Traveling by plane is fun — jet-setting over rolling hills and beautiful blue waters, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.

The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. Luckily, we're doing the heavy lifting so flying in and out of KC can be a breeze. We toured the terminal to help make your time at KCI as smooth as possible, and we created this guide that covers everything from parking and gates to food, drink, and nonstop flights.

Before you read on — bookmark or save this guide, so the next time you fly, you'll be a pro before even leaving your home.

What to know

TSA | Security check times will vary — 16 lanes are centrally located next to the check-in desks. Streamline the process with TSA PreCheck.
Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, this interactive map will get you started. Think of the shape of the terminal like a big "H" for "home."
Food and drink | Between four coffee roasters, three barbecue options, three craft breweries, two food halls, and other local favorites, this terminal features 50+ food and retail options.
Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.
Reminder| You will need a REAL ID (or other approved document) to board commercial flights in the US.

Fun fact: KCI's identifier code is actually MCI, which stands for Mid-Continent International Airport. That's what it used to be called before the name changed in 1972.

Parking, shuttles, and rideshare

Are you a garage person or a drop-off person? | Photo by KCtoday

Not everyone has a best friend who will drop everything to pick them up from their 3 a.m. arrival. Parking in the garage or surface lot is $2 for 30 minutes and $4 for 30-60 minutes. Prices increase by $4/hour (up to four hours in the surface lot and six in the garage). The price per day is as listed:

Garage parking | $28/day
Surface lot parking | $20/day
Economy parking | $9/day

The new parking garage has 6,200 spaces, including 52 spaces for electric vehicles. Red light/green light technology hangs from the ceiling, indicating available spaces.

Hate the thought of driving yourself? Try out a shuttle, rideshare, or taxi service that will take you to and from the terminal. These services are suggested by KCI:

RideKC | Bus | Route #229 connects with the East Village Transit Center downtown KCMO and the Boardwalk Square Park & Ride lot.
KCTG | Shuttle | This private van service offers in-app reservation booking and vehicle tracking.
Roundabout Transportation | Shuttle | This Johnson County-focused service also provides child car seats.
Ben's Transportation Service | Shuttle | This company also offers long distance rides whether you're arriving or departing from KCI.
Kansas City Airport Taxi | Taxi | Call a cab at (816) 243-2345.

The new drop off and pick up zones — now on separate levels — have dedicated shuttle, rideshare, and taxi curb space. Here's a map.

If you're waiting to pick someone up, KCI's cell phone lot is located at 680 Brasilia Avenue (also with electric vehicle charging stations).

Nonstop flights

Air traffic control says you're cleared for takeoff. | Photo by KCtoday

KCI offers 58 nonstop flights— including four international flights, to Montego Bay, Jamaica, San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and Cancun, Mexico. Here are six nonstop flights to nearby locations.

Bonus: Get lower fares by signing up for Going. You’ll get emailed when flights are 40-90% cheaper than usual. Get a two-week free trial of the Premium plan, which lets you set custom destination flight alerts (score).

Chicago-O'Hare | American, United
Myrtle Beach, SC | Southwest
Minneapolis | Delta
San Diego | Southwest
Nashville, TN | Southwest
Austin, TX | Southwest

Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.

Gates

It's as simple as A, B... yeah, that's it. | Photo by KCtoday

These areas include the following stores and services nearby:

Concourse A | Made in KC, Air Travel Experience, InMotion (electronics), and Johnston & Murphy

Gates A1-A10 | Various | The Market at 18th & Vine, Escape Lounge
Gate A12-A20 | Various, international | The Market at 18th & Vine, Directors Cut Take 2 Barbershop, Quiet Room

Concourse B | City Market, Turn The Page, Sensory Room, Children's Play Area, Delta Sky Club, and BBQ Spot

Gates B40-52 | United, Delta | Everything Travel kiosk
Gates B54-69 | Southwest | Brookside Local, &GO (powered by Amazon "Just Walk Out" tech), The Pitch Convenience

Food and drink

Is farm-to-airport a thing? | Photo by KCtoday

See the full map, or check out our highlights:

Concourse A | Hearth Locavore Kitchen, Bloom Baking Co., Martin City Brewing, Parisi Coffee, Soiree Steak and Seafood House (featuring the American Jazz Museum + performance stage)

Concourse B | Messenger Coffee Co., Guy's Pub & Deli, The Made For KC BBQ Experience, City Market Food Hall, The Leagues Sports Lounge & Eatery (featuring McCormick Distillery + Negro Leagues Baseball Museum)

Fly comfortably

While we may not be able to offer solutions for crying babies or mysterious in-flight meals, we do have some tricks up our sleeves for upping your comfort while flying. Browse some of our favorite travel essentials:

Lights Out Sleep Mask | This eye mask provides optimal comfort and aids restful sleep amidst changing environments and varying light conditions.
The AirFly Pro | Make sure you can always access in-flight entertainment (while avoiding the wired headphones airlines pass out) by using an AirFly. It plugs into your seat’s headphone jack and connects to your earbuds or headphones via Bluetooth.
Trtl travel pillow | The Trtl pillow is scientifically designed to provide a better head position when sleeping upright, thanks to an internal support system comfortably cushioned in cozy fleece.
Leather Dopp Kit | Keep your essentials organized and easily accessible, ensuring hassle-free journeys wherever you go.
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones | These headphones are tried-and-true traveling companions, beloved for their crisp sound and ability to block exterior noise.
Cozy Earth joggers | These Oprah-approved joggers are polished enough to navigate the airport in, but comfy and stretchy enough for long flights.
Snacks | Bringing your own snacks ensures dietary preferences are met — plus, you’ll save time and money while traveling.
Anti-nausea wristbands | Some simple anti-nausea wristbands might relieve a nervous stomach or sensitivity to turbulence while flying.