Kansas City International Airport

The Kansas City International Airport services travelers in both Missouri and Kansas. This small international airport is the gateway to the world to many people living in the Midwest.

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Getting to the Kansas City International Airport
The Kansas City International Airport is located only 20 minutes from the downtown of Kansas City. The airport is easily reached from many areas around town. The airport is located just past the intersection of I-435 and I-29, providing easy access to many cities. Also, since the airport is not in the downtown area, the traffic on the incoming roads is typically light.

If you are approaching the airport from the north, you will want to take I-29 south. Exit at exit 13, which is marked for the airport. Then follow the signs to your terminal or desired parking lot. If you are approaching from the south, take Highway 71/I-29 north towards St. Joseph. Exit at exit 13, which is marked for the airport. Again, follow the signs to your terminal or parking lot.

If you are coming from the east, such as from St. Louis, take Highway 71 to exit 2G. From there you can access the airport's exit, exit 13, and your terminal. Finally, from the west, such as from Topeka, take I-70 east and merge into I-670. Merge again onto Highway 71 north at exit 2N, which is a left exit. Continue to exit 13, which will take you to the airport.

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Public Transportation Options
If you would prefer not to drive yourself to the airport, you have several public and other ground transportation options that you can consider. The Metro bus operates routes to and from the Kansas City International Airport on weekdays. The cost for a ride from the airport is $1.25, but you must have exact change for the fare box. You can also catch a taxi to ride to and from the airport. A taxi costs $2.20 plus $1.70 per mile. Taxi drivers are required by a city ordinance to take all trips, not matter what the length is, so you can take a taxi even if you only have a few miles to go.

There are also a variety of shuttles available to and from the airport from many of the cities it services. From El Dorado, Emporia, Ottawa, and Wichita you can take the Best Express Shuttle to the Kansas City International Airport. The Heartland Express, which only services groups, has a shuttle service to the airport from Maryville and St. Joseph. Jeff's Airport Shuttle services 33 areas, including Blue Springs, Independence, and Overland Park.

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When You Arrive, Where Will You Park?
If you choose to drive yourself to the airport, you will have several options for parking once you arrive. Besides the airport parking lots, there are several independently operated parking lots around the Kansas City International Airport. Your choice will usually depend on how much you want to pay for parking and how long you need to stay. All of the parking facilities on the airport itself are free for the first ½ hour, so there is not a cell phone parking lot, per se.

The Garage Parking is designed for those who are picking up or dropping off passengers. The daily fee is $18, and while you can park your car there for the duration of your trip, it will prove quite expensive. There is an hourly fee for those who do not leave the car overnight. The garages are located within the circles created by each terminal

Circle Parking is another option that you have when you fly from the Kansas City International Airport. These lots have a $12 maximum cap, and are located just outside of the terminal buildings. This lot is designed for daily or long-term parking.

Those who are going to park their car for an extended period will likely want to choose the economy parking lots. These lots are located just outside of the terminal circles, but they do provide as shuttle to and from the airport. The daily rate for the economy parking lots is $5.50. There are three economy lots.

All of the parking lots have a link on the Kansas City International Airport's website that allows you to see how full they are before you leave. This is quite helpful, especially if you are running short on time. If your preferred lot is full, you will not waste time trying it when you arrive at the airport.

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Special Parking Services
The Kansas City International Airport has some programs designed for those who park at the airport frequently. The KCI Rewards program is a frequent parker program. This program rewards those who park in any of the three parking lots with rewards points. The points can be redeemed for free parking and other gifts.

The Kansas City international Airport also offers the KCI Quick Tag payments system. This is a cash and card free way of paying for your parking. To utilize this program, you will need to register for a transponder that is attached to your car's windshield when you are parking. The transponder is about the size of a credit card. As you leave, your transponder will be scanned. Since the it is linked to your credit card, your card is charged the parking fee, and you can leave. This is particularly helpful if you park in the economy lot, which is famous for having long exit lines. With the KCI Quick Tag program, you can leave without the need to wait in line. The transponder costs $12.50 to activate, and there are no monthly charges for using it, beyond the parking fee that you are charged. Those using the transponder can attach it to their KCI Rewards plan to still earn the rewards points when they park.

Finally, the KCI Corporate Parking Program is designed for companies who frequently send their employees to the Kansas City International Airport for business trips. This program provides these companies with a 10% discount in all three parking lots. The discounts are applied no matter how the employee pays, because the employees are issued a card identifying them as a part of the program.

