Omaha Eppley Airfield - DISCUSSION

Nosdoc · Post by **Nosdoc** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 2:15 pm

The only time I've seen United fly to San Francisco is the weekend of the Berkshire Hathaway meeting in May. They have a flight arrive on Friday and depart on Sunday.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 2:39 am

Does Omaha have flights to Dallas and Houston?

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:03 am

mrsticka wrote:Does Omaha have flights to Dallas and Houston?

Yes, both.

OMATOL · Post by **OMATOL** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:26 am

We already knew Southwest is going to begin Saturday only OMA-Los Angeles service in June. Now they will make Los Angeles DAILY this summer! Flights begin June 8th.

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:19 am

OMATOL wrote:We already knew Southwest is going to begin Saturday only OMA-Los Angeles service in June. Now they will make Los Angeles DAILY this summer! Flights begin June 8th.

That's VERY good news! That will cut well over an hour off of the travel time.

We can only hope that Untied (and maybe Frontier) will follow and we will have some real competition on that route.

Now if they would only add SFO and SAN direct from OMA.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 3:50 am

Omababe wrote:Now if they would only add SFO and SAN direct from OMA.

And also Portland, OR, Boise, Seattle and Spokane. That would be nice.

OMATOL · Post by **OMATOL** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:10 am

mrsticka wrote:
Omababe wrote:Now if they would only add SFO and SAN direct from OMA.
And also Portland, OR, Boise, Seattle and Spokane. That would be nice.

Alaska Airlines already flies Omaha-Seattle 1x/day with a CRJ-700. I agree, though, that SFO, SAN, and PDX would all be great adds.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Thu Mar 27, 2014 9:44 pm

I thought Eppley discontinued non-stop flights to Seattle.

joleo · Post by **joleo** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 9:17 am

mrsticka wrote:I thought Eppley discontinued non-stop flights to Seattle.

No, the flights to Seattle started last November and are still going. From what I've heard they are exceeding expectations. Hopefully they will change from a 70 seat, large regional jet to a full size 737. This wouldn't surprise me at all to see this change.

Also, wouldn't be surprised to see Alaska try either Portland, San Diego or both from Eppley too.

lmdramos · Post by **lmdramos** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 9:40 am

I booked a flight on alaska to seattle for this summer and it was very hard to get on the non stop flight because many days there was only 3 or 4 seats open and we had 5 people traveling. It's great to see that it's working out and I hope that it switches to a big plane. Even though they were mostly full they still weren't gauging on price. We got round trip flights for $380 per person.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 9:02 pm

joleo wrote:
mrsticka wrote:I thought Eppley discontinued non-stop flights to Seattle.
No, the flights to Seattle started last November and are still going. From what I've heard they are exceeding expectations. Hopefully they will change from a 70 seat, large regional jet to a full size 737. This wouldn't surprise me at all to see this change.

Also, wouldn't be surprised to see Alaska try either Portland, San Diego or both from Eppley too.

I didn't know that Eppley still had nonstop flights to Seattle. I was also not aware that they used a small plane for Seattle flights. Why do they do that? Seattle's a major city. If anything, they should be using those larger planes like the 737s, 747s and 757s. I'm with you on that.

I hope Eppley adds Boise and Spokane, too.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:26 pm

Heard an ad on the radio saying direct flights to LA on Southwest are starting soon.

lmdramos · Post by **lmdramos** » Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:07 am

I believe they started in the beginning of June.

zedmib · Post by **zedmib** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 2:31 am

Greetings all! I've been away a long time. Never left town but life had thrown some challenges. I've been catching up on the boards and though I am no longer an active pilot I still like to keep up with local aviation news.
After looking at the October 2013 Eppley master plan revision and reading comments since I had some thoughts.
Eppley needs to modernize and look to the future. While I know our airport will never do the business of regional hubs the changes in the industry should give way to the new terminal plan. Hopefully sooner than later.
The master plan also showed lengthening 2 runways. The main runway looks like it would go from the current 9500 feet to 10,500 feet or possibly 11,000 feet. Long enough to handle current generation long haul aircraft like the 777 and 787 or A340. An A380 can operate from 11,000 feet but there is no reason to expect we will see one here.
In the new terminal plan can they add a full customs section? Eppley International please!
The one issue I see is the new FAA proposed rules to limit structure heights within a certain distance of an airport. With Eppley's proximity to downtown will that limit future vertical development? Not enough answers yet.
It's good to be back

