Fair question. But I have never seen anyone else in the TSA precheck queue besides me?

Haha, this is one of my favorite things about flying out of OKC! Literally no one other than us has precheck. It's shocking to see 200+ people in the regular line and at the same time have the precheck lane all to ourselves. We've probably saved hundreds of hours here just by having precheck.

Haha, this is one of my favorite things about flying out of OKC! Literally no one other than us has precheck. It's shocking to see 200+ people in the regular line and at the same time have the precheck lane all to ourselves. We've probably saved hundreds of hours here just by having precheck.

I have precheck but don't fly out of OKC often. But the line is short almost everywhere we use it.

Haha, this is one of my favorite things about flying out of OKC! Literally no one other than us has precheck. It's shocking to see 200+ people in the regular line and at the same time have the precheck lane all to ourselves. We've probably saved hundreds of hours here just by having precheck.We have pre-check but pre-Covid there were a few times the pre-check line had ~25-35 people in it. It was always better than the regular line. I still think Clear would be good to have, especially since we pay for it. Might as well be able to use it more places...

Just for comparison, Birmingham (AL) airport has Clear, and in 2019 they only had 3.09 million travelers, while OKC had 4.42 million. Surely an airport 43% larger than Clear's smallest airport could lure them?

We have pre-check but pre-Covid there were a few times the pre-check line had ~25-35 people in it. It was always better than the regular line. I still think Clear would be good to have, especially since we pay for it. Might as well be able to use it more places...

Just for comparison, Birmingham (AL) airport has Clear, and in 2019 they only had 3.09 million travelers, while OKC had 4.42 million. Surely an airport 43% larger than Clear's smallest airport could lure them?

Birmingham has some special business travel circumstances that might have pushed that Clear addition? They have (or had) a Delta 767 to Frankfurt for a while because of Mercedes Benz...

Love that Freddy's is coming to WRWA. Nice to have a nice option with a full(er) menu (I like their product better than most similar concepts).

They're from Wichita so fairly close to being local ala Sonic. Good on them

Love that Freddy's is coming to WRWA. Nice to have a nice option with a full(er) menu (I like their product better than most similar concepts).

They're from Wichita so fairly close to being local ala Sonic. Good on them

Can't wait to sample some of their products. Have been trying to get away from the fast food crave and eat a variety of more healthy product options.

Freddy's quality is definitely a step above fast food burgers but I wouldn't call it healthier lol

We have pre-check but pre-Covid there were a few times the pre-check line had ~25-35 people in it. It was always better than the regular line. I still think Clear would be good to have, especially since we pay for it. Might as well be able to use it more places...

Just for comparison, Birmingham (AL) airport has Clear, and in 2019 they only had 3.09 million travelers, while OKC had 4.42 million. Surely an airport 43% larger than Clear's smallest airport could lure them?

Confirmed with the airport this week that Clear will not be part of the new security area when it opens. Bummer.

Can't wait to sample some of their products. Have been trying to get away from the fast food crave and eat a variety of more healthy product options.

Saltiest fries I've ever had, which at one time wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Haaaaave you had the fries at Wing Stop? Oy...

Haaaaave you had the fries at Wing Stop? Oy...
Watch your mouth, Shawn, lol. Love me some Wingstop.

Saltiest fries I've ever had, which at one time wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Thanks for the warning; my hypertension doesn't need to be tested or the Llisinopril. My high blood pressure has been in check for the last 10 years, so I'll pass on the french fries.

Birmingham has some special business travel circumstances that might have pushed that Clear addition? They have (or had) a Delta 767 to Frankfurt for a while because of Mercedes Benz...Not sure about the past, though I can't find anything Googling it, but their current flight options are more limited than OKC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham–Shuttlesworth_International_Airport

Watch your mouth, Shawn, lol. Love me some Wingstop.

I also love wing stop, just saying their fries are definitely the saltiest

Haaaaave you had the fries at Wing Stop? Oy...

