Finally when Alaska moves next to AA in Terminal 1 next week then all 4 terminals will be connected airside. So you can go to the Centurion lounge at SFO and back to the Admirals Club and not have to go through security. And out of all the Centurion lounges I have been to SFO was hands down the least crowded and a very large lounge. I really liked it. I used it when I flew UA recently. I hate airports not linked airside. Here looking at you JFK.
You'll be happy to know E is getting new life. It's gonna take a while, but down on E, we're the black sheep and they just started work on E to make it match the other concourses (terrazzo flooring, new lighting and signage, etc) and the newest part of E as well (E40s)
Every time Iām at CLT I feel like Iām in midtown Manhattan, dodging people left and right. Half expect a guy in a knockoff Elmo costume to show up.
IAD gives me that crowded feeling too. Especially when youāre flying international and they have like 10 gates right at the end all with wide bodies leaving at the same time and maybe 100 seats, lol
Good news! Iāll be flying from IAD to DFW and connecting through CLT in a couple of weeks. I get to experience the best of both worlds in one day! Sigh. I really donāt like the available flight options between IAD and DFW on AA. Most of them connect through CLT, unless I wanted to leave at 6 am or wait almost 24 hours after my work trip ends at 5:13 pm. I did the 6 am last month (and it was 6:50 then), and Iām not doing that again.
It really doesnāt help when people do their imitations of a tree in the middle of the walkways. Wanna stand around looking stupid? Step to the side FFS.
Itās also cheaper a lot of times! I live near RDU and flying out of RDU through CLT to my destination city is cheaper than me driving to CLT and taking a direct flight.
No itās human gridlock all day every day. The airport was not built to be a modern hub. It was designed to have 70-140 seat aircraft parked at it. Instead it is now filled to the brim with 190 seat A321ās parked everywhere. Iāve even seen them start to park multiple 777ās on the B concourse. The end result is the B and C concourses and the area between them are GROSSLY overcrowded.
And for some unknown reason... everyone decides to stand up, crowd the aisle, and wait... from about 20 min BEFORE boarding starts until they are on the plane. ...
Hello people, everyone has an assigned seat, being the first person in group 7 doesn't help... just sit and wait, don't stand in the aisle!
Honestly while this happens the seating areas are usually still full which goes back to the problem of the gates not being designed for larger aircraft. Thereās no place to sit within earshot of the gate
The walkways are just too narrow. It's not as bad as everyone here says, but they do get tight, especially if gates on opposite sides board about the same time. Just push though.
Yeah, itās landlocked so expansion possibilities are limited. Should move it into SC (like CVG) and have the approach come over Carowinds as an extra feature for some of the rides there!
Yes, years ago when I flew out of CLT monthly it was completely different. Iām shocked at how crowded it is now. I used to be able to be in and through security in 10 mins.
Local tip-if you have an extended layover and your gate is in E, C or even B, head to D concourse. Plenty of seating, usually, and itās a wider more open concourse.
5 A321s parked at the end of B with departures all within 20-30 minutes of each other due to the banked hub. Boarding announcements struggle for air time on the PA. People hear āboardingā and assume itās their flight. 700 people in an area meant to seat 150. Welcome the Charlotte. We love you.
This is something I can for sure agree with. Seems like gates at the end of B or C are always boarding at the same time and it's a lot of people in a space that couldn't possibly have been designed for it.
When I have time to kill, the high-number A gates are usually where I'll wander off to. Not many people around, especially the upper level. Good place for a restroom stop.
Basically nothing. Which is the treat!
A handful of rocking chairs. A restroom that maybe like 0.1% of passengers know about, in an already quiet area of the airport.
There's been a little area up there that's been marked off for construction for a bit, like maybe large enough for a coffee shop, but that's about it.
You cannot over emphasize how bad CLT is.
I will never ever schedule through there again. Million miler (3 airlines), long time EP, and CLT is the worst. Not only are flight operations shakey but the terminals were designed for a regional operations leading to packed facilities around the clock. The ground staff are just exhausted.
I have been to all 50 states, all Canadian provinces and most Mexican states north of Mexico City and CLT never missed the opportunity to remind me to take a bus as it might be faster than going through CLT.
