Now Boarding - 2023 Edition

NONSTOP VACATION DESTINATIONS

BUSINESS TRAVEL MADE EASY MKE’S PERKS, AMENITIES AND MORE

START YOUR AT MKE Next Adventure

Explore the culinary capital of the Midwest

Grab a locally roasted coffee for a stroll in the park, hop in a kayak to paddle your way to a craft brewery. Enjoy dinner prepared by a James Beard Award-winning chef and find cultural flavors at new festivals every day. Where the unpredictable is delightful and the detours turn into stories to tell the neighbors. Go to VISITMilwaukee.org to find what you’re looking for, and then some.

CONTENTS

2 WELCOME !

Learn what MKE Airport means to our city and region from the Airport Director and County Executive.

4 N ONSTOP DESTINATIONS

Looking for a fun getaway for the family? Or a golf excursion with friends? Check out these inspiring itineraries, all easily accessible from MKE.

12 WHY FLY MKE

When it comes to business travel, MKE makes the trip more pleasant. And by supporting your local airport, you’re giving back to your community.

16 SMACKDOWN:

MKE vs ORD

Enjoy a stress-free beginning and end to your travels – while saving money, too – by flying MKE. Here’s the proof.

19 THE GUIDE

From where to park to where you can fly, you’ll find the info you need in this useful resource section.

Photo: Courtesy of VISIT Milwaukee

Concourse C at MKE Airport

Welcome!

Thank you for reading Now Boarding, a magazine dedicated to highlighting the many advantages of choosing Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport as your gateway to the world. In this issue, you’ll find stories that provide inspiration for your next adventure, guide you through the Airport and explain how, by flying MKE, you’re saving money while supporting your community’s growth. It is our hope that when it comes time to book your next flight, you’ll make MKE your point of departure. We look forward to welcoming you the next time you fly.

OUR AIRPORT CODE, MKE, embodies the spirit of our hometown and has become the unofficial abbreviation for Milwaukee. We are part of the fabric of the Milwaukee community, and we pride ourselves on providing an outstanding experience for travelers who fly from our hometown airport. In 2021 and 2022, we received coveted Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards and received top honors from Condé Nast Traveler and J.D. Power. We have also welcomed new air service from JetBlue, added CLEAR access at our security checkpoints, and launched new parking pay stations in the terminal to make it even easier to park with us. We hope you enjoy these amenities the next time you fly from MKE.

Brian Dranzik, A.A.E. AIRPORT DIRECTOR

MILWAUKEE COUNTY proudly owns and operates Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, which is the busiest airport in Wisconsin. I have flown through MKE many times as County Executive, and I am continuously impressed by the team of county employees who work together to create a world-class travel experience. Your decision to fly from MKE can create additional jobs and bring more economic impact to the diverse neighborhoods across Milwaukee County and beyond. It also helps MKE get more and enhanced service from the airlines. Thank you for choosing MKE for your air travel needs. I look forward to seeing you around the airport soon!

David Crowley COUNTY EXECUTIVE

NonStop

Whatever your jam – culture, golf, nightlife or a familyfriendly vacation – getting there is easy from MKE

BY | Kristine Hansen

30+ NONSTOP CITIES!

IMAGINE SINKING YOUR TOES INTO THE SAND OR TEEING UP ON A GOLF COURSE A FEW HOURS AFTER BOARDING A PLANE FROM MILWAUKEE. WHETHER YOU’RE CRAVING A VISIT TO VEGAS OR SEARCHING FOR A STRESS-FREE TRAVEL PLAN FOR A FAMILY VACAY, MILWAUKEE MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS YOUR BEST POINT OF DEPARTURE . STARTING YOUR JOURNEY AT MKE, WITH ITS MORE THAN 30 NONSTOP DESTINATIONS, ENSURES A SMOOTH RIDE FROM BEGINNING TO END.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

CULTURAL Immersion

From art to history, get your fix in these cities.

NONSTOP CARRIERS

American, Southwest

With a great subway system and many free admission museums, the nation’s capital makes it easy-breezy to enjoy all of the history and culture it has to offer.

Among the newest museums are the Rubell Museum (home to one of the country’s largest contemporary-art collections, with artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Yayoi Kusama represented) and the National Museum of African American History and Culture (a Smithsonian institution on the National Mall open since 2016 featuring 40,000 artifacts in its collection).

