How to track flights, delays, TSA wait times at CLT Airport for holiday travel
With the government shutdown now over, Charlotte Douglas International Airport is gearing up for a busy Thanksgiving travel period, with nearly 2 million passengers expected between Thursday, Nov. 20 and Tuesday, Dec. 2.
That’s slightly below last year’s record numbers, but officials say travelers should still prepare for heavy crowds at security and throughout the terminal.
Busiest Thanksgiving travel days
The busiest days are projected to be Saturday Nov. 29 through Monday, Dec. 1, when more than 178,000 people are expected to pass through the airport. American Airlines alone will operate about 8,000 of the more than 9,000 scheduled departures during the 13-day stretch.
If you’re planning to travel during the holiday week, here’s what you need to know.
Wait times at CLT Airport
Check real-time standard security and TSA PreCheck wait times at cltairport.com/airport-info/security.
You can also find real-time bus wait times at cltairport.com/airport-info/bus-wait-times.
How to check the status of your CLT flight
You can easily keep up with your flight by downloading the free Charlotte Airport app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, or by visiting cltairport.com/flights.
Just tap “Flights” at the bottom, search by city or airport, and use the filters to check departures or arrivals.
If you want to double-check with your airline, here are some helpful websites and phone numbers you can use to look up your flight status:
- Delta Airlines: 1-800-221-1212
- American Airlines: 800-433-7300
- Southwest Airlines: 1-800-435-9792
- United Airlines: 1-800-864-8331
- JetBlue: 1-800-538-2583
- Spirit Airlines: 1-855-728-3555
- Allegiant Air: 1-702-505-8888
You can also check the status of your flight on FlightAware by searching by flight number, origin or destination.
What to do if your flight is delayed, cancelled
If your flight gets delayed, the U.S. Department of Transportation says you can usually try switching to another flight on your airline through its website or app.
You can also ask to be moved to a different airline, but they don’t have to honor that request or reimburse you if you buy a new ticket elsewhere.
When a flight is canceled, most airlines will rebook you on the next available option for free. And if you decide not to travel because of the cancellation, you’re entitled to a full refund, even on non-refundable tickets.
CLT Airport parking
Travelers are encouraged to check out the airport’s “Don’t Wing It, Prepare to Fly!” guide for tips on parking, the Royalty Program, REAL ID rules and dining or shopping options.
Airport staff strongly recommend booking parking ahead of time at parkCLT.com or through the CLT Airport app, and try to get to your reserved spot at least 30 minutes before you head into the terminal.
Once inside, plan to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one.
Thanksgiving 2025
Here’s everything you need to know about Thanksgiving week in the Charlotte area.
- Some restaurants are open on Thanksgiving day. Here’s a list.
- Only a handful of grocery stores are open (with limited hours) on Thursday. Learn which ones.
- Flying for the holiday? Follow these travel tips to avoid CLT’s usual Thanksgiving mayhem.
- Know which roads are closed for Charlotte’s Thanksgiving Eve Parade, plus how to watch it from home.
- Trash pickup schedules change for the holiday. Check your town.
- Liquor stores change their hours too, but here’s where you can still buy booze.
- Cold weather is expected around Thanksgiving. Here’s how chilly it could get.
- Thanksgiving travel could be impacted by severe weather conditions throughout the country.
- Many malls and stores are shifting their hours for Black Friday. Here’s how early they’ll open.
The Charlotte Observer’s Chase Jordan contributed to this story, which has been updated.
Inspired by a story from the Fort Wort Star-Telegram in Texas.
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM.