Yup. Saliter than that. I also prefer the voodoo fries at wingstop which may mask the salt with other things.

Birmingham has some special business travel circumstances that might have pushed that Clear addition? They have (or had) a Delta 767 to Frankfurt for a while because of Mercedes Benz...

Maybe a charter but BHM has never had a scheduled non-stop trans-Atlantic flight

Maybe a charter but BHM has never had a scheduled non-stop trans-Atlantic flight

Nope, not a charter, but also not a non-stop. It was a 767 that started at BHM, did a quick ATL stop (think of a like a Southwest flight where you stay on the plane) and then over to Germany. I saw it a few times in 2019 when I was doing work in Alabama.

A huge, 4 engine, 4 landing gear plane just landed at Will Rogers. All white with United States Of America on the sides. Any idea who or what?

E4B Nightwatch, basically an airborne command post (or its more dire nickname "The Doomsday Plane"). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-4

They're based out of Offutt near Omaha, but do come down occasionally for touch and goes.

Ok. Thanks. I've worked right there for years and never seen it. Bad timing I guess. That's a big plane.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRZwEx7DX6u/

E4B Nightwatch, basically an airborne command post (or its more dire nickname "The Doomsday Plane"). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-4

They're based out of Offutt near Omaha, but do come down occasionally for touch and goes.

it is the National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP ) commonly called NE-Cap in air force circles ...

It is supported by Boeing here, but based at Offutt.

For the WRWA staff who are members on this board -- is the timing for the opening of the concourse expansion still scheduled for later this month? Is it possible to see some updated photos of the project? Thanks.

The governor posted something about seeing it upon his return from Azerbaijan. I just presumed that meant it was about done.

Pete,

Is there any timeline set to when the new restaurant and retail will be open at WRWA? Was there last weekend and only one food option was available with the entire cafeteria area, where Tucker's used to be, closed off.

I was there 2 weeks ago and the new area looked basically finished construction-wise. However, none of the new TSA equipment or queue control was in place.

I believe everything has been delayed due to the crew at the airport being hit by Covid-19.

I'm trying to find out more.

Well, that was a crappy experience...

As others have said, there are pathetic food/drink options.

Pedestrian tunnel was closed in Feb when we flew out and it's *still* closed, despite a published completion date of 2 months ago (per the airport website, and no updates to say "We're running behind, it's still closed").

Self-service parking payment kiosks were broken in Feb, and are *STILL* broken - absurd!

And lastly, getting out of parking was just f-ing ridiculous - took us almost 30 minutes!!! About 40 cars stacked up, 2 lanes were closed, 2 were human cashiers, and the two "automatic" payment lanes were just functioning extremely poorly - some cars took 5 minutes to get through, no human assistance except for one guy that came out once to do something. The car in front of us looked like they were doing everything right (it's not hard - put your ticket in, then put your card in and it says "approved" and the gate lifts), but the gate wouldn't lift (they did that dance about 12 times and it finally worked). It worked for us first time, but 2/3 of the other cars had to try multiple times to get them to work. Only thing that was decent about the airport itself was that there was nobody in the TSA line ahead of us when we left on Thu morning....

So a word of warning - do *NOT* go through the automatic payment lanes, not consistently reliable at all.

Got a communication that COVID-19 has really hit the construction crews hard and that has delayed the project.

Does anyone know what they're doing just south of Metro Tech Aviation Campus on 54th Street? There's a steady in and out of dump trucks and I can see from 54th they're scraping the ground south of the campus.

Possibly related to they recently approved rehabilitation/reconstruction on runway 13/31, and there is limited space south of the campus before you are in that runways clear zone.

17060

It looks like the timeline has been delayed. Before, it said August 2021 was when the new security checkpoint would be opened.

17060

It looks like the timeline has been delayed. Before, it said August 2021 was when the new security checkpoint would be opened.

And before that, the entire project was to be complete in June.