A trip to D.C. honors our country’s many cultures, starting with the National Museum of the American Indian. Much of the U.S.’s most valued

artworks are located at the National Gallery of Art, showcasing the work of artists like Edward Hopper, Albrecht Dürer, Mary Cassatt and Joan Miró, along with decorative arts that provide a peek into cultures around the world. And any fan of aviation won’t want to miss the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, while history junkies could easily spend a few days exploring the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, anchored by Bone Hall, where animal skeletons are on display.

Another peek into Washington’s culture is through its diverse food scene, representing the ethnic communities that call this city home. You can enjoy dim sum in Chinatown, soul food along U Street, or Korean barbecue in nearby Annandale, Virginia.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Destination DC (National Gallery), José Matute/Unsplash (National Mall)

National Gallery

Natural History Museum

National Mall

Boston | MKE BOS

FLIGHT TIME

2h20m

NONSTOP CARRIERS

Delta, JetBlue

MORE NONSTOP CULTURAL DESTINATIONS

Seattle | MKE SEA

Flight time: 4h20m, via Alaska Airlines

CHECK OUT Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture. Designed by Frank Gehry, it celebrates hometown figures like Pearl Jam and Kurt Cobain as well as other American icons. And definitely pay a visit to Pike Place Market, where you can grab lunch while soaking in some history. The 100-year-old-plus institution serves as a reminder of how the city has embraced fishmongers and farmers alike.

Philadelphia | MKE PHL

Flight time: 1h55m, via American

POP INTO downtown’s Reading Terminal Market (established in 1893) to taste the city’s famed Philly cheesesteak. Attractions in the Historic District also include Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed. You’ll find an impressive collection at the Philadelphia Art Museum, including works by Marcel Duchamp. If the stairs look familiar, think Rocky Balboa.

As one of America’s oldest cities, Boston, founded in 1630, is a must, whether you’re into architecture/art, history, food or culture. In all these areas, the city’s roots run deep – and specialty interests often overlap. For example, you can get a literal taste of the city’s Italian-immigrant culture in the North End, the city’s oldest residential community, while eating pizza at Regina Pizza (open since 1926). Take time to marvel at an equestrian statue of silversmith and American Revolution patriot Paul Revere, who was born in the neighborhood.

Boston is home to many art museums, including the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the site of a still-unsolved art heist in 1990 where among the looted works was

Johannes Vermeer’s The Concert, believed to be the world’s most valuable piece of stolen art. Thankfully, many world-class pieces remain in the collection, including a Rembrandt portrait of himself at age 23. Take note of the sun-dappled courtyard, a beauty in its own right. The Museum of Fine Arts houses over 450,000 works in its collection and hosts not only rotating exhibits but also programs and events centered around film, watercolor instruction and the conservation process.

Beyond art, a visit to Boston could include learning more about our nation’s history, whether through the lens of Massachusetts native and former U.S. President John F. Kennedy at his presidential library and museum or the USS Constitution Museum, the country’s oldest commissioned warship and part of the 16-site, 2.5-mile-long Freedom Trail. Other sites on the trail are the Old South Meeting House (where the Boston Tea Party began), the Old Corner Bookstore (once home to the 19th century publisher Ticknor and Fields, whose authors included Thoreau, Hawthorne and Longfellow) and Boston Common (the country’s oldest public park).

And for something a little more contemporary, Boston is also home to Cheers, the legendary bar that spawned the classic sitcom. Before you leave town, you can enjoy a drink where everybody knows your name.

PHOTOS: © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA Boston), Courtesy of Hanyang Zhang/Unsplash (Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum)

MILWAUKEE

Gardner Museum

Boston

Museum of Fine Arts

TEE Time

Phoenix | MKE PHX

FLIGHT TIME 3h50m

NONSTOP CARRIERS

American, Southwest, Sun Country

In and around Phoenix, one could easily fill an entire week playing at a different world-class golf course each day. You’ll find numerous courses in nearby Scottsdale as well as Sedona, about a two-hour drive north of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. And no matter what time of year you visit, sunshine is pretty much guaranteed (although you might plan to set out early if it’s during the summer months, when midday temperatures can really soar).

