Will Rogers World Airport

[Jeepnokc]

I’ve never really understood the need for or appeal of a lounge in a non-hub airport. The circumstances of arrival and departure are so different from those of a hub, and they’re rarely crowded.

Not so much with your home airport where you know how long it takes to get through, it is nice in other airports if you get there early as not sure of time needed to clear security. In OKC, I leave my house 65 minutes before my flight and generally at gate ten minutes before boarding. When I flew out of Portland last week, I was at airport two hours early and got through quickly. he club was nice to get some work done. Portland doesn't have clear and when i flew in the week before, the security lines were long. Also wasn't sure of Portland traffic so I erred on side of caution timewise.

is it necessary...no. Is it a nice luxury for road warriors...yes. Does it make your airport a notch up and make you look better among the road warriors.....yes in my opinion. Also, not true with the generic clubs when the club is a tule airline club like Delta Skyclub....the employees are very versed in getting you rebooked and taking care of you in case of delays or cancellations without waiting in line or hours on the phone (thus is the number 1 benefit of the club imho)

[Plutonic Panda]

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[no1cub17]

Not so much with your home airport where you know how long it takes to get through, it is nice in other airports if you get there early as not sure of time needed to clear security. In OKC, I leave my house 65 minutes before my flight and generally at gate ten minutes before boarding. When I flew out of Portland last week, I was at airport two hours early and got through quickly. he club was nice to get some work done. Portland doesn't have clear and when i flew in the week before, the security lines were long. Also wasn't sure of Portland traffic so I erred on side of caution timewise.

is it necessary...no. Is it a nice luxury for road warriors...yes. Does it make your airport a notch up and make you look better among the road warriors.....yes in my opinion. Also, not true with the generic clubs when the club is a tule airline club like Delta Skyclub....the employees are very versed in getting you rebooked and taking care of you in case of delays or cancellations without waiting in line or hours on the phone (thus is the number 1 benefit of the club imho)

Absolutely. If AA had an Admirals Club here we'd use it every time. Nothing beats the clean(er) bathrooms and a decently clean diaper changing area. We'd grab a quick breakfast/coffee/bagel too without waiting in the ridiculous starbucks lines. And exactly like you mentioned, usually staff that actually care about customer service unlike most AA employees.

[Timshel]

I agree a club would be nice and would probably use it regularly, but it definitely would not have nearly the utility a good club has during a layover.

Also, probably shouldn't say it out loud lest too many people catch on, but the secret with Starbucks is to place your order through the app as you're walking up to security. 9 times out of 10 they're putting my order out for pick up right as I walk up after clearing security, no matter how long the line is.

[Plutonic Panda]

I’ve never been to an airport club. What is that?

[Jeepnokc]

I’ve never been to an airport club. What is that?

Membership lounges or day pass. Amenities will vary but usually free alcohol, food and nice place to sit and relax. Clean bathrooms. Some are airline specific like the Delta Skyclub or AA Admirals club. Some are connected o credit cards like the AMEX Centurion Club, Chase Saphirre Club or the Capital One Clubs. Some are private like "the Club".

I primarily use Delta Skyclubs and Amex Lounge. If you have a platinum AMEX, it gives you access. (Have to be on Delta flight for Delta Skyclub though but Amex gets you in)

https://www.delta.com/us/en/delta-sky-club/overview

[bison34]

We are losing service left and right, and you think airlines will put lounges here?

[fortpatches]

Membership lounges or day pass. Amenities will vary but usually free alcohol, food and nice place to sit and relax. Clean bathrooms. Some are airline specific like the Delta Skyclub or AA Admirals club. Some are connected o credit cards like the AMEX Centurion Club, Chase Saphirre Club or the Capital One Clubs. Some are private like "the Club".

I primarily use Delta Skyclubs and Amex Lounge. If you have a platinum AMEX, it gives you access. (Have to be on Delta flight for Delta Skyclub though but Amex gets you in)

https://www.delta.com/us/en/delta-sky-club/overview

We were considering upgrading our AmEx to get Skyclub access. This year is a bit abnormal as we have already taken 6 flights and still have at least 4 more scheduled. But most years, we just have about 4 flights. Do you think it would even be worth it to upgrade?

