Oct 10, 2013, 10:57 am
Last edit by: KenTarmac
Please edit or add information to this wiki as necessary.
This is a quick and updated (periodically, by members) summary of post 1 that will be visible at the top of all pages of this thread.
CLT airport website: https://www.cltairport.com/
Link to older archived posts.
American operates flights out of concourses (sometimes) A and (always) B, C, D and E.
Ticket counters
Main Terminal - Daily: 3:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Concourses:
From Airport Website
CLT / Charlotte Douglas International Airport map
CLT / Charlotte Douglas International Airport map
Getting from Concourse to Concourse
There is no need to leave the secure area to move from one concourse to another. *Exceptions are arriving international flights. In such case one has to clear immigration and customs, reclaim bags and proceed through security. [Obviously not applicable for those pre-cleared at selected overseas locations such as DUB] Keep in mind that if you purchased any liquids on the plane (duty free) you will have to follow the 3-1-1 rule and even check the bottles!
There are several moving walkways at the airport. At the least, there is a moving walkway at the beginning of each concourse, sometimes there are several (concourses A and E).
Other moving walkways include:
Security at CLT
Security wait times can vary widely both by time/day. Monday mornings can have long lines. Checkpoints A and B are often the most crowded. When this is the case it's worth the walk to checkpoints C through E to avoid the long lines.
Since all the checkpoints share access to the secure area it really doesn't matter which one you use, they will all get you access to all gates.
Below is a break down of where the TSA precheck lanes are and where the checkpoints drop you off within the airport.
Most of the time CLT is really good in terms of on-time performance. However summer thunderstorms can drastically affect your travel experience.
AA-AA ID .50 BDA - ALL
AA-AA ID .50 COUNTRY BS - ALL
AA-AA ID 1.00 COUNTRY CA - ALL
AA-AA ID .50 COUNTRY IE - ALL
AA-AA ID 1.15 REGION EUR - ALL
AA-AA ID 1.00
--Parking info can be found at this link.
*Security Note: If you park using curbside valet your car will be searched.
Cell Phone Lot: Park for free while waiting for arriving flights at CLT’s Cell Phone Lot. All drivers are required to remain with their vehicles. Parking is provided on a first come, first served basis as space is available.
Rental Cars
Rental cars are in the parking deck directly across from the terminal. Follow the signs to the deck and take the escalator or elevator to the second level where you'll find the rental car counters. You no longer have to take a shuttle to the rental cars.
--More info on Rental Cars
Public Transportation
CATS offers service from CLT:
Visit the CATS Website for more details and schedules.
Where to eat in the airport
--Good map of CLT Dining
CLT Lounges
There are two Currency Exchange locations in CLT, both operated by Travelex:
How quick is baggage claim in CLT?
CLT offers free Wi-Fi around the airport. The Admirals Club provides free access for club members through AT&T.
Do I have time to go into Charlotte?
You could take a cab or the city bus (see post Public Transportation above for info). I would venture to town only if there is more than 3 hours to kill and there is nothing you can do at the airport.
Lyft and Uber can both pick up at the airport.
Where can I smoke at the airport?
There are three:
This is a quick and updated (periodically, by members) summary of post 1 that will be visible at the top of all pages of this thread.
Check-in times Link
In most locations, you must be checked in:
At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States
At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States
In most locations, you must be checked in:
At least 45 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights within the United States
At least 60 minutes before scheduled departure, for flights to or from airports outside of the United States
Link to older archived posts.
American operates flights out of concourses (sometimes) A and (always) B, C, D and E.
Ticket counters
Main Terminal - Daily: 3:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Concourses:
- Concourse A is used by mostly other airlines (Air Canada, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, United, Via) but American uses Concourse A for some flights
- Concourse B is usually used for flights to the West
- Concourse C is usually used for East coast flights. Republic operated flights fly out of C as well.
- Concourse D (The International Concourse) Most transatlantic flights out of CLT are at the far end of concourse D (Lufthansa and Volaris included)
- D4 (A and B) are also express gates (Piedmont operated flights.)
- Concourse E is the American Eagle concourse (Regional flights – RJs)
From Airport Website
CLT / Charlotte Douglas International Airport map
CLT / Charlotte Douglas International Airport map
Getting from Concourse to Concourse
There is no need to leave the secure area to move from one concourse to another. *Exceptions are arriving international flights. In such case one has to clear immigration and customs, reclaim bags and proceed through security. [Obviously not applicable for those pre-cleared at selected overseas locations such as DUB] Keep in mind that if you purchased any liquids on the plane (duty free) you will have to follow the 3-1-1 rule and even check the bottles!
