KCI Flight Schedule Adjustments

[KCPowercat]

Any "new" direct usually comes in the form of Spirit which I couldn't care less to see them expand service here, I'd rather connect.

[langosta]

Any "new" direct usually comes in the form of Spirit which I couldn't care less to see them expand service here, I'd rather connect.

Give the "big seat upfront" a chance.

[dev49]

KC flew to Memphis on Northwest nonstop...Tulsa/OKC should have directs IMO

Memphis was a Northwest/Delta hub but now has a diminished role in air traffic. Tulsa/Okc/Oma/Des Moines will only survive with significant connecting traffic. These are some of the emptiest Southwest flights out of STL

I was curious at least load and O&D for those routes so I looked them up OMA-STL was better than I expected. 80% loads and more O&D then MCI-STL has. OKC was decent also. Little Rock, Wichita, Tulsa are definitely some of their lowest. But I’m guessing those are very good for Southwest in general. Not many flights all together.

[dev49]

Boston is such an interesting market - at one point you had WN and DL. Then AA tried it briefly and then JetBlue. Now it is just 2/x on Delta.

Spirit is starting Boston also.

[hartliss]

Boston is such an interesting market - at one point you had WN and DL. Then AA tried it briefly and then JetBlue. Now it is just 2/x on Delta.

Spirit is starting Boston also.

Ahh, good point. I forgot about Spirit. Granted I have never flown Spirit but was doing some dummy bookings yesterday and by the time you incorporate your add-ons, the price is similar to the majors (i.e. big seat, carry on, etc). If you don’t have any luggage at all - seems like a great option. If you have luggage or want any additional seating preferences you are paying the same. Curious those who have flown Spirit, how has it been?

[KCPowercat]

Boston is such an interesting market - at one point you had WN and DL. Then AA tried it briefly and then JetBlue. Now it is just 2/x on Delta.

Spirit is starting Boston also.

Ahh, good point. I forgot about Spirit. Granted I have never flown Spirit but was doing some dummy bookings yesterday and by the time you incorporate your add-ons, the price is similar to the majors (i.e. big seat, carry on, etc). If you don’t have any luggage at all - seems like a great option. If you have luggage or want any additional seating preferences you are paying the same. Curious those who have flown Spirit, how has it been?

It's not a good experience. Seats are very bad. Great option if you just have to get somewhere but not a fan of it being a growing option in KC.

[SingleMalt12]

I don't live in KC. Here in Detroit we've gotten tickets to LGA for as low as $19 each way. Yes having luggage or other add ons adds a lot to the price but if you pack well & bring your stuff in a personal bag you can save a ton. I'm 6' 1" and have not had an issue with the seats, even on a flight from DTW to FLL.

To each his own I guess.

[langosta]

I don't live in KC. Here in Detroit we've gotten tickets to LGA for as low as $19 each way. Yes having luggage or other add ons adds a lot to the price but if you pack well & bring your stuff in a personal bag you can save a ton. I'm 6' 1" and have not had an issue with the seats, even on a flight from DTW to FLL.

To each his own I guess.

I did florida for $1 fare+ tax ($~11 total) last year. Wasn’t a sale, back pack was free and held anything I needed for the weekend. Seat wasn’t great but it’s only 3 hours. Amazing deal.

[langosta]

American is adding an 8th daily to DFW in response to spirit.

[im2kull]

Any "new" direct usually comes in the form of Spirit which I couldn't care less to see them expand service here, I'd rather connect.

Give the "big seat upfront" a chance.

This does change the experience substantially.

[smh]

Flew Spirit back from LAX to MCI just before the pandemic. We booked seats and a carryon ahead. I can't recall the price now, but remember thinking it was a good deal and appreciated it was a non-stop flight that left late in the day rather than first thing as it feels like so many west coast flights do.

[phuqueue]

I don't typically look for Spirit flights, but when they pop up in a Kayak search, it feels like anything that isn't non-stop requires just aggressively long layovers. I would possibly consider Spirit for a non-stop where I don't need to bring much (I travel with only a backpack whenever possible anyway, but recently passed on a Spirit non-stop for a wedding trip where adding a full carry-on blew the price up to being the same as Delta), but the long layovers are typically a dealbreaker. My only time actually flying them was pre-covid, and it included an obnoxiously long layover at O'Hare that I had decided to put up with rather than paying more to fly someone else. I don't actually remember the flights themselves, so I guess they were unremarkable, but the layover was long enough to leave the airport and meet a friend for lunch at Lou Malnati's. So that actually wasn't so bad, in retrospect. Spirit should add that to their marketing, that if you fly with them you'll have time to stop for Lou's on the way.

[hartliss]

From Justin Meyer

A few nice additions for Kansas City (MCI) in this week's airline schedule load:

AUG 2024:
AA - DCA -1 to 2/day, ORD +1 to 6/day, DFW +1 to 7/day, PHL +1 to 4/day

SEP 2024:
UA - ORD +1 to 6/day

OCT 2024:
AA - ORD +2 to 6/day, PHL +1 to 3/day
UA - ORD +1 to 6/day

Mayor meeting with the President of UA again this week. Mayor or City Manager meet with UA senior execs and staff every few months, at least publicly more than any other airline.

Do you know why the mayor and president of UA were actually meeting? Seems awfully high profile for a casual chat about their Chiefs' and Royals' charter ops....now Josh Earnest is their EVP of Ad/Comms and he is a KC native - may help with the coordination of such meeting.

[langosta]

From Justin Meyer

A few nice additions for Kansas City (MCI) in this week's airline schedule load:

AUG 2024:
AA - DCA -1 to 2/day, ORD +1 to 6/day, DFW +1 to 7/day, PHL +1 to 4/day

SEP 2024:
UA - ORD +1 to 6/day

OCT 2024:
AA - ORD +2 to 6/day, PHL +1 to 3/day
UA - ORD +1 to 6/day

Mayor meeting with the President of UA again this week. Mayor or City Manager meet with UA senior execs and staff every few months, at least publicly more than any other airline.

Do you know why the mayor and president of UA were actually meeting? Seems awfully high profile for a casual chat about their Chiefs' and Royals' charter ops....now Josh Earnest is their EVP of Ad/Comms and he is a KC native - may help with the coordination of such meeting.

Mayor and City Manager seemingly post about visiting UA every quarter for the past 2-3 years

[SingleMalt12]

Airport directors, mayor's, governors, etc. around the country are in constant contact with airlines. It would be news if KC's weren't.

[langosta]

KC getting Sacramento on Southwest. New city

[langosta]

Airport directors, mayor's, governors, etc. around the country are in constant contact with airlines. It would be news if KC's weren't.

It’s the seniority and frequency on both sides that is unique and interesting.

[TheUrbanRoo]

KC getting Sacramento on Southwest. New city

Wow

[langosta]

4x weekly MCI-SMF begins October 3

[KCPowercat]

4x weekly MCI-SMF begins October 3

Seems like it should be a nice destination to have people connecting through KCI as well.