The new runway is used for arrivals. That means the inbound traffic needs to cross the live outbound runway to get to the terminal. They didnāt build a ramp around the end like Atlanta did. So you sit and wait because they donāt leave enough breaks in the outbound for crossing. Then 8-10 planes cross at once to the worst laid out ramps ever. If one plane if pushing in the wrong spot, everyone waits until itās done. Then you proceed to the narrow alleyways that canāt support simultaneous pushback and arrival. Shall I continue?
That is what I saw everytime I took off; a line of planes waiting to cross over. Channeling Brian Regan.
I was sitting next to a AA pilot flying into CLT and told me a story of a very drunk ground crew employee who commandeered a luggage train and took it joy riding. Unfortunately he flipped at the tunnel blocking access for hours. He said the backup was monumental.
I felt so "lucky" that day to only be delayed 5 hours
CTL seems to take the longest from landing to opening the jetway door. You think youāre going to make your connection as you taxi to your gate, and then youāre stuck itching to deplane for another 45 minutes.
All flights are full, small airport that handles up to 4 or 5 times the number of people that it was originally intended for (small gate areas and corridors), all planes land and leave at the same time, so everyone is in the terminal at the same time.
What's wrong with this scenario.
I first flew through CLT 20 years ago. It was fine then and completely unremarkable in every way. I flew through it again for the first time since then in April. It's now officially my least favorite airport of all time. Narrow walkways and tiny boarding areas = constant crowds. It was just not built for the volume of people that move through it now.
Iām a terminal E guy (home airport connections) and 45 min is my standard. Granted Iām able bodied and not one that needs to wait at a gate for mental comfort (no judgement in that statement!) but I find it was more pleasurable than the other options (DFW/PHL/ORD) and frankly my preference for it over ATL is a huge reason I still fly American over DL.
I used to like coming from landside, however since the renovation and reduction in TSA checkpoints itās now a nightmare trying to get through. Precheck took probably 20 minutes to get through last time I was there. In the past I used the (now gone) D/E Precheck line which I never encountered more than three or four people in.
It isnāt horrible. Itās busy but there is a lot to do to waste time. I do hate when flights get delayed because of plane traffic. And when Iām with my kids I need to hold on to them for dear life because it would be very easy to get separated.
I hate that airport with a passion. I live in upstate SC so while we have regional airports nearby, we almost always have to fly through Charlotte and it sucks because the terminal we fly into is usually on the opposite side of the airport from where my connection is. And the layovers are either less than an hour or 5 hours. Nothing in between.
You can drive from Spartanburg to Charlotte faster than a landed plane can get to the gate. I like GSP but Iād never fly out of it with a connection at CLT.
We live a good 30 minutes south of the GSP airport though so thereās that to consider.
Today we flew from GSP direct to OāHare and that worked much better. At least today. OāHare has its own set of possible issues. Our final destination was MKE so itās like a 20 minute flight and even if something happened to that flight we could get to Milwaukee fairly easy.
I swear, foot traffic came to a complete stop. Hot steamy passengers. I expected to see an EMS team or something to explain the crowd, but nothing. There was no place to confidently walk. just trudging along like you were trying to leave a big concert or something.
The ground crew pranged my aircraft with the bridge and dented it. That was a 4 hour delay. Then we had another hour because our flight crew timed out.
Because of one ground guy who apparently couldn't see where a bloody 737 was.
Always have a 30 minute connection from A to E gates š« people that stand on the moving sidewalks while taking up the entire space instead of standing to the side. š« my other layover option is DFW. During the season changes thatās a big hell no.
I mean, thatās up to you. It is always crowded and people run everywhere. Itās close to a nightmare.
That said, Iāve found a restaurant I really like, and have places I go to āhideā from the crowds.
I experienced MIA when the walkway was down. There are few recognizable food places I knew and with my stomach, I donāt love playing games before a flight š¤£. It was not fun.
Just landed in CLT (E) and am still taxiing. My flight boards in B in 18 minutes. I donāt think I will be making my group 2 boarding and definitely wonāt be getting my usual Admiralās Club gin & tonic.
Iām going to teach you guys something coming from NYC, just politely and firmly yell out āOn your left!ā and people move. There really is no other way.
My flight is delayed because of Charlotte and the weather is perfect. This is always the case which is why I try to connect through MIA or DCA, even DFW if possible
Went thru CLT a couple of weeks ago during Memorial Day weekend. It was packed yes, trick is to have a long enough layover to minimize stress and rushing from one end to the other.