There are several moving walkways at the airport. At the least, there is a moving walkway at the beginning of each concourse, sometimes there are several (concourses A and E).
Other moving walkways include:
- Across the atrium between concourses A, B and C.
- Between the security checkpoint C exit and concourses D and E.
Security at CLT
Security wait times can vary widely both by time/day. Monday mornings can have long lines. Checkpoints A and B are often the most crowded. When this is the case it's worth the walk to checkpoints C through E to avoid the long lines.
Since all the checkpoints share access to the secure area it really doesn't matter which one you use, they will all get you access to all gates.
Below is a break down of where the TSA precheck lanes are and where the checkpoints drop you off within the airport.
- A Checkpoint: Standard 4 a.m. – 8:15 p.m.
- B Checkpoint: Standard, Main Pre✓ ® 4 a.m. – 8:15 p.m.
- C Checkpoint: Standard, Flex Lanes 5 a.m. – 9:15 p.m.
- C Checkpoint: Employee 4 a.m. - 10:15 p.m.
- D Checkpoint: Main Pre✓ ®, Preferred 6 a.m. – 10:15 p.m.
- E Checkpoint: Standard 4:30 a.m. – 10:45 p.m.
Most of the time CLT is really good in terms of on-time performance. However summer thunderstorms can drastically affect your travel experience.
- Domestic Connections: MCT is 40 minutes. A minimum 1 hour scheduled connection time should be sufficient for domestic connections.
- According to ExpertFlyer, the current MCT for American Airlines International-Domestic are:
AA-AA ID .50 BDA - ALL
AA-AA ID .50 COUNTRY BS - ALL
AA-AA ID 1.00 COUNTRY CA - ALL
AA-AA ID .50 COUNTRY IE - ALL
AA-AA ID 1.15 REGION EUR - ALL
AA-AA ID 1.00
- MCT for anything involving international flights is 90 minutes; that will work for domestic to international, but:
- I'm a non-US passport holder connecting in CLT from an international to a domestic flight. How long of a layover should I schedule?
A: MCT is 90 minutes, but you should schedule a minimum of 2 hours to be safe to accommodate CBP, claiming your bags and then rechecking. (ie: LHR-CLT-PHX)
--Parking info can be found at this link.
*Security Note: If you park using curbside valet your car will be searched.
Cell Phone Lot: Park for free while waiting for arriving flights at CLT’s Cell Phone Lot. All drivers are required to remain with their vehicles. Parking is provided on a first come, first served basis as space is available.
Rental Cars
Rental cars are in the parking deck directly across from the terminal. Follow the signs to the deck and take the escalator or elevator to the second level where you'll find the rental car counters. You no longer have to take a shuttle to the rental cars.
--More info on Rental Cars
Public Transportation
CATS offers service from CLT:
- Route 5 Sprinter Airport Express - To Center City (Uptown)
Visit the CATS Website for more details and schedules.
Where to eat in the airport
--Good map of CLT Dining
CLT Lounges
- American Airlines has two Admirals Clubs in CLT: A larger one between concourses C and D and smaller newly renovated one in concourse B.
- AMEX is adding a new Centurion lounge, at CLT. It will be located after security at the intersection of Concourses D and E, on the top floor of a new airport expansion. Opening Monday, February 24, 2020
- The Club CLT. Priority Pass lounge located in the A gate connector.
There are two Currency Exchange locations in CLT, both operated by Travelex:
- One location in the center court atrium inside the secured area (airside). This location is open from 7 AM to 10 PM seven days a week.
- A second currency exchange location has been added at the entrance to the D concourse in front of gates D1 and D2. This location is open from 6:30 AM to 10 PM seven days a week.
How quick is baggage claim in CLT?
- Baggage claim returns in CLT tend to run a little longer than most airports. Expect a wait time of 20 to 25 minutes on average after deplaning. Depending on workload baggage returns can run upwards of 30 to 45 minutes.
- Baggage returns for flights arriving on the E concourse and the A Concourse extension can take up to 45 minutes.
- There is one the 2nd floor of the Atrium. More info available here: www.cltairportchapel.org
CLT offers free Wi-Fi around the airport. The Admirals Club provides free access for club members through AT&T.
Do I have time to go into Charlotte?
You could take a cab or the city bus (see post Public Transportation above for info). I would venture to town only if there is more than 3 hours to kill and there is nothing you can do at the airport.