Many of the region’s golf courses

are on resorts where you can also find luxurious dining, spas and many other fitness activities, as well. At Boulders Resort in Carefree, just north of Scottsdale, the desert landscape provides a stunning view from either of the two courses. You’ll enjoy the five-star accommodations so much, you may never want to leave.

Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale boasts course renovations by British Open champ Tom Weiskopf and operates on a pricing system in which the further out you book a

Get yourself to the fairway in no time flat.

tee time, the more you save. There are two courses at the club: Monument and Pinnacle. Meals can be had at Dynamite Grille, overlooking Pinnacle’s 18th hole.

The Phoenix area is also home to a high number of public courses of good quality. Golfweek named We-KoPa Saguaro Arizona’s best public-access course. Located in Fort McDowell, 18 miles northeast of Scottsdale, it was designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore and celebrated its 20th anniversary last year.

Boulders Resort

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Boulders Resort (Phoenix), Omni Orlando Resort (Champions Gate); Reunion Resort & Golf Club (Inset)

If golfing year-round is your personal bliss, head to Tampa (Flight time: 2h45m, via Southwest) during the winter for the balmy breezes, then encourage your friends to head up to Milwaukee in the summer, as an escape from the heat down South or in the Southwest.

If golfing in a greener, lusher environment suits you better, Orlando is an easy flight and can get you on the greens by lunchtime. Golf Digest estimates the number of courses in Florida at around 1,450, and Orlando’s Central Florida location makes it easy to access many of them.

In addition to offering numerous options, the golf courses in the area are also some of the best in the country, showcasing the work of many of the most prominent designers of the 20th century. These include Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, designed by Dick Wilson; two Greg Norman-designed courses at Omni Orlando Resort; and a Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole course (plus a Palmer course and one designed by Tom Watson) at Reunion Resort & Golf Club. Even Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge in Winter Garden, a public course, earns rave reviews.

For those traveling with family, the four courses at Walt Disney World Resort – Magnolia, Oak Trail, Palm and Lake Buena Vista, which hosted the PGA tour – make it easy to enjoy a dual-purpose vacation. Also convenient to “the happiest place on earth” is Celebration Golf Club, three miles from Disney World. Debuting in 1996, the course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Robert Trent Jones Jr., a father-son design team with major credibility among pro golfers.

Mountain Lake in Lake Wales, which is 53 miles south of Orlando, is considered one of the country’s top 100 golf courses. The 18hole course was established in two stages, debuting in 1917 and 1921. While you’re there, be sure to take a drive around the Mountain Lake community, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., son of the renowned landscape architect. Founded in 1915, the community is still recognized for its beauty as well as its sustainability.

Your golfing buddies are certain to be impressed to learn that Wisconsin is home to 10 of the top 100 courses in the nation, including Sand Valley in Nekoosa, Erin Hills in Hartford, and of course Kohler’s Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits near Sheboygan.

And when you travel to Florida in the winter, consider Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green, an hour’s drive south of Tampa. It is an ideal day trip for a round of golf, continually ranks high with golfers around the world and offers stayand-play packages.

Omni Orlando Resort

Reunion Resort & Golf Club

Las Vegas | MKE LAS

FLIGHT TIME

3h45m

NONSTOP CARRIERS

Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country

MORE NONSTOP NIGHTLIFE DESTINATIONS

Nashville | MKE BNA

Flight time: 1h35m, via Southwest

MAKE A BEELINE to Broadway downtown, where you can choose between live music bars associated with big-name country artists, like Blake Shelton’s Ole Red. The more offbeat Robert’s Western Wear, which opened in 1992 as a boot store, now offers live honky-tonk music nightly until 3 a.m.

New York City

Flight time: 2h15m, via Delta, JetBlue and United

HEAD TO THE West Village and the adjacent Meatpacking District, where you’ll find plenty of things to do. For the jazz buff, check out Smalls (reservations are recommended, as it lives up to its name!) and the Village Vanguard, a spot soaked in history. You’ll also find many year-round rooftop bars in the area, such as Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC hotel’s Plunge Rooftop Bar + Lounge, where DJs spin tunes late into the night. Come for a drink, stay for the five-star view of glittering Manhattan after dark.

With Harry Reid International Airport three miles from the southernmost end of the Strip, you can be sipping martinis or playing blackjack within an hour of landing.

