Will Rogers World Airport

[whatitis]

I've seen this other places too. Definitely DEN - maybe even LAX requires you to go back up to departures to catch an Uber. Hell, doesn't LGA require a bus ride to their Uber pickup? I'd rather go up the escalators than take a bus.

flew into LGA in February and yes. A bus ride is necessary to get to uber. 2 buses to get to car rental (bus over to car rental buses)

[brianinok]

I'm curious about this too. Our concession options are so embarrasingly bad, it's insane. It's crazy to me that we don't have simple basics like Starbucks or McDonald's. Those are places I rarely go to if given a choice but in airports I don't mind - normally they're quick, efficient, and predictable - perfect for an airport.

And the places we do have are barely open! Does Coolgreens still close at 6 PM? What the hell is the point of them taking up so much prime real estate if they don't even serve dinner? Why don't our airport folks solve issues like this? Quite frustrating.

THIS.

Although I do frequent Starbucks outside of airports.

[warreng88]

In September, I am flying out for work on a Tuesday at 7am and coming back the next day at 11:30pm. I will be interested to see what is open at both times...

[TheTravellers]

in september, i am flying out for work on a tuesday at 7am and coming back the next day at 11:30pm. I will be disappointed to see what is open at both times...

fify.

[gopokes88]

I'm curious about this too. Our concession options are so embarrasingly bad, it's insane. It's crazy to me that we don't have simple basics like Starbucks or McDonald's. Those are places I rarely go to if given a choice but in airports I don't mind - normally they're quick, efficient, and predictable - perfect for an airport.

And the places we do have are barely open! Does Coolgreens still close at 6 PM? What the hell is the point of them taking up so much prime real estate if they don't even serve dinner? Why don't our airport folks solve issues like this? Quite frustrating.

Lol. Just lol.

25 pages back everyone is complaining about the lack of local options and we need local options to showcase okc.

And now you’re complaining about the lack of big huge chains.

I think the airport doesn’t really care because there is no pleasing

[Rover]

I guess people haven’t figured out that when we don’t support what we have, the stores/restaurants keep cutting back. When I’m at the airport there is rarely any kind of line at any of them. I’ve never had a problem getting coffee, pastry, grab and go breakfast, etc. But, admittedly, when I arrive at the airport here I rarely look for somewhere to go for a sit down dinner there and then go home to my wife.

[PhiAlpha]

Lol. Just lol.

25 pages back everyone is complaining about the lack of local options and we need local options to showcase okc.

And now you’re complaining about the lack of big huge chains.

I think the airport doesn’t really care because there is no pleasing

No kidding...file that under complaining just to complain. Why the hell would we want McDonald’s or other chain fastfood in the airport over something local like Tucker’s? Maybe Starbucks would be a good add, but I’d much rather have something like Elemental or slingers open an additional location there. I fly to airports of similar size very often and we match up fairly well with variety. We could just use more restaurants, maybe an additional sit down restaurant or two and better hours.

[PhiAlpha]

Lol. Just lol.

25 pages back everyone is complaining about the lack of local options and we need local options to showcase okc.

And now you’re complaining about the lack of big huge chains.

I think the airport doesn’t really care because there is no pleasing

No kidding...file that under complaining just to complain. Why the hell would we want McDonald’s or other chain fastfood in the airport over something local like Tucker’s? Maybe Starbucks would be a good add, but I’d much rather have something like Elemental or slingers open an additional location there. I fly to airports of similar size very often and we match up fairly well with variety. We could just use more restaurants, maybe an additional sit down restaurant or two and better hours.

[stile99]

Why the hell would we want McDonald’s or other chain fastfood in the airport over something local like Tucker’s?

