Spring Break Travel Will Be a Different Experience at CLT Airport. What to Expect

The Federal Aviation Administration says Thursday will be the busiest travel day across the country, even in Charlotte.

By Chyna Blackmon

Source The Charlotte Observer(TNS)

April 6, 2023

3 min read

Spring break season is here, and it’s expected to be a busy weekend for travelers.

The Federal Aviation Administration says Thursday will be the busiest travel day across the country, even in Charlotte.

An estimated 170,000 people are expected to travel through Charlotte Douglas International Airport Thursday through Monday in addition to the 53,000 daily passengers connecting through Charlotte.

The busiest local travel days will be Thursday, Friday and Monday, so there will be additional staff in the lobby to guide and assist travelers, according to airport officials.

But there will also likely be longer lines and longer wait times to go through security because of current ongoing construction,The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

So not only will it be busy getting to and from the airport, it’ll also be a little bit different to navigate inside, too. Here’s what you need to know if you plan on flying through Charlotte for spring break.

Airport parking

There are more than 21,000 parking spaces at the airport for drivers to leave their cars for up to 30 days. You can either get a spot on a first-come, first-served basis or pre-book on the airport website or mobile app. Booking online is cheaper and allows you to change any plans if needed.

There are nine lots to choose from, including the newly opened Express Deck Self-Park Deck for arrivals. Customers can book online at parkCLT.com and on the CLT Airport app. They’ll pay a daily maximum of $16, and airport officials said the price may be lower the farther out you book.

Security and construction

Construction is still going on for the Terminal Lobby Expansion at security Checkpoint B, formerly used for security, is closed. TSA has moved to other checkpoints and will open additional lanes based on daily passenger projections.

Airport officials suggest getting there at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. You can also check security wait times online or on the airport app.

The Airport Information Desk moved across from Door 1 near the closed Checkpoint B area. There is also a new exit lane for Checkpoint A. New ticket counters for Delta, Air Canada, JetBlue, Contour, Frontier, Southwest and United Airlines also moved to new spots on the terminal lobby’s west side.

Delayed or canceled flights

The Charlotte airport app has 48-hour flight tracking with status updates so you can check for any delays or cancellations.

The Department of Transportation also launched a customer service dashboard that outlines policies on controllable cancellations and delays.

On the agency’s website, travelers can check what accommodations each airline offers in specific circumstances, like refunds, vouchers, and complimentary transportation.