the airport

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) offers various transportation options for passengers travelling to and from the airport.

Parking

Kansas City International Airport offers several parking options, including Economy Parking, Surface Parking, Garage Parking, and Valet Parking. The airport provides clear signage for both departures and arrivals, with designated drop-off and pick-up locations. Economy Parking is a convenient option, with a complimentary Blue Bus service that operates 24/7 between the parking lots and the terminal. These buses are wheelchair-accessible and have "kneeling" capabilities. Surface Parking is located within walking distance to the terminal, while Garage Parking offers covered and uncovered parking options with covered walkways. Valet Parking is also available inside the garage, and various payment methods are accepted for all parking options.

Shuttle Services

Several shuttle services, such as SuperShuttle Express and 5 Guys Transportation LLC, provide transportation to and from MCI Airport. These shuttles offer door-to-door and dedicated services, ensuring a stress-free experience for travellers. Shuttle services are also available within the airport, with Gray Rental Car Buses operating between the Consolidated Rental Car Facility and the terminal. These buses are frequent and free of charge, providing accessible transportation for passengers.

Taxi and Ride-sharing Services

Taxi services are readily available at MCI Airport and can be conveniently called using your personal phone. App-based ride-sharing services, such as Iris, Lyft, Uber, or zTrip, are also popular options for travellers. These services can be easily accessed through mobile applications, providing flexibility and convenience for passengers travelling to and from the airport.

Limousine Services

For those seeking a more luxurious mode of transportation, limousine services are available to and from MCI Airport. However, it is important to research and choose a reputable company, as the Kansas City Aviation Department does not endorse or guarantee any specific providers.

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Drop-off and pick-up recommendations

Kansas City International Airport offers several options for dropping off and picking up passengers at the airport terminal. Drop-off is located on the upper level at the departures curb, and pick-up is located on the lower level at the arrivals curb. It is prohibited to park on the departures and arrivals curb. Therefore, when picking someone up from the airport, it is recommended to find out if they have checked any bags, as it may take some time for the bags to arrive at the baggage carousel. If you arrive before the traveller, you can park and wait at the Cell Phone Waiting Lot, located at 680 Brasilia Avenue, which has nearly 100 spaces, restrooms, and is well-lit.

The airport recommends that travellers arrive two hours before their flight. However, this is primarily for travellers who require assistance with checking bags or checking in for their flights. If you are not checking bags, you may find that you do not need to arrive two hours beforehand. In such cases, it is advised to be in the security line at least an hour before the scheduled departure.

The airport offers various parking facilities, including Economy Parking, Surface Parking, Garage Parking, and Valet Parking. Economy Parking is a complimentary service with buses that run 24/7 to and from the terminals, with disabled accessibility. Surface Parking is uncovered parking within walking distance to the terminal. Garage Parking is the closest to the terminal, offering covered and uncovered parking with covered walkways. Valet Parking is available inside the new garage. Payment for parking can be made via cash, major credit and debit cards, and travellers' cheques.

It takes approximately seven minutes to walk from the parking garage to the farthest gate at the new terminal.

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Parking options and fees

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) offers a wide range of parking options, including both on-site and off-site facilities.

On-site parking options:

  • Economy Parking Lots A, B, and C: These lots offer free 24-hour parking with shuttle services to the airport. The daily rate starts at $7.50, with partial days charged at the full daily rate.
  • Garage Parking: Garage parking is available in lots B and C and is open 24 hours a day. It starts at $1 per 30 minutes, with a maximum daily rate of $25 to $28.
  • Valet Parking: MCI offers a true drop-and-go valet service 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Valet parking rates start at $27 per day.

Off-site parking options:

  • Park Air Express: This private parking company offers uncovered outdoor spots for $9 per day and covered spots for $15 per day. It is located at 11500 NW Prairie View Road.
  • The Parking Spot: This privately owned parking business calculates its prices for each 24-hour period individually. It is located at 12060 NW Prairie View Road and offers both covered and uncovered parking options, as well as a complimentary shuttle service.
  • Orangewood Inn & Suites: This off-site airport parking option offers safe and secure parking spaces with wheelchair-accessible slots. They have a 24/7 front desk and a courtesy shuttle service that runs every 15 minutes.
  • Sleep Inn: This top-rated and affordable hotel offers uncovered, self-parking options and 24/7 security. They also have a round-the-clock front desk and do not charge extra for oversized vehicles.
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Entertainment and dining options

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) offers a range of entertainment and dining options for families. The airport has recently undergone a renovation, introducing modern amenities, art installations, and a variety of shops and restaurants.

For dining, MCI has unique options like the Made for KC BBQ Experience, an immersive restaurant showcasing Kansas City's famous barbecue. Other options include The Great American Bagel Bakery, Starbucks, Pork & Pickle, and Dunkin'. Most restaurants at MCI offer vegetarian options and are working to add vegan and kid-friendly choices. There are also vending and grab-and-go options available in baggage claim.

If you're looking for entertainment, you can visit the Escape Lounge, which offers a bright and cozy space with modern amenities and various seating zones. It is open to all passengers and serves food and drink. There is also the Delta Sky Club, which offers an exclusive experience for Delta and SkyTeam flyers. Additionally, the USO Lounge serves military personnel, veterans, and their families. These lounges provide a great space to unwind, eat, drink, or get some work done during long layovers.

For shopping, MCI houses popular stores like KC Marketplace, InMotion Entertainment (an electronics store), and Turn the Page KC, a bespoke book and gift shop that supports local literacy advocacy. You can also find newsstands like CNBC News, offering a range of reading materials and travel essentials. The airport also features interactive maps to help you easily navigate and locate these shops and restaurants.

While MCI itself provides plenty of options for entertainment and dining, if you're looking for a longer excursion, there are several attractions within a 30-minute drive, including The Escape Game Kansas City, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, and Union Station. These offer fun adventures, rides, and shopping experiences for families.

Frequently asked questions

Kansas City International Airport has family restrooms throughout the terminal. These are larger bathrooms with a changing station, space for a stroller, and a lockable door.

MCI Airport offers a variety of parking options, including economy parking, surface parking, garage parking, and valet parking. The parking garage is closest to the terminal, offering covered and uncovered parking with walkways. It takes about seven minutes to walk from the parking garage to the farthest gate.

MCI Airport boasts a wide variety of restaurants and shops to enjoy while waiting for your flight.

For longer layovers, some travellers recommend leaving the airport to explore the city and grab a bite to eat. However, for a 5-hour layover, it might be best to stay at the terminal and bring some entertainment for the kids.

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