Flights to Miami and many Caribbean destinations delayed and cancelled due to the storms and the local school district just graduated students so many local families able to leave town for the first time.
Idk I hear everyone complain. I have a layover through there in a couple months never gone thru clt before but itās a layover at 4 am so I think Iāll be fine
I breezed through CLT. Landed at C , 30 minutes before departing (soon) from E. Even got the upgrade and a PDB! Probably just dreamingā¦soon Iāll wake up with my briefcase strap caught in the moving walkway and my knee bleeding.
Bad news, they are adding runways
https://www.wcnc.com/article/travel/fourth-parallel-runway-charlotte-douglas-international-airport/275-cb3e66d8-1fa5-4cc9-a2c2-043139c0d18c#
I've been pressed for time and had to run from C to E or E to C.
When that happens I go straight down the center of the aisle yelling "Make way!"
It works because people instinctively move first before they realize what's happening.
From a design standpoint CLT is a very crowded airport. Not my least favorite but itās hard getting through the corridors. Food is decent as compared to Miami. But Miami is more comfortable. I often puzzle on how I can always land in B and fly out D gate. But never missed a flight.
The thing that kills CLT for me (frequently flying from MSY) is the price.
American is reasonable to DFW, but CLT is likeā¦$300 round trip if Iām lucky, and more often $400-$500. Itās crazy.
I just fly breeze to Raleigh instead.
Really remarkable because you see this at plenty of hubs, but I swear nothing matches Charlotte. Thereās just NO competition.
Sure, other hubs you pay a bit of a premium if thereās not much choice, but nowhere seems to match Charlotte. Maybe somewhere I havenāt been to yet, lol.
So many other hubs do have competition though. Multiple airports maybe, or not total lockdowns.
I connect through there for most of my work trips. The problem is I end up in the regional aircraft gate, which is the farthest away from my connection. Due to the flight timing, I need to use the moving walkway, which often has a "Parcheesi Blockade". Excuse me!
I just had to book an itinerary that will force me to connect in Charlotte. I tried everything I could to avoid it, but that was the best option for me given the available flight times. Iām lamenting that right now.
I hate this airport š I flew in one time for a lay over I had to walk almost 30 minutes to the next gate, this airport is definitely wayyyy too over crowded. Definitely will be avoiding this airport in the future
CLT canāt get their shit together to save their lives. I hate that airport and I avoid connecting there at all costs. Iāll go to PHL before I go CLT, and Iām not really a fan of PHL either.
There are less-busy times in CLT... But the banked schedule we have has us setup with the stupid-busy times, and the less-busy times between. Those of us that work in the airport know if we're going to get food, we choose the time wisely.
Itās Fathers Day and US Open in Pinehurst, NC this weekend. It usually sucks in a good day. Itās gonna be bad this weekend. RDU is probably slammed as well.
E to A or B? Yeah you arenāt going to make it.
What I also see missing here is the whole Charlotte area work ethic of āFuck you, Iām busy on my phone.ā
Yeah. Thatās a real thing.
I travel to CLT frequently from Munich and I personally really like the airport, immigration is always smooth and I love the staff members. It can get pretty crowded tho, but I donāt mind it:)
How is it if you're landing and leaving the airport (rather than connecting)? I'll be arriving in the evening, around 8pm, but I'll be at the end of 30 hours of travel soooo I need to mentally prepare myself
It didnāt used to be! Used to be a nice small airport! Charlotte was one of the top cities moved too in last few years, the airport is under construction. I donāt think they planned for it to be as crowded as it is.
CLT was never designed to be such a large hub, I have yet to understand why AA latches on to CLT so heavily given they already have several other east coast hubs (DCA, MIA, LGA/JFK, etc.), both the airport and ACs at CLT are way over capacity making for a frustrating passenger experience. Not to mention, the customs area for arriving international flights is dire need of renovations, not the warmest welcome back into the US with the dated stained carpet from the early 90s and sterile walls.
People here over exaggerate it. The terminals are a bit narrow and can at times feel tight but itās really not that bad. I fly out of CLT every week and rarely have much issue.
There are definitely better airports (drooling in SLC and the new A terminal at EWR) but there are also far worse airports.
Also Charlotte is spending a TON of money upgrading and expanding.
Do you have a crystal ball that told you about the extreme growth the airport would face in the last 15 years? I bet they wish you would have told them about your future telling abilities.
Yes IMO, Dallas at least has layout that can be learned, but it is huge.
