The holiday rush is underway at Charlotte airport. Here’s how to survive the crowds.
Expect long lines at ticket counters and security checkpoints as the Christmas travel rush begins Thursday at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, officials warned Wednesday.
“Plan ahead,” officials posted on CLTAirport.com, advising passengers to arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international travel.
The airport expects large crowds through Monday, Jan. 2, with about 71,000 passengers on peak days. A normal day sees around 66,000 fliers, officials said.
Extra staff will help passengers in the departures/ticketing area and curbside.
The only slow days? Fewer travelers are expected on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, according to the airport.
Advice to passengers
The airport also advises passengers to:
▪ Check estimated TSA security wait times on CLTAirport.com and the airport app that’s available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
▪ Register for TSA PreCheck at TSA.gov/precheck, which gets you through the lines faster.
▪ Visit the airport app or parkCLT.com to book parking online for the best rates. Same-day booking is limited and must be made at least three hours in advance, airport officials said.
▪ Ask someone to drop you off at the airport or find alternate transportation to the terminal.
For the airport’s 21,000 public parking spaces, airport officials expect parking to be in high demand Sunday, Dec. 18, through Monday, Jan. 2.
▪ Drive-up parking will be available. View the CLT real-time parking map or call 704-359-5555 for updated parking availability. On Wednesday night, the map showed that overflow lots 1, 2 and 3 were full.
▪ Drivers picking up passengers can wait in the free cell phone lot on Josh Birmingham Parkway.
Only credit cards are accepted for airport parking. Cashiers are unavailable at exit tolls. Cash is accepted only at CLT’s Pay&Go stations located in the Hourly Deck.
Worst travel days
Airport officials expect the heaviest traffic on Thursday, Dec. 22, Friday, Dec. 23, and Monday, Jan. 2.
Haven’t been to the airport lately?
The 90,000-square-foot terminal lobby expansion west side opened in July. If you enter the terminal’s upper or lower levels on the west side, you won’t immediately see ticket counters, security checkpoints and luggage carousels. Signs point you in the right direction.