Layover in Charlotte
Aug 19, 2018, 8:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 3
Layover in Charlotte
I am traveling alone with my almost 5 year old to Disney.There are no direct flights from our airport. Our flight is at 5am and I have two options for layovers: 1 or 3 hours. I will be gate checking a stroller. Is there a chance we'd make a one hour connection at CLT ? Is it better to take the 3hr layover. If we do that is there anything to do for 3 hrs for my kid.
Thanks !
Thanks !
Aug 19, 2018, 8:07 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Jersey
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Lifetime PLT
Posts: 1,154
take the 3 hour layover. 1 hour doesnt give you a ton of room if your first flight gets delayed. What you dont want is to miss your second flight and be stranded in the airport with your 5 year old and scrambling or having to run through the airport with the kid.
1 hour is doable if the conditions are fine but you just wont have much room for error.
1 hour is doable if the conditions are fine but you just wont have much room for error.
Aug 20, 2018, 11:39 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 9,536
1 hour is doable but, depending on where your gates are, you may have to run. Running across an airport with a 5yo is never fun. In CLT, there are lots of restaurants, rocking chairs, and art exhibits. What time are you landing in CLT, you mention take-off of your original flight (5am) but not what time you land.
Also note that there is some construction in some of the concourses so they get very very crowded, making running to a flight harder, esp. with a stroller.
Also note that there is some construction in some of the concourses so they get very very crowded, making running to a flight harder, esp. with a stroller.
Aug 20, 2018, 11:50 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
I suppose an important question is; where are you coming from? One hour from an international journey is pretty much impossible, and there are a number of airports in the US where a delayed departure at certain times of the year is pretty much guaranteed.
Aug 22, 2018, 9:27 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 9,536
Personally, having traveled with my now 5yo many times (and I'm a single mom, so always alone with her), I would do the longer connection. Land, get some food (hungry kids are awful !) , walk the concourses and see the planes, let him/her run a little, rock on the rocking chairs, and be unstressed about running to your flight. The last thing you want is a Disney-focused 5 yo to miss a flight and be whiny and cranky and spend even MORE time at the airport.