Will Rogers World Airport

[tfvc.org]

While using one of the actual signed control city does makes more sense, I guess for people at this part of the airport during the worst of rush hour I44 south -> 62 south -> 9 east could be a reasonable alternate route to Norman

I work at the aeronautical center and live N of Lex and sometimes I will take that route to go home, or take 35S from 9. Also some people would take 44 to the spur to 9. Most of the time I will take 104th S to 35.

[Zuplar]

I work at the aeronautical center and live N of Lex and sometimes I will take that route to go home, or take 35S from 9. Also some people would take 44 to the spur to 9. Most of the time I will take 104th S to 35.

Yuck I feel sorry for you. With all those crappy lights they added at I44 on 104th that intersection is ridiculous. 9/10 when I'm at that intersection now everyone is sitting at a red light. Whoever designed it should be fired.

[Jeepnokc]

Yuck I feel sorry for you. With all those crappy lights they added at I44 on 104th that intersection is ridiculous. 9/10 when I'm at that intersection now everyone is sitting at a red light. Whoever designed it should be fired.

along with whomever made the right lane of the off ramp a second turn left lane

[tfvc.org]

Yuck I feel sorry for you. With all those crappy lights they added at I44 on 104th that intersection is ridiculous. 9/10 when I'm at that intersection now everyone is sitting at a red light. Whoever designed it should be fired.

What really gets me is people who will go into the right lane and try to race to beat the traffic going straight on. I even had someone in a BMW flip me off because I dared to go straight instead of turn to go S on I44 and he was pissed that he had to get behind me. He didn't even bother to turn on his left turn signal. How was I to know he wasn't going N on Portland? I see this more and more often and irks me.

[Zuplar]

I've been just going down to 119th when possible to avoid this although they've started attempting to screw that up with the light by Oncue. It's like they don't won't those of us west of 44 spending our money in OKC. All of this you can tell is an afterthought by the city attempting to fix a problem by dealing with symptoms and not the problem. Sometimes I even go up the new Portland to 89th depending on where I got to go, but usually I go down to 134th to cross I44 cause they haven't been that far south to mess it up. Yet.

[craig]

Josh, I'm a new poster & this may have been asked before, but could you tell me who sets the price for flights? Is it just the airlines or does the airport have any say? We've checked flights out of Amarillo to Las Vegas & it was cheaper than OKC. I don't mean this maliciously, just would like to have a better understanding. Thank you

[brianinok]

Josh, when do you think Will Rogers World Airport might add valet parking? Now that we have a small child, I can't think of anything more convenient, and any other type of parking is just a hassle. What if we get to the airport and the garage is full? The shuttle buses would be a nightmare with a baby, carseat, carry-ons, and checked bags. We would have used it before, but now I would call it a near-necessity (certainly a luxury worth the price). Tulsa International has valet parking, and they don't have the traffic that OKC has. What is holding us back?

[Bellaboo]

Josh, when do you think Will Rogers World Airport might add valet parking? Now that we have a small child, I can't think of anything more convenient, and any other type of parking is just a hassle. What if we get to the airport and the garage is full? The shuttle buses would be a nightmare with a baby, carseat, carry-ons, and checked bags. We would have used it before, but now I would call it a near-necessity (certainly a luxury worth the price). Tulsa International has valet parking, and they don't have the traffic that OKC has. What is holding us back?

I always dropped the Mrs and the small kids off, Went and parked where ever and met them inside at the counter. Then reversed the process upon return and picked them up outside the baggage claim.

[whatitis]

I always dropped the Mrs and the small kids off, Went and parked where ever and met them inside at the counter. Then reversed the process upon return and picked them up outside the baggage claim.

Same here. and we have 2 kids and this works just fine for us.

[brianinok]

It may be "fine" but it's not ideal, at least for us. You have to get there earlier to do the drop off and park thing. Also, there is no guarantee a spot in the garage will be open, creating further hassles with how OKC manages its shuttles (stopping at every lot rather than a shuttle dedicated to a lot). There is a reason most major airports have valet: it's convenient and used by people.

[Bellaboo]

It may be "fine" but it's not ideal, at least for us. You have to get there earlier to do the drop off and park thing. Also, there is no guarantee a spot in the garage will be open, creating further hassles with how OKC manages its shuttles (stopping at every lot rather than a shuttle dedicated to a lot). There is a reason most major airports have valet: it's convenient and used by people.

At the time I didn't park in the garage. I would park in the lot just to the North (less expensive) and then go catch the people movers underground. I never had an issue with a parking space, even though one could during the holiday season I imagine.

[Josh Ryan]

Josh, when do you think Will Rogers World Airport might add valet parking? Now that we have a small child, I can't think of anything more convenient, and any other type of parking is just a hassle. What if we get to the airport and the garage is full? The shuttle buses would be a nightmare with a baby, carseat, carry-ons, and checked bags. We would have used it before, but now I would call it a near-necessity (certainly a luxury worth the price). Tulsa International has valet parking, and they don't have the traffic that OKC has. What is holding us back?

Valet parking is one of those services that has always been on the table. We do re-evaluate its feasibility from time to time. Here are a few things that have kept it from happening. First, the demand has not been there. In fact, it ranked below requests for reserved parking in our most recent parking survey. The only common amenity that ranked lower than valet service, was the request for electric vehicle connections. This amenity was also evaluated by our parking consultant who confirmed that the demand for valet parking is very low and would not make economic sense. The cost to displace valuable garage spaces, 24-hour staffing, and program management would be difficult to justify. This does not mean we have ruled the idea out. As we move forward with planning for more surface parking and eventually another parking garage, we are looking at how to accommodate this service. For the near future, please keep in mind that our shuttle bus drivers are always willing to assist you your bags and baby items both on and off the bus. As for Tulsa’s valet services, they have had a parking competitor at their front door for many years. Since FINE does offer valet, staying competitive over the years could have meant matching them, service for service.