Lyft and Uber can both pick up at the airport.
Where can I smoke at the airport?
- Charlotte Douglas International is a smoke free facility. Smoking is prohibited in all public areas, which includes all restaurants and bars.
- Smokers on the front curb of the terminal are encouraged to use courtesy areas on each end of Baggage Claim and Ticketing levels.
There are three:
- Concourse A Connector
- Concourse A/B Connector
- Concourse D
GUIDE: CLT / Charlotte Douglas Airport - MCT, Connection, etc.
May 23, 2019, 6:49 pm
#766
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Admirals Club member
Posts: 419
Add a day onto your vacation....?
Have AA fly you in the night before.
$15 Uber into Uptown CLT. Nice dinner, hotel in Uptown Charlotte.
Next day...roam around South End & then $15 Uber back to the airport for the CLT-FCO flight...
Have AA fly you in the night before.
$15 Uber into Uptown CLT. Nice dinner, hotel in Uptown Charlotte.
Next day...roam around South End & then $15 Uber back to the airport for the CLT-FCO flight...
May 23, 2019, 6:53 pm
#767
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 286
AA has had surprisingly good saver J availability on AA metal from the US Midwest/east coast to Europe from mid-July to mid-August for months now. No idea why. I have 4 J savers to BCN departing late July, and some friends have 5 J savers to LHR a couple of days later, and 5 J savers back from MUC in mid-August.
All of it appears to require a stop (married segment logic), and mostly.on departures Sunday-Wednesday. Example- DCA-BCN. 26 days with 4 J savers available on AA metal between July 8-August 26.
All of it appears to require a stop (married segment logic), and mostly.on departures Sunday-Wednesday. Example- DCA-BCN. 26 days with 4 J savers available on AA metal between July 8-August 26.
May 23, 2019, 6:58 pm
#768
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 286
Back in January I booked 3 business Saver awards to fly PHL-CLT-FCO in July. Due to recent schedule changes my relatively short connection in CLT became even shorter (56 min). It looks like it’s still valid and does not violate MCT.
We have to be in Rome on the scheduled arrival date, but I worry that we may miss the second flight even with slight delay on the first segment. Flightaware shows average delay 10-20 mins for PHL-CLT leg. When checking award space, there is no Saver availability on either earlier flights to CLT that day or on direct flight PHL-FCO.
I haven’t call AA yet but just wanted to ask experts here if there are any good options left for me at this point other than hope that my PHL-CLT flight will be on time. My main priority is to get to Rome on the scheduled date; the next priority would be to keep J seats.
We have to be in Rome on the scheduled arrival date, but I worry that we may miss the second flight even with slight delay on the first segment. Flightaware shows average delay 10-20 mins for PHL-CLT leg. When checking award space, there is no Saver availability on either earlier flights to CLT that day or on direct flight PHL-FCO.
I haven’t call AA yet but just wanted to ask experts here if there are any good options left for me at this point other than hope that my PHL-CLT flight will be on time. My main priority is to get to Rome on the scheduled date; the next priority would be to keep J seats.
Last edited by DCJoe1; May 24, 2019 at 9:00 am Reason: spelling
May 24, 2019, 10:48 am
#771
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 216
The smaller planes from PHL to CLT can easily be delayed by weather or air traffic in the NYC-PHL area, while the larger International flights seem to push out on schedule when possible. Where is your time most valuable? If you absolutely can not leave PHL any earlier and are willing to cut your time in Rome short by a day, then stay on the current flight. If you'd rather be in Rome as scheduled, then move to the earlier flight and spend an extra hour or two in the CLT airport. Even if you don't have lounge access there's plenty to see and eat there.
May 24, 2019, 6:46 pm
#773
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: PHL
Programs: US; AA; UA; Hilton Gold; Club Carlson Gold; IHG Platinum;
Posts: 388
I appreciate everyone suggestions and ideas, did not expect so many responses.
I called AA to see what options are available. As I expected a rep told me that my new connection is still legal and because there is no Biz award availability on either earlier flight to CLT or direct PHL-FCO they cannot change it. The only offer I received is to change my 3:30 PHL-CLT flight to 1:30 flight in economy with no compensation. I haven’t accepted that offer yet but I am strongly considering it. PHL-CLT is less than 2 hours flight, so I can live with being in the main cabin and having 3 hours layover.
I need to be in Rome the next day, but it doesn’t have to be in the morning. As long as I can get there by the end of the day I should be okay. Trying to decide if I should take my chances and keep the original flights or change the first segment to the earlier flight in economy.
