Consolidated Rental Car Facility

[AP]

^I didn't know they didn't do instant returns. That would be very annoying. Only places I've had to do that were Jackson, MS and Lafayette, LA.

[Pete]

Oh yes, more often than not I would fly out very early and had to go inside, drop my keys in a box, then hoped they charged me correctly after I received my credit card bill.

[Bill Robertson]

It was a bit different to go to work at 6 this morning and having cars on Meridian. Especially having places for them to turn in front of me and having to watch for that.

[SoonerFP]

Does anyone know what WRWA plans to do with the space they are freeing up on the baggage claim level by moving the rental desks offsite?

[Josh Ryan]

Does anyone know what WRWA plans to do with the space they are freeing up on the baggage claim level by moving the rental desks offsite?

By contract we will have to give them time to remove their leftovers. After that we plan to dress up the areas. We have had requests for more office space, we plan to convert some of them to additional meeter/greeter (waiting) areas with the terminal expansion project. We're interested in good ideas right now.

[Eddie1]

^ I think an office devoted to tourism may be a good idea, like a "welcome to Oklahoma office" with info on the city, help with tours, lists of things to do, places to stay, etc.

[Pete]

^

They already have that exact thing. Just FYI.

[Josh Ryan]

^ Our Traveler's Aid volunteers mostly assist with finding what people need in the airport or help them to find transportation. A tourism booth may have a mission more in line with helping to welcome travelers and guide them toward attractions. It's an interesting idea and may be more of a seasonal option.

[PhiAlpha]

By contract we will have to give them time to remove their leftovers. After that we plan to dress up the areas. We have had requests for more office space, we plan to convert some of them to additional meeter/greeter (waiting) areas with the terminal expansion project. We're interested in good ideas right now.

Add a coffee shop with a few food options! Where can I make that suggestion? We really need something like that on the outside of security.

[Josh Ryan]

^ Do you mean something with more options than Cafe Oklahoma? I just wrote the Delaware North Mgr. to get an update on what they offer and an update on their hours. This is the info they provided for flyokc.com: Cafe Oklahoma serves a variety of gourmet coffees along with espresso, cappuccino, latte, coffee shakes, milk shakes and fruit smoothies. For a quick breakfast grab an egg and cheese bagel, muffin or fresh fruit. For lunch or dinner try a turkey and cheese ciabatta or ham and provolone baguette.

[PhiAlpha]

^ Do you mean something with more options than Cafe Oklahoma? I just wrote the Delaware North Mgr. to get an update on what they offer and an update on their hours. This is the info they provided for flyokc.com: Cafe Oklahoma serves a variety of gourmet coffees along with espresso, cappuccino, latte, coffee shakes, milk shakes and fruit smoothies. For a quick breakfast grab an egg and cheese bagel, muffin or fresh fruit. For lunch or dinner try a turkey and cheese ciabatta or ham and provolone baguette.

Is that the kiosk by the ticketing/check in counters? That's not bad, but I don't know how much good it does on the departure level when you can't take any liquid through security and it isn't really obvious to arriving passengers (it isn't very noticeable if you are on the way to the baggage claim, rental cars or ground transportation.)

I was thinking something a little larger that looks more like a quick service restaurant or cafe(like a starbucks, dunkin donuts or even something local like Kamps) with some seating for people in the baggage claim area either waiting for bags, for whoever they are picking up, or that just want to grab something on the way to their car or rental shuttle. In similar sized airports: Love Field has a bar, Dunkin Donuts, and a Bagel restaurant all between the secure area exit and baggage claim, Houston Hobby has a BBQ restaurant in the lobby, Wichita has a cafe on the baggage claim level of its new terminal building, and Tulsa has a Starbucks and bagel restaurant outside of the secure area near the rental car counters on the way to the baggage claim. As an added benefit, If you stuck a coffee shop in the middle where Hertz, Enterprise, or Budget used to be, I think it would go a long way toward making it feel more lively and welcoming down there for visitors flying in to OKC (especially now that the old rental car counters are going to be empty). Though I'm sure office space and waiting areas are needed, I think something more interactive would be a better use of the space and really a cafe would add more waiting area space any way.

[Josh Ryan]

^ Yes, Cafe Oklahoma is a coffee and quick food item bar. It would be interesting to see what a known, branded restaurant concept could do in the baggage area. DNC has told us that Cafe Oklahoma struggles during non-peak hours, but like you are saying, people pass it up quickly because they can't take liquids or they may prefer to eat at a restaurant post-security.

The worry about adding something to the baggage level is the speed at which people are ready to leave after arrival. I agree it would be welcoming, but it would need to be profitable for DNC. I don't think adding something downstairs has been ruled out, it just has to be the right idea. Thanks for the suggestion.

[PhiAlpha]

^ Yes, Cafe Oklahoma is a coffee and quick food item bar. It would be interesting to see what a known, branded restaurant concept could do in the baggage area. DNC has told us that Cafe Oklahoma struggles during non-peak hours, but like you are saying, people pass it up quickly because they can't take liquids or they may prefer to eat at a restaurant post-security.

The worry about adding something to the baggage level is the speed at which people are ready to leave after arrival. I agree it would be welcoming, but it would need to be profitable for DNC. I don't think adding something downstairs has been ruled out, it just has to be the right idea. Thanks for the suggestion.

The same could be said for the speed at which people check bags and pass through security.

I would be interested to see how successful similarly placed arrival oriented restaurants are in other airports.