[Rover]

Any updates on the terminal expansion? Haven't seen or heard anything in awhile.

[stile99]

I know at least one got smacked by a storm, and I think never reopened, but are there no longer off-airport parking lots? Not really being in the market for the service I could be wrong, but wouldn't that fill the need? You park, get a ride right to the door, then when you get back you're picked up at the door and taken right to your car, without, as Josh mentioned, the airport losing parking spaces. This is a matter I wish Integris Baptist had considered before letting whomever runs their valet service make such a mess of things.

[Jeepnokc]

I know at least one got smacked by a storm, and I think never reopened, but are there no longer off-airport parking lots? Not really being in the market for the service I could be wrong, but wouldn't that fill the need? You park, get a ride right to the door, then when you get back you're picked up at the door and taken right to your car, without, as Josh mentioned, the airport losing parking spaces. This is a matter I wish Integris Baptist had considered before letting whomever runs their valet service make such a mess of things.

The one that got smacked by the storm is just north of Newcastle road on Meridian. It has reopened under a different name.

[brianinok]

Valet parking is one of those services that has always been on the table. We do re-evaluate its feasibility from time to time. Here are a few things that have kept it from happening. First, the demand has not been there. In fact, it ranked below requests for reserved parking in our most recent parking survey. The only common amenity that ranked lower than valet service, was the request for electric vehicle connections. This amenity was also evaluated by our parking consultant who confirmed that the demand for valet parking is very low and would not make economic sense. The cost to displace valuable garage spaces, 24-hour staffing, and program management would be difficult to justify. This does not mean we have ruled the idea out. As we move forward with planning for more surface parking and eventually another parking garage, we are looking at how to accommodate this service. For the near future, please keep in mind that our shuttle bus drivers are always willing to assist you your bags and baby items both on and off the bus. As for Tulsa’s valet services, they have had a parking competitor at their front door for many years. Since FINE does offer valet, staying competitive over the years could have meant matching them, service for service.

Josh, thank you for your reply and for engaging here. I hope the airport moves valet up the list. I would have used it before but not consistently; now I would consider it a priority. I don't doubt that a bus driver would help me with luggage, but there are issues with that. If I am going on vacation with a baby (or potentially multiple children in a few years) I likely will have 2+ large checked bags, carryons, maybe a carseat, and a stroller. If I'm even at the parking lot I'm only there because the garage is full, and anyone else on the bus is potentially in the same boat (and running behind schedule because the garage is full), and they're irritated because it's taking so long to get everything loaded. And then we have to stop at other lots because every bus stops at every lot (why can't each bus have a dedicated lot for efficiency?). Then we have to do it all over again when getting dropped off. And I'll wait for everyone else, further delaying me, because I have so much. If I could guarantee a spot in the garage it would be an improvement, but not much (how do you get all that stuff to the terminal by yourself if you've dropped the wife and kids off?). Perhaps the only solution that can be offered at OKC currently is drop my wife off with all the luggage and let her get a cart for it all. Then I take the car with child and park it, and we come and meet in the terminal. Not super chivalrous.

[LakeEffect]

What is the status of reserved parking? Love the parking spot indicator lights in the garage.

[stjohn]

What is the status of reserved parking? Love the parking spot indicator lights in the garage.

Was wondering this too. Covered garage has been full or "no covered spots" each time I've flown the last couple of months.

[brianinok]

Was wondering this too. Covered garage has been full or "no covered spots" each time I've flown the last couple of months.

This.

[catch22]

Was wondering this too. Covered garage has been full or "no covered spots" each time I've flown the last couple of months.

They should have built the newest garage several floors taller, or at least built in the support capability to expand it vertically in the future. If they keep building 5 story garages, that tunnel to the terminal will be a miserably long walk.

[HangryHippo]

I asked Josh earlier in this thread about the garages, because frankly, they are ****ty (especially compared to some other airports I've been at recently).

[catch22]

Like it or not, the garages are the first thing people see of OKC when the rental car/hotel shuttles pull out of the lot and people are looking at the window. They really need to put some cladding or something on them to make them at least some what easier to look at. I believe the airport planned on doing some visual improvements but it seems like nothing ever happened.

[Josh Ryan]

Josh, I'm a new poster & this may have been asked before, but could you tell me who sets the price for flights? Is it just the airlines or does the airport have any say? We've checked flights out of Amarillo to Las Vegas & it was cheaper than OKC. I don't mean this maliciously, just would like to have a better understanding. Thank you

The airlines set the prices. Generally, our role is to try to attract new air service to create some healthy competition.

[Josh Ryan]

Any updates on the terminal expansion? Haven't seen or heard anything in awhile.

We are close to having final construction documents, as well as fine-tuning the project budget. We would like to go out for construction bids in the next few months.

[catch22]

We are close to having final construction documents, as well as fine-tuning the project budget. We would like to go out for construction bids in the next few months.

That's great news Josh. Thanks for the update. Would be cool if the city could get some kind of scheduled international service lined up for the expansion opening, even if it was a 1-weekly flight to Cancun or Cozumel or something.