Got questions about parking at KCI Airport’s new terminal? The Star has answers
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New KCI terminal
Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal will open Tuesday, Feb. 28. Here’s what to know about the opening and flying through the new space.
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Air travelers will begin to depart and arrive from the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport in just a couple weeks.
That has some wondering what the parking situation will be like for travelers starting on its Feb. 28 opening day.
The “drive to your gate” convenience of the outdated horseshoe-shaped terminals will be gone, but a large parking garage is not that far away — just across the departures road from the new terminal.
At seven-stories high, the parking garage has 6,219 spaces, including 85 handicapped accessible spots and 52 electric vehicle charging stations.
Valet parking will be offered by entering Level Three of the garage from the departures road.
Because this will be a new experience, The Star asked Justin Meyer, deputy director of aviation for the Kansas City Aviation Department, questions that readers have sent in as well as some of its own.
What follows are answers that Meyer provided to those questions. Some of the answers have minor edits.
How will people access the new parking garage?
The entrance to the parking garage is on inbound Cookingham Drive past the turn-off for Departures and Arrivals.
Describe the technology that will help people find parking spaces in the new garage?
With the Park Assist camera-based parking guidance system, customers can efficiently find an available parking space. Each smart sensor monitors the availability of six parking spaces simultaneously. The bright red and green color-coded LED light above the parking spaces visually directs motorists to available spaces, reducing the amount of time it takes to park by eliminating the need to drive around and hunt for a spot.
How much will it cost to park?
There will be a minor increase in the cost to park in the new parking garage. Currently, it costs $23 a day to park in the garages at Terminals B and C. Valet is $27, Circle Parking is $15.50 and Economy Parking is $7.50. The cost for Economy Parking will remain the same when the terminal opens, but might increase in the next fiscal year to cover increasing costs.
How will people pay for parking?
Customers can pay for parking with cash, credit card or through the Frequent Parker Program. (The garage) will have an eight-lane exit plaza with express credit card stations in seven of the lanes.
Is there uncovered parking available too?
To the east of the new parking garage is a surface lot with 780 spaces that is within walking distance to the terminal. It also has a covered walkway and electric vehicle charging stations.
Is there a grace period for people who park when picking up travelers?
No, the incremental rate will stay the same as it is today in Terminals B and C, which is $1 for the first 30 minutes and $3.00 per hour to the daily max rate.
Anything else people should know about the new parking garage?
The 52 EV charging stations are located on Level 4.
Valet will be offered from the Departures roadway into Level 3 of the garage. Customers can easily check in with the valet in a covered area, receive a text message at check-in and can walk directly across to the terminal. Customers can retrieve their vehicles by responding to the text link and paying for parking via their phone.
Will a KCI Rewards Frequent Parker Program still be offered? If so, any changes?
Yes, (the airport) will still offer the KCI Rewards Frequent Parking Program; however, it will be revamped and updated with the new parking equipment. We expect the new program, FLYKC Rewards, to launch mid to late March after all of the equipment is fully installed in the economy lot.
Frequent parking customers were notified that the program will be temporarily shut down only in the Economy Lot during this transition while we install the new equipment. Once the new program is launched customers will be notified to log into the new program.
Customers will also have the options to put a license plate on file. License plate readers will scan their license plate and open the gate without having to scan a proxy card. The new program will now include Park Air Express as well.
What changes will occur with the economy parking lots? What will it cost to park there?
The Economy Parking experience will change slightly. The lots currently identified as A and C will be combined, as they are adjacent to each other.
The shuttle stops in the new lot will be identified as E1 though E17. Travelers can enter the lot from either the Economy Parking entrance closest to Mexico City Avenue or the entrance closest to Cookingham Drive.
Blue Bus service will transfer customers from Economy Parking to and from the new terminal. The Blue Bus will load and unload from a central location on the commercial curb (arrivals level, follow signs).
Departing passengers will use elevators, escalators, or stairs in the new terminal to access airline kiosks, check in counters, and the security screening check point. During times of peak demand, the Economy Parking lot that previously served Terminal B passengers will be used for overflow parking, with Blue Bus service to and from the new terminal.
Have you been able to address the shortage of drivers for the buses? If not, what is current staffing?
Thirty-seven positions currently filled. Another 24 positions are in active recruitment.
Is there a cell phone lot for people to park in while waiting for passengers to arrive?
Yes, the current cell phone lot will remain active, which is located at 680 Brasilia Avenue.
How will people who flew out of the old terminals get to their vehicles if they fly into the new terminal?
The Aviation Department will offer Red Bus service from the new terminal’s commercial curb near the Hotel Shuttle pick-up location (arrivals level, follow signs for Red Bus) until the Terminal B and Terminal C garages and circle parking are vacant.
What will happen to the existing parking at Terminals B & C once the new terminal opens?
The intent is to convert the existing Terminal B garage into employee parking, replacing a surface lot located near Mexico City Avenue and Interstate 29.
This story was originally published February 16, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