I believe this was answered in the post that mentioned it. Speed. "Those are places I rarely go to if given a choice but in airports I don't mind - normally they're quick, efficient, and predictable - perfect for an airport. " The airport isn't the place to have the "elevated fast food experience, with grass-fed angus beef, shaved locally-grown mushrooms, bun cooked in a wood-fired oven" bullcrap. It's the place where people want (and often need) service NOW. Is the burger that takes 8 minutes to cook and is made with real ingredients better than a McBurger? Hell yes, that's not even a question. Is taking 8 minutes per customer even during a slow period, let alone a busy one, an option? Nope. Not at the airport it isn't.

Time and a place for everything. Airport is the time and place for fast food. If you hate McDonald's, then fine. It can be Burger King or Wendy's. Braums and Whataburger are really pressing it. Anything past that, feel free to leave the airport, there's a crapton of options right up Meridian.

[PhiAlpha]

I believe this was answered in the post that mentioned it. Speed. "Those are places I rarely go to if given a choice but in airports I don't mind - normally they're quick, efficient, and predictable - perfect for an airport. " The airport isn't the place to have the "elevated fast food experience, with grass-fed angus beef, shaved locally-grown mushrooms, bun cooked in a wood-fired oven" bullcrap. It's the place where people want (and often need) service NOW. Is the burger that takes 8 minutes to cook and is made with real ingredients better than a McBurger? Hell yes, that's not even a question. Is taking 8 minutes per customer even during a slow period, let alone a busy one, an option? Nope. Not at the airport it isn't.

Time and a place for everything. Airport is the time and place for fast food. If you hate McDonald's, then fine. It can be Burger King or Wendy's. Braums and Whataburger are really pressing it. Anything past that, feel free to leave the airport, there's a crapton of options right up Meridian.

Ok and that’s exactly what fast food places like Tucker’s, Schlotsky’s, Salt Lick, Moe’s and Cool Greens are for. They are all fast food type restaurants. I’ve never waited more than 5-10 minutes (usually no more than about 3) for my food at any of them unless there was a long line. I get the complaints about hours, but saying we don’t have quick food options that are as good or better or as quick as McDonalds is just wrong. Even Cross Grain usually doesn’t take much more than 10 minutes to get your food to you. I probably fly out of the airport 3-4 times a month and have and have no complaints other than hours. Maybe I’m just not that picky. More options would be great but the current ones aren’t bad.

[Rover]

Just curious about the idea of sit down restaurants at the airport. How many here would go early to eat a sit down meal before a flight or stay after a flight to eat at the airport vs. leaving the airport and finding a restaurant?

[catch22]

I think our selection of restaurants is fine. I think the vendor needs to step up their staffing and adjust their hours though. Delaware North has been awful for many years.

If the service were better and hours more consistent I think we’d be okay. I do agree that a McDonald’s would be good, if it were staffed right.

[d-usa]

I think for a non-hub airport we have a good selection of vendors. Hours and staffing could use some improvement, I agree with that.

The one area where I think we could improve is having a nice food option for everyone in the unsecure side of the airport. We frequently travel and have friends or family drop us off, or we will drop of friends and family that is returning home from visiting us. We will make it to the airport pretty early to make sure there are no issues with checking luggage, last minute change, long TSA lines, etc. When I’m flying by myself I’ll just go through security and call it good and hang out airside. But with family I might not see again for a year or more it’s often nice to spend that last hour hanging out and visiting for the long goodbyes before separating to go through TSA. There really aren’t any good “social” spots or food options for situations like that.

So I really really hope that with the new visitor platform we might see some sort of casual sit-down food option. Between plane spotters, people waiting and seeing people off, and groups saying their last goodbyes, it feels like there should be some demand for a service like that.

[no1cub17]

Ok and that’s exactly what fast food places like Tucker’s, Schlotsky’s, Salt Lick, Moe’s and Cool Greens are for. They are all fast food type restaurants. I’ve never waited more than 5-10 minutes (usually no more than about 3) for my food at any of them unless there was a long line. I get the complaints about hours, but saying we don’t have quick food options that are as good or better or as quick as McDonalds is just wrong. Even Cross Grain usually doesn’t take much more than 10 minutes to get your food to you. I probably fly out of the airport 3-4 times a month and have and have no complaints other than hours. Maybe I’m just not that picky. More options would be great but the current ones aren’t bad.