Generally speaking, geographic large US airports like DFW, IAD, DEN, ORD, ATL, MCO, MIA, JFK are examples of airports that have good ground flight operations with LONG distances between gates. If you are changing terminals (small plane to big plane or visa versa) leave time and use GPS walking directions to your terminal.
My experience with airports that grew out of military airports are a mixed bag; LAX, LAS, PHX, ELP, ABQ are but a very few examples. Sometimes great flight operations with multiple runways, and others with great new modern terminals. Usually not both.
Small airports are good for first and last stop. Horrible with delays when transferring.
Over crowded? Yes? Especially C. Non-stop anywhere from Key West to Seattle? Yes. A minor inconvenience to go no-stop anywhere. Layovers, I could see that being problematic.
Yeah itās great when you live in Charlotte and have a direct flight everywhere.
Not so great when you have to connect through Charlotte. Iāve been on both sides. After a horrible layover at DCA a few months ago (I picked DCA instead of CLT because I like the views at DCA), Iāve decided to only connect through CLT from now on. Because then, if something inevitably goes wrong, my dad can come pick me up and I get an impromptu visit with my parents.
Special in that it's a day that ends in Y.
Oh god Thursday
š
Was about to say this too!
As in āY did I think a layover here was okay??ā
As crew... CLT is by far the worst. Way overcrowded, was never meant to be a hub for 321s. Give me MIA any day š even that's better
I think MIA D is actually one of the better domestic terminal experiences. E could see some new life being bred into it.
MIA is great as long as youāre connecting and not leaving the airport. And yes, E is like a time capsule.
I just wish you could walk all of the terminals without having to go through security again. It's so arbitrary.
Finally when Alaska moves next to AA in Terminal 1 next week then all 4 terminals will be connected airside. So you can go to the Centurion lounge at SFO and back to the Admirals Club and not have to go through security. And out of all the Centurion lounges I have been to SFO was hands down the least crowded and a very large lounge. I really liked it. I used it when I flew UA recently. I hate airports not linked airside. Here looking at you JFK.
It's just extra irritating at Miami because you can tell that the airport was designed to be connected throughout but somehow it's not. Oh well.
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Uhhhh, no you can't. Try going from to D to H airside without going through security again.
My bad, I thought you were talking about CLT
You'll be happy to know E is getting new life. It's gonna take a while, but down on E, we're the black sheep and they just started work on E to make it match the other concourses (terrazzo flooring, new lighting and signage, etc) and the newest part of E as well (E40s)
Yes! And throw in some LaCaretta, too!
I hated Miami last week flying through there for the first time, that place was the one bright spot. I was shocked by how fair the prices were too.
The same can be said about PHL. US Airways biggest mistake was closing the PIT hub.
Every time Iām at CLT I feel like Iām in midtown Manhattan, dodging people left and right. Half expect a guy in a knockoff Elmo costume to show up.
IAD gives me that crowded feeling too. Especially when youāre flying international and they have like 10 gates right at the end all with wide bodies leaving at the same time and maybe 100 seats, lol
Good news! Iāll be flying from IAD to DFW and connecting through CLT in a couple of weeks. I get to experience the best of both worlds in one day! Sigh. I really donāt like the available flight options between IAD and DFW on AA. Most of them connect through CLT, unless I wanted to leave at 6 am or wait almost 24 hours after my work trip ends at 5:13 pm. I did the 6 am last month (and it was 6:50 then), and Iām not doing that again.
lol, a truly magical experience.
I can never even find it.
It really doesnāt help when people do their imitations of a tree in the middle of the walkways. Wanna stand around looking stupid? Step to the side FFS.
I live in Charlotte and drive to Greensboro sometimes just to feel something.
As someone who lives in Winston this is hilarious to me š
Feels like a high school turned into an airport!
Itās also cheaper a lot of times! I live near RDU and flying out of RDU through CLT to my destination city is cheaper than me driving to CLT and taking a direct flight.
No itās human gridlock all day every day. The airport was not built to be a modern hub. It was designed to have 70-140 seat aircraft parked at it. Instead it is now filled to the brim with 190 seat A321ās parked everywhere. Iāve even seen them start to park multiple 777ās on the B concourse. The end result is the B and C concourses and the area between them are GROSSLY overcrowded.