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 8:29 am

Welcome back Zed! Thanks for your post

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 8:57 pm

Maybe if I-29 went through Nebraska instead of Iowa, then it would be a hub.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:03 pm

mrsticka wrote:Maybe if I-29 went through Nebraska instead of Iowa, then it would be a hub.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:14 pm

Coyote wrote:
mrsticka wrote:Maybe if I-29 went through Nebraska instead of Iowa, then it would be a hub.

Yeah, I was just kidding. No way it would've made a difference.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:17 pm

Oh, it would have made a difference for sure... Maybe not for Eppley itself though.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:24 pm

How does Omaha International sound anyway? Or Eppley International?

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:11 pm

Whatever happened to the idea of a closer exit off I29 north of Eppley?

Post by **BRoss** » Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:43 pm

Bob from Omaha wrote:Whatever happened to the idea of a closer exit off I29 north of Eppley?

The "Gateway Bridge" is on MAPA's 2035 Long-Range Transportation Plan. But it's not eligible for federal aid until 2026-2030, so if it does actually happen, it's still a long ways off.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 1:30 am

The Airport Authority Office is getting a $200k makeover. Anyone know anything about this project?

cdub · Post by **cdub** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 8:41 am

While it means less service, after going through a huge airport last week its nice to have a manageable one at home. However, I wasn't impressed with the fact that a cab to downtown cost almost 20 with tip. Maybe those new guys will be worth a try!

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 12:44 pm

Looks like passengers are up over 3% from last year and on pace for around 4,175,000 for the year.

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 1:42 pm

Here comes Bob the broken record...

Where are the flights to LAX(year round), San Francisco, San Diego, Baltimore, Boston, Orlando, Tampa, Philly, Miami and/or Ft Lauderdale?

Also, Allegiant flies from both Tulsa and OKC. While I'm glad that GRI is having success with Allegiant I want to know why Tul & OKC and no OMA?

hughes · Post by **hughes** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 2:00 pm

cdub wrote:While it means less service, after going through a huge airport last week its nice to have a manageable one at home.

Agreed 100%. I'd much rather spend time making a connection, already through security and able to spend my time how I please, than standing in a crazily long security line at a huge airport where I can't even keep my earbuds in because I might miss instructions from the TSA and be branded a potential terrorist. If I'm traveling with somebody it can be even worse, I have to work hard to keep in the snark I long to make at the expense of the TSA or homeland security (well, see previous sentence. I can't even bring them up without going into snark mode!) It certainly helps that at Eppley the agents I've dealt with have been almost universally professional and courteous, it's the rules and existence of many of the security measures in general I disagree with (and I shouldn't get into it here!) but I obviously don't expect the Omaha agents to go off-script just for me! Maybe I'll have that power one day, but that's a pipe dream. At least the agents here aren't the self-important blowhards that I've seen at other small airports (one guy in Greenville, SC was pontificating on the rules so bombastically and sounded so much like he thought he was single-handedly preventing any terrorist attacks (or at least 4 ounce bottles of shampoo from passing through) that day that even the lady checking tickets started making fun of him to the passengers), if I had to deal with that type more regularly I'd be sorely tempted to point out that they're really just glorified mall cops. And in bigger airports they're generally just brusque, rude, and this sounds awful but sometimes it seems like at Houston (Bush) that the white, black, and Hispanic agents are in some sort of bizarre competition to see who can favor their race the most without making it obvious. See, I'm obviously overthinking such things, but what the heck else am I gonna think about when in line instead of coming up with wild conspiracy theories?

And even disregarding the whole TSA situation, I usually set a day aside for travel anyway so I'd prefer an hour and a half or two hour connection between shorter flights to eat, drink what I want, and stretch my legs as long as there's no delays or anything. I'm a tall fat guy, I can only sit in those tiny seats for so long!

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:47 pm

Eppley is what it is. And it is what it will be for the foreseeable future.