They have been paving the apron around the expansion for literally 5 months and still aren't finished.

Hard to understand how they have so badly missed on their timeline, especially since for a huge part of the construction time the airport traffic had dropped to next to nothing.

And before that, the entire project was to be complete in June.


They have been paving the apron around the expansion for literally 5 months and still aren't finished.

Hard to understand how they have so badly missed on their timeline, especially since for a huge part of the construction time the airport traffic had dropped to next to nothing.

Hopefully Timberlake is being saddled with some serious LD's for this delay

And before that, the entire project was to be complete in June.


They have been paving the apron around the expansion for literally 5 months and still aren't finished.

Hard to understand how they have so badly missed on their timeline, especially since for a huge part of the construction time the airport traffic had dropped to next to nothing.

Probably supply chain related.

While traffic dropped to nothing, so did raw materials production.

Hello,
Nothing exciting but I am curious ( and maybe bored); which gate does Breeze Airways use ?

Hello,
Nothing exciting but I am curious ( and maybe bored); which gate does Breeze Airways use ?

Gate 1 for both arrivals and departures

And before that, the entire project was to be complete in June.


They have been paving the apron around the expansion for literally 5 months and still aren't finished.

Hard to understand how they have so badly missed on their timeline, especially since for a huge part of the construction time the airport traffic had dropped to next to nothing.

Three of the four loading bridges have been installed. Paving crews are on the last portion of the ramp. Light poles have been erected and are being wired. The TSA checkpoint equipment has not been moved into place, but that is likely one of the last steps. Other than that, who knows what is left for fixtures, gate equipment on the interior. Going to be a long walk from security all the way to the west gates,

Three of the four loading bridges have been installed. Paving crews are on the last portion of the ramp. Light poles have been erected and are being wired. The TSA checkpoint equipment has not been moved into place, but that is likely one of the last steps. Other than that, who knows what is left for fixtures, gate equipment on the interior. Going to be a long walk from security all the way to the west gates,

LOL. A long walk? Seriously?

Everything is relative.

LOL. A long walk? Seriously?

End to end in the B terminal at DIA is 1 mile. That's a walk

End to end in the B terminal at DIA is 1 mile. That's a walk

and end to end on WRWA is less then .25 miles .. from security even less then that

and end to end on WRWA is less then .25 miles .. from security even less then that
With the new expansion?

With the new expansion?

yep

that's interesting esp when you consider that wrwa is roughly 2 miles wide E-W and that the terminal sits in the middle. I'd think with the new addition built out the terminal would be half a mile at least.

that's interesting esp when you consider that wrwa is roughly 2 miles wide E-W and that the terminal sits in the middle. I'd think with the new addition built out the terminal would be half a mile at least.

The terminal sits between Portland and Meridian and is only a fraction of that. Maybe a quarter of a mile wide currently.

that's interesting esp when you consider that wrwa is roughly 2 miles wide E-W and that the terminal sits in the middle. I'd think with the new addition built out the terminal would be half a mile at least.

Come on. The current terminal is just under 1/4-mile wide and the new addition adds probably something like 400 feet on the east, just a little longer than a football field.

thanks for the feedback catcher. I now realize the loop the terminal ends on actually veers to the East so the terminal isn't at Meridian. Still should be at least 1/2 mile end-to-end once the E concourse is built out.

LOL. A long walk? Seriously?

For you and me, no, for those who are older and less mobile, have toddlers, or someone with a disability, yes, it's a long walk compared to having security situated in the middle as it is now.

The longest airport walk I’ve had by a lot is Salt Lake City’s new redesigned airport. It was a 20+ minute brisk walk from gate to exit.

The longest airport walk I’ve had by a lot is Salt Lake City’s new redesigned airport. It was a 20+ minute brisk walk from gate to exit.

Yeah it's rough right now. I think they're building a tunnel or something to cut that down though.

