Use these tips on parking and pickups to better survive CLT and Thanksgiving travel
As thousands get ready to head to Charlotte Douglas International Airport this week, travelers should expect long lines and full parking lots, airport officials say.
The airport has about 21,000 public parking spaces, airport chief operating officer Jack Christine told reporters last week.
He expects most of those parking spaces will be gone by Thursday.
The airport’s busiest day this week is expected to be Sunday, with 35,000 local passengers, Christine said.
That’s nearly on par with pre-pandemic Thanksgiving travel — the airport saw 38,000 local passengers on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2019.
Here are a few parking, pick-up and drop-off tips for navigating the Charlotte airport over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Parking
Airport travelers can book parking spots with the airport online for a discount. Those spots must be booked at least 12 hours before arrival.
Parking rates at CLT were increased in July. The new rates are: $24 maximum daily charge for the hourly deck, $16 daily charge for the express deck, $12 for the daily deck and $10 daily charge for long-term lots.
That’s just one of the online tools available for airport travelers. The airport also offers a real-time look at security checkpoint wait times.
Other companies offer airport parking spots too, like the Parking Spot, at 6210 Wilkinson Blvd. The company provides a shuttle service with 24/7 pickup.
Christine said Thanksgiving travelers should plan far ahead for parking. If customers are still looking for parking, catching a ride or taking a ride-share might be a good option.
Pickup and drop off
Uber launched a new pickup feature in October for travelers at more than 20 airports, including at CLT.
The ride share company launched Uber Reserve last year, allowing customers to book trips in advance. With the newest feature, the app will allow customers to book up to 30 days in advance and submit flight information so drivers can adjust their arrival based on the customer’s flight information.
The driver will also wait up to 60 minutes at the airport at no additional charge, according to Uber.
Anyone dropping people off at the airport over the busy holiday season should be prepared for heavy traffic, Christine said.
Follow instructions from traffic control officers, Christine said. And traffic often gets worse when drivers crowd at the first doors of the drop off curb, he added.
“Understand that the traffic is going to be very, very heavy,” he said. “And we want to make sure that those customers are moving through that part of the process as quickly as we can.”
People picking up travelers at the airport can also temporarily park at the hourly deck or the cell phone lot while they wait for travelers to make their way to the curb. The cell phone lot, located to the right of Josh Birmingham Parkway next to long term lot 1, is free.
The hourly deck is free for the first hour, with spaces available on levels 4 through 7.
Construction changes
Passengers headed to the Charlotte airport for the first time in months will see changes to the terminal lobby due to construction.
The biggest change in recent months is new exit and entry doors to the terminal.
In August and again in September, the airport opened new doors and closed others as construction on the airport’s $608-million terminal lobby expansion project shifted to the east end of the lobby, near Checkpoint E.
On the departures and ticketing level, Doors 1, 5 and the center door will be open. Doors 2, 3 and 4 are closed.
On the arrivals and baggage claim level, Door 1 and the center door are open. Doors 2, 3 and 4 are closed.
This story was originally published November 23, 2021 at 11:28 AM.
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