Updated May 26, 2025 – Several updates noted with “UPDATE MAY 2025”
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is now ranked among the top 10 busiest airports in the United States. CLT has one terminal with five concourses and is one of the main hubs for American Airlines (AA) and American Eagle, a regional subsidiary of AA.
During my travels, most of my connections are at CLT. My local airport is a small regional airport served only by AA and Delta Air Lines, and at the moment, AA, my preferred carrier, is only offering non-stop flights to Miami, Charlotte, and Dallas.
Overall, my experience at CLT has been positive as the airport is easy to navigate, offers travelers great amenities, and has clean facilities. Also, compared to other international airports, CLT is compact, which makes walking distances between concourses reasonable and eliminates the need for shuttles. The only problems I have encountered at this airport are the overcrowding in Concourses B and C and the inefficient TSA security checkpoints.
CLT consists of 5 concourses, and as it serves as a major hub for AA, most flights are operated by that airline. Concourse A has two sections: the first is for domestic U.S. flights operated solely by AA, and the second is for flights operated by other carriers, such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Concourses B and C are designated for domestic U.S. flights operated by American Airlines. Concourse D is the international concourse. It is from here that all international flights arrive and depart, and where travelers clear U.S. Customs. Finally, Concourse E is where you’ll find most of the arrivals and departures for American Eagle.
Approximate walking that I calculated during 3 of my connections:
- Concourse E to Concourse C (Gate C6) – Approximately 15 minutes
- Concourse E (Gate E37) to Concourse B (Gate B3) – Approximately 25 minutes (Thursday 5:00 PM, very crowded walkways)
- Concourse B (Gate B12) to Concourse E (Gate E32) – Approximately 15 minutes
Pros and Cons of CLT
Before delving into the discussion on services and amenities, let’s look the positives and negatives of CLT.
Pros
✈️ Easy to navigate, great signage
✈️ Variety of eateries and grab-n-go kiosks
✈️ Availability of Minute Suites
✈️ Clean facilities
✈️ Efficient U.S. Customs processes
Cons
✈️ Overcrowding and limited seating in Concourses B & C
✈️ Ongoing renovations
✈️ Delays approaching the gate after landing
Concourses B and C are notorious for their overcrowding, but in my experience, B is a lot worse. I had flights out of C6 and B3, each on a late Thursday afternoon, and the gate areas and walkways were both very congested. I believe that part of the problem is that the gate waiting areas are rather small and provide limited seating, so passengers spill into the hallways while waiting for their flight. Concourse C was crowded but manageable; Concourse B, on the other hand, was so congested that it was a challenge trying to get to the gate and restrooms.
Concourse E, which only serves regional jets, is more spacious and has a decent amount of seating.
For two of my connections (August 2024, January 2025), there was a delay approaching the gate after landing. One delay was just 10 minutes, but the other was almost 25 minutes. The 25-minute delay became an issue for me as my connection was less than an hour, and upon landing, I had to wait on the jet bridge for my gate-checked carry-on luggage. I definitely got a workout running to catch my next flight!
Why are the renovations a negative? While CLT is making efforts to improve the traveler experience, many of the moving walkways have been temporarily removed during the renovation process. Construction also sometimes impacts available seating at the gates and, at one point, affected the TSA security checkpoints.
Dining and Shopping at CLT
At the heart of CLT is the Atrium, an area lined with eateries (offering both counter service and table service), stores, and much more. The Atrium connects to each concourse and is a great place to grab a bite to eat. Between Concourses D and E is another area with a handful of eateries and tables, known as the Plaza. Aside from the Atrium and the Plaza, each concourse has a few eateries and grab-and-go markets.
For those who would like a drink, there are a few bars at CLT, including the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB), which offers travelers a German-style beer garden experience.
Resting at CLT
Minute Suites are simple rooms that offer weary passengers a quiet place to rest during long connections. CLT has Minute Suites in the Atrium and in the Concourse D/E Connector. The rooms are basic, featuring a daybed, a white noise machine, a desk, a TV, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Some suites offer a shower and a private bathroom. Travelers can reserve a room by the hour or overnight.
During my return flight from Europe (2024), I had a 6.5-hour connection at CLT. By the time I arrived at the airport, I had been awake for about 20 hours and felt a bit under the weather, so I decided to rent a room for 2 hours to take a much-needed nap. The 2 hours, base rate plus taxes, cost $117.98. The Minute Suites are not cheap, but they are well worth the price when you really need some rest and peace after a long day of travel.
Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended due to limited availability.
For more information on Minute Suites or to reserve a room, visit their website.
Another place to rest and find peace is the CLT prayer room. This room welcomes travelers of all faiths and offers prayer books and rugs and holds weekly services.
American Airlines Admirals Club
UPDATE May 2025: As I was flying Business Class to Europe, I had the opportunity to visit an Admirals Club during my connection at CLT. CLT has two Admiral Clubs: one at the intersection of Concourses C and D and the other in Concourse B. My flight to Munich was from Concourse D, so I visited the former. This was my first time in an airline lounge in the U.S., and overall, the experience was positive.
My connection was initially 4 hours (it ended up being about 7 hours due to delays); thus, spending time in a quieter setting where I could rest and work on my website was a definite plus. In terms of food, there were a few food stations scattered throughout the lounge, and some had vegetarian options. I didn’t visit the bar, but I did take advantage of the unlimited coffee! The biggest positive of the Admirals Club was the customer service. I encountered an issue with my flight seating assignment, but one of the AA representatives was able to resolve the matter and secure me a window seat as requested.
The only downside was the crowds. When I first arrived (about 12:30 PM on a Wednesday), there were only a handful of people, but soon, the lounge started getting crowded, and you could see travelers circling the place looking for a seat. I was fortunate to find a secluded area that was quiet and peaceful!
CLT also has the following lounges: American Express Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club, Provisions by Admiral Club, and a USO Lounge.
U.S. Customs for International Flights
All international flights board and arrive at Concourse D. This is where travelers go through the formalities of passport control, baggage claim, and re-checking luggage. During my first connection at CLT, which was via a flight arriving from Europe, I was able to complete the customs process in about 20 minutes, as I was able to queue in an expedited service line. This line is available to travelers who have the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app, a free resource from U.S. Customs, where you submit a photo and fill out the declaration form.
After passing U.S. Customs, my final step was to go through security. That afternoon, the TSA PreCheck station was closed, and the line at the regular security checkpoint was quite long. Clearing security took about 30 minutes.
If you have to pass through U.S. customs in CLT, I strongly suggest booking a flight with a connection of at least 2 hours. While the customs process is efficient, security is another story, and the TSA PreCheck stations are only open intermittently.
UPDATE May 2025: Similar to my previous experience, going through U.S. Customs was a quick and simple process. In less than 5 minutes, I was at the front of the line, and all U.S. Customs did was take my picture and wave me through. Sadly, clearing security was once again a very inefficient process. The TSA PreCheck line was available, but the wait was around 30 minutes.
Resources
Visit CLT online for more information.
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