Nightclubs attract internationally celebrated DJs and serve drinks that are definitely Instagrammable. Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub at The Cromwell Hotel & Casino consistently ranks high because of its 30,000-square-foot rooftop perch with eight pools and four bars, serving drinks until 4 a.m. For a more intimate setting, The Laundry Room on Fremont Street in downtown Vegas is open to only 22 guests at a time and sports a speakeasy vibe.

Before heading to the club, enjoy dinner at a celebrity-chef restaurant; one recent debut is The Bedford by Martha Stewart at Paris Las Vegas, where you can dine on caviar and organic roast chicken

in a replica of her 1925 Upstate New York farmhouse. Several big-name musicians launched Vegas residencies this year, such as Maroon 5 at Park MGM’s Dolby Live and Luke Bryan at Resorts World Las Vegas.

With all of these offerings, it’s easy to pull together a weekend of fine dining, club-hopping and gambling – without traveling far once you’ve landed.

STAY UP Late

| MKE LGA, JFK, EWR

Party ’til dawn with this easy escape.

The Bedford

FAMILY Fun

The Big Peach has plenty of attractions for all ages.

Atlanta | MKE ATL

NONSTOP CARRIERS Delta, Southwest

Start this trip by getting active. The Atlanta Beltline currently features a 3-mile Eastside Trail, but will eventually encompass 22 miles of multiuse paths connecting 45 neighborhoods. You can rent bicycles for the whole family through Relay Bike Share stations and get rolling.

For younger tots (10 months to 8 years old), the Children’s Museum of Atlanta focuses on hands-on learning and celebrates its 20th year in 2023. At the Georgia Aquarium, a whopping 11 million gallons of water serves as the aquatic home for several species, such as African penguins and California sea lions, and hundreds of fish, invertebrates, sharks and rays. On the aquarium’s website are lesson plans and video study guides in case your kiddos are still chatting about their visit long after you’re back in Milwaukee.

MORE NONSTOP DESTINATIONS FOR FAMILY FUN

Denver | MKE DEN

Flight time: 2h45m, via Frontier, Southwest and United KAYAK DOWN water chutes at Confluence Park downtown, or head on a hike at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in nearby Morrison. In addition to the Children’s Museum of Denver and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, be sure to visit Meow Wolf, a fantasy-layered immersive experience the whole family will enjoy.

Next, dive into a lesson in American history that the whole family can appreciate with a visit to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Open since 2014, the center has an archive that includes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s papers. Families can take a self-guided tour bolstered by downloadable educational resources. You can also visit the King Center along with Dr. King’s church and childhood home nearby.

Atlanta is home to several food halls, providing quick, buzzy spots to grab lunch. One such place is Ponce City Market, a sprawling cornucopia of food and drink options – such as Iranian, Italian, Mexican and Chinese food – inside a building that once served as a Sears, Roebuck & Co. warehouse. Krog Street Market is another food hall popular with locals, particularly for its diverse eats, from Superica’s Tex-Mex eats to Suzy Siu’s Baos.

Dallas | MKE DFW, DAL

Flight time: 2h40m via American and Southwest

THIS IS AN IDEAL CITY if you want to check all the boxes: Legoland Discovery Center, Dallas Zoo, Dallas World Aquarium and Six Flags Over Texas. Grapevine Vintage Railroad, a 21-mile loop on board 1920s-era vintage coaches, offers a unique experience to the Fort Worth Stockyards.

The Atlanta Beltline

Georgia Aquarium

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Stephen Leonardi/Unsplash (Las Vegas), The Bedford (Oyster), Discover Atlanta (Atlanta)

THE MKE Advantage

Choosing to depart from Milwaukee for your business travel is good for the city, but also for your employees and your bottom line.

By RICH ROVITO

SAVVY BUSINESS LEADERS across southeastern Wisconsin know that Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is the best choice for themselves as well as the smartest choice for their employees.

The numerous amenities at MKE include CLEAR and TSA PreCheck at all security checkpoints, unlimited free Wi-Fi, charging stations in every gate area and the highly-rated Delta Sky Club.

For business travelers, saving time and having a low-stress experience are the key differentiators that give MKE an edge over other airports in the region.

“It’s an easy airport,” says Greg Marcus, president and chief executive officer at The Marcus Corporation. “Easy to get to the gate, easy to navigate.”

