I take it you've never been to Charleston. You're in for a real treat because CHS is a small airport, having only 2 gates--A and B. Your friend can meet you just outside the security checkpoint--as a matter of fact, there's even a sitting area there. Baggage claim is a piece of cake! There are only 2 carousels, side by side, which handle all flights. The airport is seldom busy, though in recent years business has picked up a bit. I really can't advise you as to how much time you should allot before flight time--things are so unpredictable these days---but I would go with the standard 2 hours--certainly no more than that! There's a quiet little restaurant/bar-where you can get a cup of coffee + while you wait to board.