And for some unknown reason... everyone decides to stand up, crowd the aisle, and wait... from about 20 min BEFORE boarding starts until they are on the plane. ... Hello people, everyone has an assigned seat, being the first person in group 7 doesn't help... just sit and wait, don't stand in the aisle!
Honestly while this happens the seating areas are usually still full which goes back to the problem of the gates not being designed for larger aircraft. Thereās no place to sit within earshot of the gate
Blame American Airlinesā¦i mean USAirways
The walkways are just too narrow. It's not as bad as everyone here says, but they do get tight, especially if gates on opposite sides board about the same time. Just push though.
Thatās really the only issue. My only gripe with CLT is that they didnāt expand the walkways with the most recent renovations.
You should have seen it *before* the upgrade.
Traffic going through CLT has quadruple but Upgrades only accommodated doubled. It's worst now.
Yeah, itās landlocked so expansion possibilities are limited. Should move it into SC (like CVG) and have the approach come over Carowinds as an extra feature for some of the rides there!
Yes, years ago when I flew out of CLT monthly it was completely different. Iām shocked at how crowded it is now. I used to be able to be in and through security in 10 mins.
10lbs of shit in a 5lbs bag, that's why.. Overcrowded it and it's not able to handle it.
Local tip-if you have an extended layover and your gate is in E, C or even B, head to D concourse. Plenty of seating, usually, and itās a wider more open concourse.
The gates at the end of the B and C concourse are too congested. A and E are not as bad.
5 A321s parked at the end of B with departures all within 20-30 minutes of each other due to the banked hub. Boarding announcements struggle for air time on the PA. People hear āboardingā and assume itās their flight. 700 people in an area meant to seat 150. Welcome the Charlotte. We love you.
This is something I can for sure agree with. Seems like gates at the end of B or C are always boarding at the same time and it's a lot of people in a space that couldn't possibly have been designed for it. When I have time to kill, the high-number A gates are usually where I'll wander off to. Not many people around, especially the upper level. Good place for a restroom stop.
Thatās exactly my hiding spot in CLT.
Thereās an upper level? Whatās up there?
Basically nothing. Which is the treat! A handful of rocking chairs. A restroom that maybe like 0.1% of passengers know about, in an already quiet area of the airport. There's been a little area up there that's been marked off for construction for a bit, like maybe large enough for a coffee shop, but that's about it.
Donāt give away all the secrets!
You cannot over emphasize how bad CLT is. I will never ever schedule through there again. Million miler (3 airlines), long time EP, and CLT is the worst. Not only are flight operations shakey but the terminals were designed for a regional operations leading to packed facilities around the clock. The ground staff are just exhausted. I have been to all 50 states, all Canadian provinces and most Mexican states north of Mexico City and CLT never missed the opportunity to remind me to take a bus as it might be faster than going through CLT.
Thanks for the responses
Flight operations shaky? Please give more details.
The new runway is used for arrivals. That means the inbound traffic needs to cross the live outbound runway to get to the terminal. They didnāt build a ramp around the end like Atlanta did. So you sit and wait because they donāt leave enough breaks in the outbound for crossing. Then 8-10 planes cross at once to the worst laid out ramps ever. If one plane if pushing in the wrong spot, everyone waits until itās done. Then you proceed to the narrow alleyways that canāt support simultaneous pushback and arrival. Shall I continue?
That is what I saw everytime I took off; a line of planes waiting to cross over. Channeling Brian Regan. I was sitting next to a AA pilot flying into CLT and told me a story of a very drunk ground crew employee who commandeered a luggage train and took it joy riding. Unfortunately he flipped at the tunnel blocking access for hours. He said the backup was monumental. I felt so "lucky" that day to only be delayed 5 hours
The ramp layout is straight garbage. Leading to long times waiting to pushback and park while waiting on the alleyway to clear.
I haven't had a flight that got to the gate without waiting. One time it was an hour waiting til a gate was open
CTL seems to take the longest from landing to opening the jetway door. You think youāre going to make your connection as you taxi to your gate, and then youāre stuck itching to deplane for another 45 minutes.
Yea and worse
Yea and worse
Itās in a line. If you get out at one gate and have to go to the other end, itās a long walk with no real assistance
All flights are full, small airport that handles up to 4 or 5 times the number of people that it was originally intended for (small gate areas and corridors), all planes land and leave at the same time, so everyone is in the terminal at the same time. What's wrong with this scenario.