Having a convenient airport that offers a smooth experience is essential to Marcus Corp.’s operations, he says. “It’s important to us, specifically, because we are in the travel and hospitality business.”

Marcus understands the broader importance of supporting Milwaukee Mitchell International: The more often local travelers choose MKE for flights, the more likely it is that airlines will add or expand service, which in turn will bolster Milwaukee’s economy. “The economy grows when you have an ease of connection,” he says. “The more direct flights we have, as far as availability and volume, will ultimately make our community stronger.”

Airport Director Brian Dranzik concurs. “The business community’s decision to fly employees from our hometown airport is critical to maintaining and growing service at MKE.”

Business travelers have rated MKE as a world-class airport for quick and convenient business travel as indicated by responses to surveys conducted by

Airport Service Quality, the world’s leading airport passenger service program in benchmarking customer satisfaction of services at airports. ASQ awarded MKE as a Best Airport – North America in 2021 and 2022. The ASQ program is considered the gold standard in measuring passenger satisfaction across 30 key performance indicators including ease of check-in, security, airport facilities and more.

“MKE connects business partners, no matter where they are, because nothing can ever replace in-person interactions,” Dranzik says. “Businesses that rely on sales know that on-site engagement with their clients gives them a

For us, as an entertainment and sports destination, that ease of use is so important. It’s the first taste of how people experience our city. It’s so seamless. Because of the location of the airport, I literally tell people to give themselves 15 to 20 minutes to get to their gate from the time they leave my Downtown office. I don’t know where you can do that in any other metropolitan area in the country.”

Photos: By Getty Images (Businessman); Courtesy Of Milwaukee Bucks (Peter Feigin)

– PETER FEIGIN, President, Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum

competitive advantage over those who rely exclusively on virtual meetings.”

Taking flights in and out of MKE for business travel boosts the airport’s efforts to get airlines to expand existing service and add new routes, says Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of Visit Milwaukee, the area’s convention and visitors bureau. “This helps airlines understand that people want to fly out of Mitchell and then they, in turn, will add more flights,” she says. “Then that makes it a lot easier for me and my team to sell conventions when there are more direct flights.”

The airport offers service from all major domestic airlines, including JetBlue, the New York-based carrier that had its inaugural flight in the Milwaukee market in March 2022. “The addition of JetBlue has added more travel options to East Coast business markets,” Dranzik says.

Recruiting more air service to Milwaukee remains a top priority, and increasing the market demand to and from MKE is the best way to grow Milwaukee’s airport, Dranzik adds.

Airlines serving MKE provide nonstop service to over 30 destinations, many of

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport gives multinational companies like Johnson Controls access to the global market, and we value the service it provides our employees, customers and partners traveling to and from the region.”

– TERRY NADEAU, Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Johnson Controls

them key business markets. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, the market share leader at MKE, announced plans to increase daily flights between MKE and key nonstop markets, including Baltimore, Las Vegas, Nashville and Kansas City throughout 2023. Delta also added flights to Salt Lake City, and American Airlines added daily service to Washington, D.C. and Miami.

But even for markets that require a connection out of MKE, the airport’s numerous advantages make it a more viable option than O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport in Chicago,

– CECELIA

Executive Director, Brewers Community Foundation

Photos: by Josh Davis (Charlie Berens); courtesy of Milwaukee Brewers(Cecilia Gore), Tina Chang

As a frequent traveler, convenience is always top of mind. The airport is less than 15 minutes from my home. Parking is always available, with a quick walk to checkin and security gates. I particularly enjoy the people who work at the various airlines. I have found them all to be welcoming and helpful. Whenever possible, you will find me flying out of Mitchell.”

GORE,

Dranzik says. “Although many people think there is a nonstop flight advantage from Chicago, by the time you add in the total cost of the home-to-gate experience, including overall time of travel, cost of parking, tolls and time from parking to gate, the perceived advantage quickly evaporates and many times MKE becomes an overall lower-cost and faster option,” he says.

That makes flying MKE a win-win.

“It has all of the amenities of a larger city airport,” Williams-Smith explains. “It’s incredibly affordable to park, which

I can’t think of a more cost-effective and efficient airport to navigate than Milwaukee’s airport. With $14/day parking, ride share or rental cars right at the terminal (without walking far or needing to take a shuttle), and now the addition of CLEAR, MKE is hard to beat.