[W8N2SKI]

It does not need to be an airline-branded lounge. All we would need is a Priority Pass network lounge similar to the one going in Tulsa. This would be a great place to grab a bite to eat before a flight or a drink.

https://flytulsa.com/news/tulsa-inte...rminal-lounge/

[okcrun]

We are losing service left and right, and you think airlines will put lounges here?

Enplanement/Deplanements continue to raise so the service we are losing is being more than made up with other routes.

It does not need to be an airline-branded lounge. All we would need is a Priority Pass network lounge similar to the one going in Tulsa. This would be a great place to grab a bite to eat before a flight or a drink.

https://flytulsa.com/news/tulsa-inte...rminal-lounge/

I wouldn't hold my breath. Some of the biggest airports in the US like DEN and LAX don't even have a priority pass lounge. Honestly it's pretty shocking Tulsa would get one given it's size.

[Pete]

Press release:

***********



OKC Airport Trust reveals new name and brand for Will Rogers World Airport, honoring community input and its namesake
08/27/2024

The Oklahoma City Airport Trust is proud to reveal the new name for the busiest commercial airport in Oklahoma: OKC Will Rogers International Airport. The name was approved by the Oklahoma City Council this morning.

The brand launch can be viewed in this video. It was influenced by research on nearly 100 airports, 14 peer airport site visits and, most importantly, valuable community input that recommended adding OKC to the name and continuing the legacy of Will Rogers as its namesake.

Modified from Will Rogers World Airport, OKC Will Rogers International Airport retains the connection to Will Rogers’ aviation legacy, but also adds the international airport code by featuring the city’s most internationally prevalent moniker - OKC - and addresses an increasingly global audience with the addition of “International.”

The new name will become visible across the airport in the coming months, in an identity rollout that complements destination and terminal enhancements.

“Promotion of the Airport and the community drove the name and logo change,” Airports Director Jeff Mulder said. “Adding OKC and International to the name helps us identify and market the airport and community to airlines and businesses around the world.”

Multiple interviews with local community leadership and more than 5,500 respondents from a public survey supported adding an Oklahoma City identity, keeping the “Will Rogers” namesake and adding International to the airport's name.

“The refreshed brand identity comes at a time when Oklahoma City, as a home base and destination, is actively investing in infrastructure citywide, and this gateway brand serves as a welcoming beacon for visitors and residents alike,” Mulder added.

[W8N2SKI]

I wouldn't hold my breath. Some of the biggest airports in the US like DEN and LAX don't even have a priority pass lounge. Honestly it's pretty shocking Tulsa would get one given it's size.

Priority Pass lounges are geared toward smaller airports. Quebec City airport, for example, has a simple small lounge with simple food service throughout the day. DEN and LAX do not have Priority Pass lounges because they have Capital One, AMEX, and airline-branded lounges. Airports are obviously going to give priority to airlines and credit cards when leasing out lounge space.

https://www.aeroportdequebec.com/en/...ces/vip-lounge

https://www.belfastcityairport.com/Lounge

[Anonymous.]

That's a pretty solid video for the airport. Also I like the logo/animation.

[warreng88]

Got it... so I will just continue calling it the OKC airport, as will about every single person I know...

[Jeepnokc]

We were considering upgrading our AmEx to get Skyclub access. This year is a bit abnormal as we have already taken 6 flights and still have at least 4 more scheduled. But most years, we just have about 4 flights. Do you think it would even be worth it to upgrade?

If you travel, it is worth it as alot of the benefits are geared towards travel. The fee for business plat is $695. This article explains how the benefits add up. Just last week I went to 3 Delta skyclubs and one AMEX lounge. That is approx $200 in entry fees in addition to the alcohol and food I consumed. This last year I got a $450 warranty claim on a dishwasher that went out 6 months after the factory warranty expired (AMEX extends warranty by 1 year), a $150 savings on fixing a cell phone and a $300 travel insurance claim for a delayed flight requiring a uber ride to another airport and hotel room for night. This is an addition to the other credits and benefits the card gives me. I average a $1000-$2000 return per year on my card.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/t...its-annual-fee

[Rover]

Got it... so I will just continue calling it the OKC airport, as will about every single person I know...