I first flew through CLT 20 years ago. It was fine then and completely unremarkable in every way. I flew through it again for the first time since then in April. It's now officially my least favorite airport of all time. Narrow walkways and tiny boarding areas = constant crowds. It was just not built for the volume of people that move through it now.
I like CLT. *shrug*
Itās nice if you have a few hours to spare. If you only have a 45 minute connection it can be tight and stressful.
Iām a terminal E guy (home airport connections) and 45 min is my standard. Granted Iām able bodied and not one that needs to wait at a gate for mental comfort (no judgement in that statement!) but I find it was more pleasurable than the other options (DFW/PHL/ORD) and frankly my preference for it over ATL is a huge reason I still fly American over DL.
Damn E terminal makes me sad when I see it on the boarding pass.
Itās like a dungeon. (Just went through Sunday and will need to go through Saturday if my flight from Key west actually makes it out)
As an AVL user, your experience sounds very similar to mine
I used to like coming from landside, however since the renovation and reduction in TSA checkpoints itās now a nightmare trying to get through. Precheck took probably 20 minutes to get through last time I was there. In the past I used the (now gone) D/E Precheck line which I never encountered more than three or four people in.
Yeah, I've never had any issues when flying through Charlotte. I fly through 4 or 5 times a year, though.
Me too. So many worse airports in my opinion and I donāt get the shade that Charlotte gets.
Same. There's much worse airports IMHO
It isnāt horrible. Itās busy but there is a lot to do to waste time. I do hate when flights get delayed because of plane traffic. And when Iām with my kids I need to hold on to them for dear life because it would be very easy to get separated.
I have been to worse airports. I actually switched a flight from DFW to CLT because itās busy but not insane.
I hate that airport with a passion. I live in upstate SC so while we have regional airports nearby, we almost always have to fly through Charlotte and it sucks because the terminal we fly into is usually on the opposite side of the airport from where my connection is. And the layovers are either less than an hour or 5 hours. Nothing in between.
You can drive from Spartanburg to Charlotte faster than a landed plane can get to the gate. I like GSP but Iād never fly out of it with a connection at CLT.
We live a good 30 minutes south of the GSP airport though so thereās that to consider. Today we flew from GSP direct to OāHare and that worked much better. At least today. OāHare has its own set of possible issues. Our final destination was MKE so itās like a 20 minute flight and even if something happened to that flight we could get to Milwaukee fairly easy.
Just walk confidently. Not an issue.
Accelerate to ramming speed!
I swear, foot traffic came to a complete stop. Hot steamy passengers. I expected to see an EMS team or something to explain the crowd, but nothing. There was no place to confidently walk. just trudging along like you were trying to leave a big concert or something.
With headphones in and say EXCUSE ME loudly. -former Charlotte resident
No. It's worse.
The ground crew pranged my aircraft with the bridge and dented it. That was a 4 hour delay. Then we had another hour because our flight crew timed out. Because of one ground guy who apparently couldn't see where a bloody 737 was.
Yes avoid at all cost if you can
The infrastructure of a mid size airport with the traffic of a major hub. Yes dear reader it is that bad.
Always have a 30 minute connection from A to E gates š« people that stand on the moving sidewalks while taking up the entire space instead of standing to the side. š« my other layover option is DFW. During the season changes thatās a big hell no.
I mean, thatās up to you. It is always crowded and people run everywhere. Itās close to a nightmare. That said, Iāve found a restaurant I really like, and have places I go to āhideā from the crowds. I experienced MIA when the walkway was down. There are few recognizable food places I knew and with my stomach, I donāt love playing games before a flight š¤£. It was not fun.
Terminal E had entered the chat
Just landed in CLT (E) and am still taxiing. My flight boards in B in 18 minutes. I donāt think I will be making my group 2 boarding and definitely wonāt be getting my usual Admiralās Club gin & tonic.
Yeah clt is a clit
Iām going to teach you guys something coming from NYC, just politely and firmly yell out āOn your left!ā and people move. There really is no other way.
My flight is delayed because of Charlotte and the weather is perfect. This is always the case which is why I try to connect through MIA or DCA, even DFW if possible
Went thru CLT a couple of weeks ago during Memorial Day weekend. It was packed yes, trick is to have a long enough layover to minimize stress and rushing from one end to the other.
Donāt worry. AA thinks the MCT at Charlotte is 25-30 min.