That would be fine - if all those places you mentioned actually had reasonable hours and were located. Coolgreens angers me more than anything - they're slow and close early yet occupy some seriously prime real estate IMO. Coffee Bean is an objectively terrible experience as well. Early morning flight? Forget about it - they're either closed or the line is insane. Not to mention it's just not that good.

Those of you who want to say I'm complaining just to complain - you can think what you want. To me these are glaring shortcomings at our airport. If someone disagrees, so be it. I used McDonald's and Starbucks as an example, not to say I'd rather have them as opposed to local options.

[mugofbeer]

^^^^^^^
Agree the hours of operation need serious extending. If just the coffee place was open......

[Celebrator]

I think for a non-hub airport we have a good selection of vendors. Hours and staffing could use some improvement, I agree with that.

The one area where I think we could improve is having a nice food option for everyone in the unsecure side of the airport. We frequently travel and have friends or family drop us off, or we will drop of friends and family that is returning home from visiting us. We will make it to the airport pretty early to make sure there are no issues with checking luggage, last minute change, long TSA lines, etc. When I’m flying by myself I’ll just go through security and call it good and hang out airside. But with family I might not see again for a year or more it’s often nice to spend that last hour hanging out and visiting for the long goodbyes before separating to go through TSA. There really aren’t any good “social” spots or food options for situations like that.

So I really really hope that with the new visitor platform we might see some sort of casual sit-down food option. Between plane spotters, people waiting and seeing people off, and groups saying their last goodbyes, it feels like there should be some demand for a service like that.

I agree with all of this. One airport that is similar in size as OKC although with fewer passengers per year (~2,000,000) is Manchester, NH (MHT). They have pre-security food options with Dunkin' Donuts and a local pub upstairs near security, and downstairs at baggage claim they have a freestanding kiosk-style Starbucks and a nice lounge/seating area where you can hang out with high top tables, vinyl bench seating and club chairs with ottomans with convenient electrical outlets. They also have an indoor observation area on the top floor that is accessible pre-security with a panoramic view of the apron and the main runway and wooden rocking chairs...pretty great. Overall they do a terrific job with these passenger and guest amenities. If they can do it, we can.

[bluedogok]

I guess people haven’t figured out that when we don’t support what we have, the stores/restaurants keep cutting back. When I’m at the airport there is rarely any kind of line at any of them. I’ve never had a problem getting coffee, pastry, grab and go breakfast, etc. But, admittedly, when I arrive at the airport here I rarely look for somewhere to go for a sit down dinner there and then go home to my wife.

A sit down restaurant works better in a hub than it does at the end of a spoke. The only times that I have had that kind of meal When traveling has been on a flight connection. When working out at DIA there have been a few times that I have eaten at a sit down place there, usually for all day work day. I know they have added quite a few new places, my firm did the Brother's BBQ and Breckenridge Brew Pub locations there. I worked on the original design and renderings for the space bid before I went on medical leave.

[BG918]

A sit down restaurant works better in a hub than it does at the end of a spoke. The only times that I have had that kind of meal When traveling has been on a flight connection. When working out at DIA there have been a few times that I have eaten at a sit down place there, usually for all day work day. I know they have added quite a few new places, my firm did the Brother's BBQ and Breckenridge Brew Pub locations there. I worked on the original design and renderings for the space bid before I went on medical leave.

Root Down in Concourse C is my favorite airport restaurant, especially their breakfast.

[Teo9969]

I think for a non-hub airport we have a good selection of vendors. Hours and staffing could use some improvement, I agree with that.

The one area where I think we could improve is having a nice food option for everyone in the unsecure side of the airport. We frequently travel and have friends or family drop us off, or we will drop of friends and family that is returning home from visiting us. We will make it to the airport pretty early to make sure there are no issues with checking luggage, last minute change, long TSA lines, etc. When I’m flying by myself I’ll just go through security and call it good and hang out airside. But with family I might not see again for a year or more it’s often nice to spend that last hour hanging out and visiting for the long goodbyes before separating to go through TSA. There really aren’t any good “social” spots or food options for situations like that.