If you don’t love spending time in airports, you’ll love MKE!”

– TINA CHANG, CEO, SysLogic, Inc.

is different than a lot of our peer cities. It has a coat check, which is wonderful when you are traveling to and from a warm-weather destination.”

Another advantage is that MKE is easily accessible. “It’s a quick drive from Downtown to the airport or a $25 ride-share trip,”

Two words: Recombobulation

Area.”

– CHARLIE BERENS, Comedian and Professional Wisconsinite

Williams-Smith says. Even for those with a somewhat longer drive – say, many residents of northern Illinois – MKE represents a solid, hassle-free option. “It will take less time to drive from northern Illinois to Milwaukee than to drive to O’Hare or into the city of Chicago,” she says. “The traffic in the Chicago area can be outrageous.”

All told, for business travelers who value ease and efficiency, flying Milwaukee is the smartest choice.

You can use daily parking and it doesn’t cost you a mortgage payment. And what I really enjoy is that we have a beer garden in Concourse C!”

– DEREK MOSLEY, Director, Marquette University Law School’s Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education

Smackdown: MKE vs. ORD

Flying Local

YOU’VE PROBABLY heard about shopping local. Well, flying local is the same idea. Just one business traveler flying in and out of Milwaukee a single time creates an average economic impact of $400 in our community. The airport drives $3 billion in total economic impact and generates 18,000 jobs.

And if you support your local airport, that airport gets more flights. Air travel is a use-it-orlose-it proposition – if folks don’t fly out of MKE, then the airport loses flights. Airlines track the flight patterns closely, and if many passengers book flights with a connection to a certain destination, then the airline is much more likely to schedule a nonstop flight to there from MKE in the future.

The results are exponential: Supporting our airport helps MKE get more flights, creating more jobs and resulting in billions of dollars in economic impact.

DID YOU KNOW?

10 minutes – that’s how quickly you can get from the ticketing curb to your gate at MKE.

Connecting by Car

DO YOU THINK that booking a nonstop flight out of Chicago saves you time on the connection? Think again. You’re trading that connecting flight for a connection by car. The distance between Milwaukee and O’Hare is 156 miles roundtrip – or almost three hours (without traffic). Midway is even farther: At 212 miles roundtrip, it’s over three and a half hours in the car. You’re not saving time, you’re just spending it on the tollway.

In a head-to-head comparison, flying MKE saves you time and money over Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. And the feeling you’ll get from helping your local economy? Priceless!

By ARCHER PARQUETTE

Airport photo courtesy of VISIT Milwaukee; San Francisco

photo courtesy of Maarten van den Heuvel/Unsplash

Calculate the REAL Costs

WHETHER YOU’RE TRAVELING internationally or staying in the states, flying out of MKE can still save you time and money. We chose San Francisco and Paris as destinations to illustrate the point.

Cost Control

BEFORE BOOKING a flight, consider these fees. Dollar for dollar, it’s not even close.

Daily Parking

MKE: $14/day

O’Hare: $42/day

Bus to O’Hare

$72.20 per person, roundtrip

Interstate Tolls

MKE: $0

O’Hare: $8.60 roundtrip

Gas at $3.50/gallon

MKE: $2.50 roundtrip

O’Hare: $20.60 roundtrip

Beat the Clock

DEPARTING FROM MKE saves you time and avoids the stress of Chicago traffic.

Drive Time to Airport

MKE: 15 minutes

ORD: 90 minutes

Car to Gate Time

MKE: 30 minutes

ORD: 60 minutes

Wait at Airport Before Departure

60 minutes

ORD: Domestic - 60 minutes, International - 90 minutes

Where We Fly

MKE offers 30+ nonstop destinations and more than 200 international destinations with one easy connection to get you where you’re going fast.

*Seasonal Routes

Step inside Milwaukee’s largest work of art to experience its bold architecture and extensive collection of art from antiquity to the present day.

Plan your visit at mam.org.

Park & Go

By

Budget-friendly outdoor parking

SAVER

Free shuttle buses come every 5-10 minutes to pick you up at your vehicle and take you to the terminal, 24 hours a day.