For you and me, no, for those who are older and less mobile, have toddlers, or someone with a disability, yes, it's a long walk compared to having security situated in the middle as it is now.

Those people can easily request assistance in getting to the gates or changing gates. There is no need for them to walk if it's a problem for them.

thanks for the feedback catcher. I now realize the loop the terminal ends on actually veers to the East so the terminal isn't at Meridian. Still should be at least 1/2 mile end-to-end once the E concourse is built out.

i measured it on google maps ..

The longest airport walk I’ve had by a lot is Salt Lake City’s new redesigned airport. It was a 20+ minute brisk walk from gate to exit.

before dallas put in the "new" tram system the old tram was broken almost all the time ..... my flight from denver would land at one gate and the connection to OKC would be well over a mile walk .. it was pretty terrible..

The longest airport walk I’ve had by a lot is Salt Lake City’s new redesigned airport. It was a 20+ minute brisk walk from gate to exit.

AGREED! I thought i was going to be annoyed by the OKC tunnel being closed, but that walk from B terminal to rental cars in SLC is about 5 times as long and that's just indoor walking. SLC definitely didn't design their terminals with logic in terms of walkability. Oh, and SLC still has gates where you RIDE THE BUS!!!!! Now that SLC airport is incredibly busy too. For a city about the same size as OKC, they have 10 times the air traffic.

Every time I go to another airport, I am thankful that the OKC airport works as well as it does. Yes, it's small, but it's also fast and convenient. And I dont feel like I want to stab myself in the eye because of lines.

Not fully related, but the TSA agents I've interacted with at various airports seem to be more polite about how they do their job now. Yes they have to be forceful with the occasional idiot that doesn't understand what "take your laptop out of the bag" or "empty ALL contents of your pockets" means, but in general most of them seem to be happier about doing their job now. Or have I just been lucky?

The longest airport walk I’ve had by a lot is Salt Lake City’s new redesigned airport. It was a 20+ minute brisk walk from gate to exit.
Dude. I thought it would NEVER END.

AGREED! I thought i was going to be annoyed by the OKC tunnel being closed, but that walk from B terminal to rental cars in SLC is about 5 times as long and that's just indoor walking. SLC definitely didn't design their terminals with logic in terms of walkability. Oh, and SLC still has gates where you RIDE THE BUS!!!!! Now that SLC airport is incredibly busy too. For a city about the same size as OKC, they have 10 times the air traffic.

Every time I go to another airport, I am thankful that the OKC airport works as well as it does. Yes, it's small, but it's also fast and convenient. And I dont feel like I want to stab myself in the eye because of lines.

Not fully related, but the TSA agents I've interacted with at various airports seem to be more polite about how they do their job now. Yes they have to be forceful with the occasional idiot that doesn't understand what "take your laptop out of the bag" or "empty ALL contents of your pockets" means, but in general most of them seem to be happier about doing their job now. Or have I just been lucky?

I think what you are seeing is a result of the TSA being 20 years old now. The initial hiring wave of agents was gung-ho and riding the post-9/11 high of patriotism which resulted in the TSA becoming quite the egotistical agency. Over time people have quit, retired, been fired, moved up to office jobs, or have mellowed out. Many of the replacements now have no first hand knowledge of 9/11, and in some cases were not even alive. Add in the fact of poor public perception of the agency as a glorified rent-a-cop firm; and you really start driving the egos down.

I too have noticed they have become more friendly over the past few years. I guess putting help-wanted ads on the inside of pizza boxes found the right mix of people to hire.

Thousands Standing Around

https://kfor.com/news/great-state/a-huge-art-project-and-the-oklahoma-artist-proud-to-have-visitors-walk-on-it/

Those people can easily request assistance in getting to the gates or changing gates. There is no need for them to walk if it's a problem for them.

I wish this were true when I had a toddler a few years back but alas - I couldn't request assistance for anything let alone walking through the terminal. However, I do believe most airports do have a service for the blind and handicapped, families/toddlers = no.