It’s probably not about what OKCitians call it, but about what everyone outside of here thinking or planning to travel to here call it and think about it. Positioning by branding can be powerful.

[BoulderSooner]

It’s probably not about what OKCitians call it, but about what everyone outside of here thinking or planning to travel to here call it and think about it. Positioning by branding can be powerful.

this is exactly right ..

because people in the metro don't even say OKC airport they just say i am going to the airport ..

[TheTravellers]

this is exactly right ..

because people in the metro don't even say OKC airport they just say i am going to the airport ..

[David]

I think I usually say Will Rogers if I am talking to someone about it, so I am glad they kept that. I have certainly never included the World Airport part.

[G.Walker]

The issue is most people here say Will Rogers, but outside of Oklahoma, no one refers to it as Will Rogers. They say the OKC airport. I understand that the Airport Trust is trying to expand its brand and make it more brand friendly.

[ChaseDweller]

We were considering upgrading our AmEx to get Skyclub access. This year is a bit abnormal as we have already taken 6 flights and still have at least 4 more scheduled. But most years, we just have about 4 flights. Do you think it would even be worth it to upgrade?

Lounge access is the single biggest perk of a premium travel card. Amex Plat, Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Cap One VentureX all include it. Makes flying so much better. A bit of quiet, a glass of wine and comfortable seating make long layovers so much more bearable.

[bombermwc]

Am I in the minority that I feel like we spent all this money to create this buzz about a new name and all we did was replace one word with a synonym?

I mean we could have changed from Will Rogers to some other name. Maybe pick someone that didn't die in a plane crash this time for one of our airports. Just saying. It's an ongoing joke about the OKC airports among anyone that flies regularly. Do you really want that to be why people remember your airport?

I mean on one hand I get it, other than calling it OKC, what do you do that makes people tie the name to OKC and not a person. Just seems like an awful lot of effort to "rebrand" was sort of overblown. And until we consistently have international flights, does this even mean anything? We can call ourselves the OKC International Aviation Hub Crossroads of America....but it doesn't mean much if there isn't actual activity. We don't have the square footage but dont over sell yourself like Pittsburgh. The has-been hub that sits mostly empty now. And that's how it's remembered, for what it USED to be. I'd prefer OKC be remembered and thought of for what it is in reality. It does a very good job of that reality too. Just with we had fewer regional jets and actual real Boeing or Airbus planes making our flights.

[bison34]

Am I in the minority that I feel like we spent all this money to create this buzz about a new name and all we did was replace one word with a synonym?

I mean we could have changed from Will Rogers to some other name. Maybe pick someone that didn't die in a plane crash this time for one of our airports. Just saying. It's an ongoing joke about the OKC airports among anyone that flies regularly. Do you really want that to be why people remember your airport?

I mean on one hand I get it, other than calling it OKC, what do you do that makes people tie the name to OKC and not a person. Just seems like an awful lot of effort to "rebrand" was sort of overblown. And until we consistently have international flights, does this even mean anything? We can call ourselves the OKC International Aviation Hub Crossroads of America....but it doesn't mean much if there isn't actual activity. We don't have the square footage but dont over sell yourself like Pittsburgh. The has-been hub that sits mostly empty now. And that's how it's remembered, for what it USED to be. I'd prefer OKC be remembered and thought of for what it is in reality. It does a very good job of that reality too. Just with we had fewer regional jets and actual real Boeing or Airbus planes making our flights.

It's not just about the name. They also changed the imagery and logos, I believe.

[scottk]

It's not just about the name. They also changed the imagery and logos, I believe.

Correct, the Will Roger's World name and accompanying logo of "Will" on top of the world were due for a branding upgrade. With the momentum of "OKC" being the identifier thanks to things like Thunder Basketball and generally accepted abbreviation on maps, addresses, and everyone with a checked bag tag who travels to Oklahoma City, etc, this seemed like an easy transition as the Will Rogers namesake probably showed declined knowledge of his status within the airport's research.

[poe]

Great video! Good to see solid marketing for an airport we should be proud of.