I called AA to see what options are available. As I expected a rep told me that my new connection is still legal and because there is no Biz award availability on either earlier flight to CLT or direct PHL-FCO they cannot change it. The only offer I received is to change my 3:30 PHL-CLT flight to 1:30 flight in economy with no compensation. I haven’t accepted that offer yet but I am strongly considering it. PHL-CLT is less than 2 hours flight, so I can live with being in the main cabin and having 3 hours layover.
I need to be in Rome the next day, but it doesn’t have to be in the morning. As long as I can get there by the end of the day I should be okay. Trying to decide if I should take my chances and keep the original flights or change the first segment to the earlier flight in economy.
May 24, 2019, 8:24 pm
#775
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 105
Agreed! I would take those economy seats before someone else possibly does.
With business saver awards it is quite common to have to accept segments in economy to get preferable times and/or routing. However, I have had very good luck with business space opening up closer to departure for flights in and out of CLT (CLT is my home airport) and you can easily call and have AA move you into business if space does open up on that earlier flight.
I would personally much rather spend a 2 hour flight in economy than risk missing my international flight and an entire day of my trip. There is also no guarantee that if you miss your flight to Rome that they'd have 3 business class seats left on the next flight out so I'd protect that long haul flight the best you can!
With business saver awards it is quite common to have to accept segments in economy to get preferable times and/or routing. However, I have had very good luck with business space opening up closer to departure for flights in and out of CLT (CLT is my home airport) and you can easily call and have AA move you into business if space does open up on that earlier flight.
I would personally much rather spend a 2 hour flight in economy than risk missing my international flight and an entire day of my trip. There is also no guarantee that if you miss your flight to Rome that they'd have 3 business class seats left on the next flight out so I'd protect that long haul flight the best you can!
May 26, 2019, 8:48 am
#776
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I would unhesitatingly take the Y seats on the micro-haul flight. I would not wait as those may disappear soon enough. Once those go, your options have shrunk even more.
You will still have J tickets and should be at the top of the list for F if it opens. But, if it does not, that is far better than being stuck at CLT for a day or having to fly another connection via LHR. More importantly, there may not be any J seats by that point and you might have to be rebooked into Y or cancel.
As it stands, you are looking at a flight blocked at 1:40 with about 65 minutes in the air. No meal in F, so all you get is the 2-2 seating.
As an aside, when you have an offer such as this, be prepared to grab it. There is no requirement that AA give you a fee waiver for this change and the next agent could decline to move you to the earlier flight xPHL.
You will still have J tickets and should be at the top of the list for F if it opens. But, if it does not, that is far better than being stuck at CLT for a day or having to fly another connection via LHR. More importantly, there may not be any J seats by that point and you might have to be rebooked into Y or cancel.
As it stands, you are looking at a flight blocked at 1:40 with about 65 minutes in the air. No meal in F, so all you get is the 2-2 seating.
As an aside, when you have an offer such as this, be prepared to grab it. There is no requirement that AA give you a fee waiver for this change and the next agent could decline to move you to the earlier flight xPHL.
May 26, 2019, 9:06 am
#777
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: PHL
Programs: US; AA; UA; Hilton Gold; Club Carlson Gold; IHG Platinum;
Posts: 388
Why are you referring to fee waiver? First, there was a schedule change but also I thought AA doesn’t charge any fees to change award tickets as long as the origin and destination remains the same.
May 26, 2019, 9:20 am
#778
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,107
I ran into a similar issue overall with a flight in July. AA kept insisting on a flight with just a 38 minute connection at ORD, even though there is a flight a couple hours after that. It shouldn’t be an issue in theory, but one sneeze by a butterfly 500 miles away and it could be. Granted it is all domestic, but not a single itinerary showed up on AA’s site with a longer connection.
Oh well. I’m not overly concerned as there are several options if the connection is missed. What I don’t like is landing right when your next flight starts boarding. That is just asking for trouble as all it takes it one little thing to be off and you’re in for a ride.
I took it, but only with the full knowledge that the staff in the FL are brilliant and can make things happen.
Oh well. I’m not overly concerned as there are several options if the connection is missed. What I don’t like is landing right when your next flight starts boarding. That is just asking for trouble as all it takes it one little thing to be off and you’re in for a ride.
I took it, but only with the full knowledge that the staff in the FL are brilliant and can make things happen.
Jun 8, 2019, 10:57 am
#780
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,483