I will never complain about an airport that allows me to get from gate to gate without taking a train/tram/bus/burro.
I got no problem with CLT.
Yeah it's not bad at all.
Flights to Miami and many Caribbean destinations delayed and cancelled due to the storms and the local school district just graduated students so many local families able to leave town for the first time.
Idk I hear everyone complain. I have a layover through there in a couple months never gone thru clt before but itās a layover at 4 am so I think Iāll be fine
They build containers for wide body departures on the gate
I breezed through CLT. Landed at C , 30 minutes before departing (soon) from E. Even got the upgrade and a PDB! Probably just dreamingā¦soon Iāll wake up with my briefcase strap caught in the moving walkway and my knee bleeding.
Bad news, they are adding runways https://www.wcnc.com/article/travel/fourth-parallel-runway-charlotte-douglas-international-airport/275-cb3e66d8-1fa5-4cc9-a2c2-043139c0d18c#
Itās Charlotte itās always like that
Yes. Yes it is.
EVERY DAMN DAY
How is it not a fire hazard??? Hate it
I've been pressed for time and had to run from C to E or E to C. When that happens I go straight down the center of the aisle yelling "Make way!" It works because people instinctively move first before they realize what's happening.
From a design standpoint CLT is a very crowded airport. Not my least favorite but itās hard getting through the corridors. Food is decent as compared to Miami. But Miami is more comfortable. I often puzzle on how I can always land in B and fly out D gate. But never missed a flight.
The thing that kills CLT for me (frequently flying from MSY) is the price. American is reasonable to DFW, but CLT is likeā¦$300 round trip if Iām lucky, and more often $400-$500. Itās crazy. I just fly breeze to Raleigh instead.
CLT is my home airport and it's ridiculously expensive compared to other airports. There's no competition and the prices show.
Really remarkable because you see this at plenty of hubs, but I swear nothing matches Charlotte. Thereās just NO competition. Sure, other hubs you pay a bit of a premium if thereās not much choice, but nowhere seems to match Charlotte. Maybe somewhere I havenāt been to yet, lol. So many other hubs do have competition though. Multiple airports maybe, or not total lockdowns.
I connect through there for most of my work trips. The problem is I end up in the regional aircraft gate, which is the farthest away from my connection. Due to the flight timing, I need to use the moving walkway, which often has a "Parcheesi Blockade". Excuse me!
Worst airport ever built. Soo many mouth breathers and stupid layouts
After flying for 13 years weekly, I have finally started to avoid CLT when I have to make a connection. It never ends well.
I just had to book an itinerary that will force me to connect in Charlotte. I tried everything I could to avoid it, but that was the best option for me given the available flight times. Iām lamenting that right now.
On top of all the gridlock are the people who never get their asses out of the rocking chairs
I hate this airport š I flew in one time for a lay over I had to walk almost 30 minutes to the next gate, this airport is definitely wayyyy too over crowded. Definitely will be avoiding this airport in the future
Yes
itās so so bad. Iāve never seen more people sprinting for their next flight than at CLT in the evenings. it happens every single time
I fly Delta if there is a connection but I have flown into clit many times. Iām a non stop man and canāt be bothered with layovers.
Sorry but I gotta laugh at your autocorrect š¤£ š
Not to mention too that that's how I pronounce CLT to myself as I'm reading it š¤£
Some people play with the little man in the canoe. Others go kamikaze.
I didn't have a problem with CLT until AA misdirected my luggage and it took 5 days to get it back
I can never find it!
Yes
Today is my first day on this sub, and yes CLT is the airport where I'd tell my worst enemy to connect through.
CLT canāt get their shit together to save their lives. I hate that airport and I avoid connecting there at all costs. Iāll go to PHL before I go CLT, and Iām not really a fan of PHL either.
There are less-busy times in CLT... But the banked schedule we have has us setup with the stupid-busy times, and the less-busy times between. Those of us that work in the airport know if we're going to get food, we choose the time wisely.
Yes.
I fly from BWI to CLT to go to various Caribbean islands at least once a year. I have never had any trouble. Knocking on wood šŖµā¦.
The city has always been very reactionary to updating and expanding the airport.
Last week the gate agent told me itās summerā¦ Precheck and lines for priority check in have been absolutely horrible and ridiculous.
Itās Fathers Day and US Open in Pinehurst, NC this weekend. It usually sucks in a good day. Itās gonna be bad this weekend. RDU is probably slammed as well.
