Yes, you can smoke at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) at the designated outdoor areas located outside the new single terminal. The terminal is smoke-free indoors, so smoking is outdoor-only — there are no indoor lounges and no smoking areas past the security checkpoint.
MCI opened its new single terminal in February 2023, consolidating all flights from the old three-horseshoe complex into one modern building with two concourses (Concourse A and Concourse B) and 40 gates. The smoke-free policy applies across the entire indoor footprint, with smoking moved to the outdoor areas at the front of the terminal.
Outside the New Single Terminal
The smoking areas at MCI are outdoors on the roadway that runs along the front of the single terminal. Step out through the main entrances on the departures (upper) level or the arrivals (lower) level near baggage claim and ground transportation, and look for the marked smoking spots. These are set back from the doorways so smoke is kept clear of the entrances, and they are the only places smoking is permitted on airport property.
Because the smoking areas are landside, anyone who has already cleared security needs to exit the secure area to reach them and then re-screen. Plan to re-clear the TSA checkpoint and allow extra time before your flight if you step out for a cigarette.
Concourses A and B (After Security)
Smoking at MCI is landside, so the route from a gate is: leave the secure area, use the outdoor areas at the front of the terminal, then go back through screening. Once you pass the TSA checkpoint into Concourse A or Concourse B, the whole airside area is smoke-free, gates, restrooms, and concessions included.
This matters most for connecting passengers: the outdoor areas are all landside, so a smoke break means re-clearing security in full. The walk from a far gate out to the curb and back through TSA can take a while, so only attempt one with plenty of time before boarding.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
Vaping and e-cigarettes are welcome at the same designated outdoor smoking areas outside the entrances, on identical terms to cigarettes. Indoors, the terminal and both concourses are vape-free as well as smoke-free.
Summary
| Area | Location | Smoking Allowed | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Single Terminal – Departures | Outdoor, upper-level roadway near entrances | Outdoor only | Before security |
| New Single Terminal – Arrivals | Outdoor, lower-level roadway near baggage claim | Outdoor only | Before security |
| Concourse A | Past TSA checkpoint | No smoking | Airside — no outdoor access |
| Concourse B | Past TSA checkpoint | No smoking | Airside — no outdoor access |
| E-Cigarettes / Vaping | Outdoor designated areas only | Outdoor only | Same rules as cigarettes |
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.