So I really really hope that with the new visitor platform we might see some sort of casual sit-down food option. Between plane spotters, people waiting and seeing people off, and groups saying their last goodbyes, it feels like there should be some demand for a service like that.

Absolutely this.

[Laramie]

IMO two places I would never seek out for food options: Hospitals & Airports. The food is usually overpriced and bland.

Now, it would be nice if you had some options like local teputable food restaurants & fast food. Hours of operation would favor a fast food establishment that could avail itself 24/7.

[pure]

I was on a Frontier flight from MCO [to OKC] a couple weeks back. The flight would continue on to San Diego after the stopover in OKC. I'd say about 40 percent of the passengers were going to continue on to SAN. We landed about 30 minutes early, right at 8:20 PM, so the flight attendants let the SAN passengers know they could get off the plane to get food and stretch their legs. About two minutes later, another announcement was made that no restaurants were open but they could still get off the plane to use the restroom. This resulted in a lot of moans and groans and what I would assume a negative view on OKC as to why there is nothing open at 8:00 in the evening.

On another note, It's crazy to me that Coffee Bean can leave out bottles of water and other things for sale out in the open when they're closed. Try doing this in LGA, BOS, LAS, or any other large airport and all that product would be gone the next day!

[Laramie]

I was on a Frontier flight from MCO [to OKC] a couple weeks back. The flight would continue on to San Diego after the stopover in OKC. I'd say about 40 percent of the passengers were going to continue on to SAN. We landed about 30 minutes early, right at 8:20 PM, so the flight attendants let the SAN passengers know they could get off the plane to get food and stretch their legs. About two minutes later, another announcement was made that no restaurants were open but they could still get off the plane to use the restroom. This resulted in a lot of moans and groans and what I would assume a negative view on OKC as to why there is nothing open at 8:00 in the evening.

On another note, It's crazy to me that Coffee Bean can leave out bottles of water and other things for sale out in the open when they're closed. Try doing this in LGA, BOS, LAS, or any other large airport and all that product would be gone the next day!

Recall early 2000s many of my relatives (Texas, California) were awed that you could go to a service station like OKC 7-Elevens gas up then pay. Now all that has changed . . .

Agree, WRWA needs to address the food situation at the airport; this doesn't bode well for a market of our size.

[Rover]

Just curious what the passenger count is after 8:00pm and what the estimated customer count would be for a restaurant.

I would think either the airport or the OKC CofC has done a demand study. Maybe Catch22 can let us know and if one has been done, where we can see the results.

[gopokes88]

just curious what the passenger count is after 8:00pm and what the estimated customer count would be for a restaurant.

I would think either the airport or the okc cofc has done a demand study. Maybe catch22 can let us know and if one has been done, where we can see the results.

get out of here with your numbers and logic on how to run a business i want 5 star restaurants open 24/7

[catch22]

Just curious what the passenger count is after 8:00pm and what the estimated customer count would be for a restaurant.

I would think either the airport or the OKC CofC has done a demand study. Maybe Catch22 can let us know and if one has been done, where we can see the results.

Handful of departures around 8. I think Alaska to SEA at 8, American to DFW 820. (Right now) Frontier to San Diego at 9:20.

That’s about 200-300 people. Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe the contract with the concessionaire (DNC) is to have at least 1 restaurant open until the final departure. So it strikes me odd that they do not keep at least one place open until 9:00 or so for the frontier flight.

I don’t think anyone needs a five star restaurant to be open 24/7 in the airport. I do think *something* needs to be open until the last flight.

@gopokes you can be “free market” all you want, but since this is 1) a monopoly sponsored by the airport 2) a service provided to a captive traveling public, more care should be given to make sure there are dining options until the last flight leaves.