It was yesterday.
E to A or B? Yeah you arenāt going to make it. What I also see missing here is the whole Charlotte area work ethic of āFuck you, Iām busy on my phone.ā Yeah. Thatās a real thing.
I fly from Knoxville, and it seems all my connections are through CLT or ATL (when flying Delta). I much prefer CLT.
Itās that bad
Worst AA hub. For whatever thatās worth.
Hey PHL is the worst stop lying yāall hahah
I travel to CLT frequently from Munich and I personally really like the airport, immigration is always smooth and I love the staff members. It can get pretty crowded tho, but I donāt mind it:)
It's bad. Really bad. I hate taxiing there. Always slow and congested.
I'm going tomorrow!!! Ughhh.
Clt is hectic
How is it if you're landing and leaving the airport (rather than connecting)? I'll be arriving in the evening, around 8pm, but I'll be at the end of 30 hours of travel soooo I need to mentally prepare myself
It didnāt used to be! Used to be a nice small airport! Charlotte was one of the top cities moved too in last few years, the airport is under construction. I donāt think they planned for it to be as crowded as it is.
CLT was never designed to be such a large hub, I have yet to understand why AA latches on to CLT so heavily given they already have several other east coast hubs (DCA, MIA, LGA/JFK, etc.), both the airport and ACs at CLT are way over capacity making for a frustrating passenger experience. Not to mention, the customs area for arriving international flights is dire need of renovations, not the warmest welcome back into the US with the dated stained carpet from the early 90s and sterile walls.
Once you find it, itās amazing apparently!!!
just flew through CLT to visit my parents a few days ago and it was hands down the busiest/worst airport, in all ways!
Itās gridlock because everyone is complaining on Reddit instead of just walking to their gate.
People here over exaggerate it. The terminals are a bit narrow and can at times feel tight but itās really not that bad. I fly out of CLT every week and rarely have much issue. There are definitely better airports (drooling in SLC and the new A terminal at EWR) but there are also far worse airports. Also Charlotte is spending a TON of money upgrading and expanding.
They are about 15 years too late on spending the money to upgrade it.
Depends on which terminal youāre in. The new A terminal is nice however that terminal service other airlines besides America.
Do you have a crystal ball that told you about the extreme growth the airport would face in the last 15 years? I bet they wish you would have told them about your future telling abilities.
A master plan would have included the growth in flights and facilities togetherā¦ā¦ā¦
Not really when US Airways sprung all this extra traffic on them and PHL when they closed the PIT hub. CLT and PHL hasn't be able to catch up since
Itās been 20 years since PIT was de-hubbed. Entire airports have been built in that window. CLT has had plenty of time to catch up.
But they didn't and there's the issue. CLT never fixed the issues and now they are really feeling the burn. CLT is AA's second biggest hub after DFW.
Which is why CLT sucks.
I only connect in CLT if I'm flying south or want Bojangles š.
I've been through CLT over a dozen times and never had it that packed.
CLT BAD!!! KAMRA please!!!!! Hive mind!!!!
Is CLT worse than Dallas? Just curious for layovers in the future.
Yes IMO, Dallas at least has layout that can be learned, but it is huge. Generally speaking, geographic large US airports like DFW, IAD, DEN, ORD, ATL, MCO, MIA, JFK are examples of airports that have good ground flight operations with LONG distances between gates. If you are changing terminals (small plane to big plane or visa versa) leave time and use GPS walking directions to your terminal. My experience with airports that grew out of military airports are a mixed bag; LAX, LAS, PHX, ELP, ABQ are but a very few examples. Sometimes great flight operations with multiple runways, and others with great new modern terminals. Usually not both. Small airports are good for first and last stop. Horrible with delays when transferring.
100 times yes.
Good to know. š
Over crowded? Yes? Especially C. Non-stop anywhere from Key West to Seattle? Yes. A minor inconvenience to go no-stop anywhere. Layovers, I could see that being problematic.
Yeah itās great when you live in Charlotte and have a direct flight everywhere. Not so great when you have to connect through Charlotte. Iāve been on both sides. After a horrible layover at DCA a few months ago (I picked DCA instead of CLT because I like the views at DCA), Iāve decided to only connect through CLT from now on. Because then, if something inevitably goes wrong, my dad can come pick me up and I get an impromptu visit with my parents.
Flew from CLT to LAX today. No issue here.