$8/day

Outdoor parking

SURFACE

This uncovered lot is perfect for tall vehicles and is located super close to the terminal.

$15/day

Pull On Up

Parking at MKE is a breeze with these perks.

Electrical Car Charging

MKE has ChargePoint stations available in both the daily parking garage and the saver lot for $5 per charge.

Covered parking

DAILY

Garage, all floors

Park on any floor of the airport garage, and you’ll be in the terminal within minutes.

$14/day

Pick-up or drop-off

HOURLY

Garage, floors three and four

If you’re making a speedy turnaround, hourly parking is completely free up to 30 minutes.

$2/hour or $24/day

Convenience

VALET

The fully insured staff will meet you at the ticketing curb. All you have to do is hand off your keys. When you return, shoot a text to the service, and the car will be ready for you at baggage claim.

$25/day

Motorcycle and Bicycles

Park for free at MKE!

You’ll find a reserved, covered area across the street from baggage claim number four. (Bicyclists should bring their own locks.)

Need a jump start?

MKE Airport provides complimentary jump starts for dead batteries, flat tire service, and wayfinding assistance if you forgot where you parked. These are all perks offered in the Airport’s official parking facilities.

Illustrations: By Getty Images

When it comes to where to leave your car, MKE has an assortment of options.

ARCHER PARQUETTE

FLY EASY, PARK SMART.

For the fastest, easiest airport parking— get the MKE SmartPark app!

VALET

Drive straight to ticketing and check in. We’ll take care of parking your vehicle.

RESERVATIONS

Reserve your space online or in the app.

REWARDS

Earn frequent parking points and redeem for free parking.

EXPRESS PARKING

Touchless entry and exit using your smartphone.

JUST DOWNLOAD THE APP TO JOIN!

Flying Made Fun!

With a coat check and even a used bookstore, MKE Airport makes your takeoff

By ALLI WATTERS

CHECK THIS OUT

Cold Wisconsin winters mean leaving your parka at home isn’t an option – even if your destination sports a sandy beach. Save space in your carry-on and stop by MKE’s coat check. Offered at just $2 per day ($10 max per trip) during win ter and spring break, it’s a bargain. And you won’t have to lug your coat with you on your journey.

FIND (A) BREATHING ROOM

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of airport travelers is a special MKE Meditation Room for peace, prayer and worship. Around the room are words of encouragement like “peace,” “grace” and “hope” to lift the spir its of weary travelers. You’ll find it near the Daily parking skywalk.

KNOW YOUR HISTORY

Did you know the Airport is also home to a free museum? Stop in the Mitchell Gallery of Flight where you’ll learn all about Gen. Billy Mitchell, the airport’s homegrown namesake, and southeastern Wisconsin’s flight heritage. This attraction is open 24/7, and is well stocked with artifacts, memorabilia, photos and artwork that represent the contribution of local aviation pioneers.

RECOMBOBULATE

Just after passing security, you’ll find the legendary “Recombobulation Area.” The first of its kind in any airport, this whimsical wayfinder marks the perfect spot to take a breath post-TSA. Take a seat, slip your shoes back on and get sorted before heading to your gate. A traveler favorite, the iconic area has even been featured as an answer on “Jeopardy!”

PLAY STATION

Work out the wiggles at MKE’s two play areas for kiddos. The aviation-themed climb-ons and decorations are certain to amuse, and the views of the airfield provide even more entertainment for young minds.

READ UP

MKE offers the only used bookstore in a U.S. airport. Renaissance Books has an inventory of new bestsellers and pre-owned classics. This independent bookshop is located right before security, so you can stop by even if you aren’t traveling.

A SUITE SPOT FOR MOMS

For nursing moms, the Mamava Breastfeeding & Lactation Suites are designed to provide privacy while feeding or pumping. There are three spots throughout the airport, complete with outlets so you can charge your devices.

SYMBOLIC SUNFLOWERS

The Airport is inclusive for travelers with special needs, especially those with hidden disabilities. If you or someone you know needs special assistance while traveling through the airport, stop by the information desk and ask for a sunflower lanyard. It’s a symbol to airport employees that you may need a helping hand, and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program is recognized at a lot of other airports, too.

easy and enjoyable.

PHOTOS: By Getty Images (Jacket); Courtesy of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (Museum and Bookstore), Raw Pixel (Sunflower)