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When You Arrive at KCI
Once you arrive at the Kansas City International Airport, you will need to check in for your flight. First, find the ticket counter for your airline. Most of the time if you are traveling domestically, you can check in automatically with a kiosk near the ticket counter. International travelers will need to check in at the counter. When you check in, you will check any baggage that you do not wish to carry on the plane. Be sure to check the size of your carry on to ensure that you can take it with you on the plane. The airport is not difficult to navigate, because all three terminals are circular in shape.

After checking in, you will head to the gate. Security at KCI is a little different than other airports. There are several security stations in each terminal, which are assigned a certain number of gates. After passing through security, you will find all of the amenities you need, such as eating options and restrooms. However, only ticketed passengers can go through security, so say your goodbyes before you head to the gate.

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Passing Through Security
Security is an important part of your visit to the Kansas City International Airport. Security is handled by the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, not the airport staff. You need to cooperate with any instructions that you receive from the TSA.

When traveling through the Kansas City International Airport, you will have to remove your shoes when going through security. They will have to go through the x-ray machine, while you pass through the metal detector. Also, if you have a laptop or other large electronic device with you, it will have to be removed from its case and sent through the x-ray machine separately.

You are also not allowed to take most liquids or gels with you on the plane. However, you can take some liquids or gels, but they must be in containers that are not larger than three ounces. Also, all liquids or gels that you wish to take must be in a one-quart zip top bag that is inspected separately from your other belongings. Some medications and all baby foods are exempt from this rule.

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Shopping at KCI
Where you can shop at the Kansas City International Airport depends on which terminal you are flying from. Each terminal has a variety of shops for you to choose from. In Terminal A you can pick up some reading material or last minute gifts at CNBC News and Gifts. If you are looking for a Kansas City souvenir, head to the K.C. Marketplace.

In Terminal B you can purchase cell phone accessories at the Cell Connect stand. Terminal B also has CNBC News and Gifts and K.C. Marketplace for your shopping needs. The PGA Tour Shop is perfect for the golf lover in your group. You can also get reading material at Plaza News and Books.

Finally, in Terminal C you will have two shopping options. For reading material, head to CNBC News and Gifts. You can also shop at the Rosetta Stone Language Learning store. This store offers software that you can use to learn 30 different languages from around the world.

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Eating at KCI
Like your shopping opportunities, where you can eat at the Kansas City International Airport depends on which terminal you are flying out of. However, each security checkpoint has some eating establishments beyond it. In Terminal A you can get a taste of K.C. Barbecue at the Home Turf Sports Bar and Grill with Arthur Bryant's BBQ. If you have not yet had a chance to taste the food that the area is famous for, this is a must stop restaurant. If you are traveling in the morning, head to Cinnabon To-Go and Starbuck's Coffee to get your morning necessities. The Fountains of Seville serves sandwiches, soups, salads, and breakfast. Finally, stop by Quiznos to get a toasted deli sub.

In Terminal B, you will also find a place to taste Kansas City barbecue at the Boulevard Brewery with Arthur Bryant's BBQ. If you are in a hurry, grab a burger at Burger King. The Great American Bagel Bakery is a good choice for breakfast. You can also grab a cheese steak or baked potato at the Great Steak and Potato Company. You can find Mexican food at Jose Cuervo's Tequileria. For Italian food, choose Sbarro. The Fly-By offers traditional American cuisine on the go, and Starbuck's Coffee is perfect for the morning traveler.

You can dine at the Budweiser Stadium Club when flying from Terminal C. The Great American Bagel Bakery is a good choice for breakfast. Just off Vine has breakfast, deli sandwiches, and pizza. Like the other two terminals, Terminal C has a Starbuck's as well.

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Other KCI Services
The Kansas City International Airport wants its passengers to be comfortable. All terminals offer curbside assistance for those passengers that need it. While you cannot park along the curb, you can have a wheelchair brought to your vehicle when you need one if you arrange it with your airline. You can drop off your disabled passenger at the curb and then park your car. All restrooms are equipped with handicapped facilities for those in wheelchairs. The areas of the airport that have level changes are equipped with elevators.

Hearing impaired passengers have several services for them as well. The airport is equipped with a TTY telephone in all of the terminals. Also, all of the terminals are equipped with visual paging monitors, which display flight, taxi, and security information, along with public announcements. Those with vision difficulties can utilize the Braille signage throughout the public areas of the airport.

Finally, all passengers can benefit from the free Wi-Fi services in the airport. If you have a laptop computer, you can access the Wi-Fi simply by turning it on and setting the wireless LAN to KCI. This is perfect for business travelers, as they can catch up on a last minute email or report before heading out on their flights.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303


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