Labor Day marks the unofficial end of the summer travel season. Nationally, about 12.6 million passengers are scheduled to fly from U.S airports from Thursday, Sept. 1 to Monday, Sept. 5, according to Hopper, an online travel agency and app.
CLT will be busy during this time (Thursday, Sept. 1 to Monday, Sept. 5) with approximately 315,000 passengers flying to, from and through Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
By comparison, CLT welcomed around 330,000 passengers Labor Day weekend 2019 (pre-COVID).
The largest crowds will arrive today and Friday, Sept. 2 with approximately 80,000 passengers on each of those days.
If traveling this holiday, remember to arrive early. TSA recommends passengers be in line at the airline check in counter or security screening area at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.
Parking lots and decks will fill fast. To guarantee the availability of preferred parking options and for the best rates, visit parkCLT.com or the CLT Airport app to book official Airport parking online. Same-day booking is limited for all products, with a minimum of six hours in advance.
Passengers who do not book online are strongly encouraged to check parking availability on the CLT real-time parking map or call 704.359.5555 for the latest parking conditions.
Please note: Only credit cards are accepted for all Airport parking. Cashiers are not available at exit tolls. Cash is only accepted at CLT’s pay-on-foot machines located in the Hourly Deck.
New to the terminal, approximately 90,000 square feet of the Terminal Lobby Expansion’s west side debuted in July. When approaching the Airport, Door 2 on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim level and Doors 1 and 2 on Departures/Ticketing level are open.
As passengers enter on either the terminal’s upper or lower levels on the west side, ticket counters, security checkpoints and luggage carousels are not immediately visible. Signage has been installed to point customers in the right direction.
New Concession Debuts
This month, CommonSpace opened on the D/E Connector, across from The Plaza. The eatery offers craft cocktails along with locally roasted Counter Culture Coffee (a coffee brand founded in North Carolina). CommonSpace also sells locally baked pastries, scones and croissants (locally sourced from Neomonde Bakery in Morrisville, N.C.) in addition to fresh handmade sandwiches.
Stay Safe, Travel Safe
CLT safety measures remain in place with housekeeping and Airport staff regularly conducting daily cleanings and nightly deep cleanings in the Airport’s terminal and on buses. Visit Stay Safe, Travel safe web page for additional information.
Face Masks Available
Face masks are no longer required at the Airport, but they are still available at the TSA checkpoint podiums, the Airport Information Desk in Ticketing and the Visitor Info Center in Baggage Claim for those who want to wear one while traveling.
Check Security Wait Times
Travelers can see real-time security wait times at each checkpoint, including Standard and TSA PreCheck® lines on cltairport.com or on the Airport app, which is available through the App Store or on Google Play. Wait times can change frequently. Remember to check often.
Aira On-Demand Visual Interpreting
Passengers who are blind or have low vision can access Aira, the visual interpreting service, for free while at CLT. The Aira app connects passengers with a live Aira agent who can visually interpret their surroundings via the user’s smartphone camera.
Please Be Patient
As a reminder, please be patient and courteous. Airport employees are working hard to make your travel experience simple, safe and enjoyable.