This Thanksgiving, the dinner table has some competition as the hottest holiday destination. The Airport is expecting its biggest travel season yet with an estimated 1.02 million passengers departing CLT Thursday, Nov. 21 through Monday, Dec. 2. That’s 7% above last year.
The busiest days will be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Saturday, Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving with over 90,000 departing passengers daily. Projections show on each of those days more than 38,000 local passengers will pass through TSA checkpoints at CLT, outpacing this year’s average of approximately 33,400 daily security screenings.
If there’s one piece of travel advice to adhere to this holiday season it’s this: be inside the terminal at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. Security wait times are expected to reach up to 45 minutes during peak traffic.
Where to Park?
Just like a shopping mall during the holidays, parking will be in high demand. Passengers are strongly advised to book parking online at parkCLT.com and or on the CLT Airport App. Drive-up parking may be available in Valet, the Hourly Deck and Long Term 2; however, spaces will be in high demand. Booking your parking online is the only way to guarantee a spot and receive the best rates.
Traffic and More Traffic!
Airport roadways will be extremely crowded, so expect heavier-than-usual traffic. To make your trip as smooth as possible, remember to allow extra time for the commute – up to 30 minutes extra for your trip to the terminal.
Upon approaching the Airport, CLT is asking drivers to not block the intersections at Wilkinson Boulevard/Harlee Avenue, Wilkinson Boulevard/Josh Birmingham Parkway and Wilkinson Boulevard/Airport Beacon Drive. This will help ease traffic congestion.
What Are CLT’s Holiday Plans?
The Airport is taking an active role in enhancing the customer experience by:
- Adding more Airport personnel in public spaces, many will be dressed in bright yellow vests to easily spot
- Expanding law enforcement presence at busy intersections
- Increasing communications regarding Airport status via social media and partnerships with CDOT and NCDOT
- Adjusting traffic signals to facilitate a smoother flow of traffic into and around the Airport
- Continuously monitoring roadways and traffic flow and making adjustments as necessary
Don’t Wing It, Prepare to Fly
Now is not the time to wing it. The best gameplan is to come prepared. Passengers are encouraged to keep the following tips in mind when flying during the holidays.
- The Airport will be busy. Expect crowds and long lines at security checkpoints.
- Keep an eye on shuttle bus wait times on the CLT Airport App or website.
- Visit tsa.gov to learn what’s allowed through security checkpoints. Check with your airline for any additional restrictions for what is allowed on your aircraft.
- Monitor estimated security wait times on CLT’s website or app and remember any checkpoint can get you to any gate. Wait times can change frequently, therefore, check often. TSA strives to keep security wait times to 30 minutes or less for standard screening and under 15 minutes for TSA PreCheck®.
- Drivers who are picking up passengers should take advantage of CLT’s free Cell Phone Lot located on Josh Birmingham Parkway and wait 20 to 30 minutes after the plane lands before driving to the terminal.
What’s New at CLT?
If you have not flown out of CLT recently, the Airport has had a few upgrades over the last few months. Three inner roadway lanes on the Departures/Ticketing level at the terminal entrance opened on Nov. 13.
Passenger walkways between the Hourly Deck and terminal debuted at the end of July. All pedestrians traveling to or from each structure must use those walkways or the underground walkways. Roadway crossings to and from the Hourly Deck are prohibited on the lower level in order to keep traffic moving.
CLT debuted the second expansion of Concourse A on Sept. 17. The 200,000-square-foot addition is home to: seven Delta Air Lines gates, two Frontier Airlines gates and one common use gate. It also has four concessions (Dunkin’, Crown Diner, Great Wagon Road
Distilling Company and Market Place).
Grab Some Turkey before Takeoff
If traveling on Thanksgiving Day, Brookwood Farms in the Atrium is offering a traditional holiday meal with turkey, ham, gravy, cornbread dressing, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes and desserts. It’s North Carolina, so of course barbecue also will be on the menu.
Stay Connected – We Need You!
CLT is here for all the good vibes this season! Remember to follow, like and subscribe to @cltairport on Facebook, Instagram and X for the latest Airport news, updates and travel tips.