I only wish they would upgrade their food and beverage options. It has to be the only airport I have been through in the last ten years that doesn't have a single Starbucks. The tiny airport in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico manages to have three.

lmdramos · Post by **lmdramos** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:58 pm

It's also ridiculous the food courts are outside security.

mrsticka · Post by **mrsticka** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:17 pm

I won't even fly anymore because of all the nonsense the TSA puts everyone through in the name of so-called "safety". I'd like to go back to pre-9/11 security when everyone was treated the way they should be treated: With respect and dignity, like the innocent traveling Americans they were, like adults. Not like guilty terrorists being shipped to Guantanamo Bay.

The big pisser-offer for me is not being able to see off or meet anyone right at the gate anymore. I hate having to do all that stuff outside security.

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:35 pm

The TSA at Eppley is tougher than many airports I've flown out of. Most recently I flew to Omaha from Chicago Midway and back again. Eppley still requires you to take your laptops and toiletries out of your bag, and remove your shoes. Midway required none of that.

RNcyanide · Post by **RNcyanide** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 4:49 pm

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:The TSA at Eppley is tougher than many airports I've flown out of. Most recently I flew to Omaha from Chicago Midway and back again. Eppley still requires you to take your laptops and toiletries out of your bag, and remove your shoes. Midway required none of that.

I flew the exact same route in march and it was the other way around. I had to pull all my stuff out and remove my belt, jacket and shoes at Midway.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:24 am

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:The TSA at Eppley is tougher than many airports I've flown out of. Most recently I flew to Omaha from Chicago Midway and back again. Eppley still requires you to take your laptops and toiletries out of your bag, and remove your shoes. Midway required none of that.

I have flown out of Epply, Atlanta, Tampa, Sioux Falls and St Pete/Clearwater in the last two months. The procedure was all the same - remove everything from pockets and take off shoes. I carry an iPad these days so that can stay in the bag.

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:25 pm

My family flew from Detroit to Ft Lauderdale on Spirit last April. Me, my wife, our 15 year old daughter and 12 year old son. Both ways, shoes on and we carried my notebook computer, my daughter carried her macbook pro, son had ipad mini and my wife and I each had cel phones. No problem with any of the electronics, no turn on, nothing. Also, very quick through security each way. Shoes, belts, etc. all stayed on. Now, we flew out of the north terminal at DTW and I think all the international flights go through the other one, if that makes a difference.

Anyway, no hassles. Could it have been because we were traveling with our kids? Don't know.

guy4omaha · Post by **guy4omaha** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 3:01 pm

^It sounds like you're on the TSA Precheck list.

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:03 am

Lately it seems like I've been lucking out and getting the pre-check when I fly either Southwest or Untied on the north side of Eppley. I still haven't figured out what the criteria are for this.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:16 am

Omababe wrote:Lately it seems like I've been lucking out and getting the pre-check when I fly either Southwest or Untied on the north side of Eppley. I still haven't figured out what the criteria are for this.

Last fall in Denver, I got sent through the pre-check or whatever you call it before they even knew who I was.

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 1:01 pm

Aren't they just random spot checks rather than profiling? I thought I read somewhere that they more thoroughly check 1 out of 4 people, or something like that. ....which should mean that potentially, only 1/4 of the bad guys or gals get thoroughly screened.

blueblood · Post by **blueblood** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:54 pm

For what its worth I just flew the Southwest nonstop LAX-Oma round trip. Awesome. 3 hours to the West coast is just awesome. Full flight both ways. Anyway I talked to some of the people when I was checking bags. They said the LAX-Oma nonstop is temporary and ends this fall. BUT they said it returns early next year as a permanent Southwest flight. They also said they will be adding an Omaha-Baltimore nonstop about the same time. Thought that was a weird route but thats what they said. Maybe its as close to a Omaha-Washington DC nonstop as Southwest can get. At this point I would call it a rumor but thought it was worth mentioning.

hughes · Post by **hughes** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:20 pm

Baltimore is Southwest's "DC" airport. And from what I've heard it's incredibly popular with DC residents due to the fact that Reagan's expensive and has limited flights and the general suckiness of Dulles