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 5 concourses and is mainly served by American Airlines (AA) and American Eagle, a regional branch of AA.
My first time flying into CLT was in May of 2024 via a connection, and since then, I have had 5 additional connections in that airport. Why do I have so many connections at CLT? My home airport is a regional airport that only offers non-stop flights to Miami, Charlotte, and Dallas via AA, my preferred carrier; thus, most of my trips have a connection at MIA or CLT.
Overall, my experience at CLT has been positive as the airport is easy to navigate, offers travelers great amenities, and has clean facilities. Also, the walking distances are not too bad compared to other international airports. My only issue with the airport is the overcrowding in Concourses B and C.
This is approximately how long it took me to cross the airport during my last three connections.
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- Concourse E to Concourse C (Gate C6) ~ 15 minutes
- Concourse E (Gate E37) to Concourse B (Gate B3) ~ 25 minutes (Thursday 5:00 PM, very crowded walkways)
- Concourse B (Gate B12) to Concourse E (Gate E32) ~ 15 minutes
Pros and Cons of CLT
Pros
✈️ Easy to navigate, great signage
✈️ Variety of eateries and grab-n-go kiosks
✈️ Availability of Minute Suites
✈️ Clean facilities
✈️ Efficient US Customs processes
Cons
✈️ Overcrowding and limited seating in Concourses B & C
✈️ Ongoing renovations
✈️ Delays approaching the gate after landing
Let’s discuss the negative aspects of CLT first.
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 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, and those 25 minutes are a lot if you have a tight connection.
UPDATE May 2025: Both of my connections in CLT (April 2025, May 2025) were delayed. My flight to Munich was scheduled for 4:25 PM, but the incoming plane was delayed, so the flight departed almost 3 hours late. In May 2025, my flight home was delayed by a bit over an hour due to mechanical issues. During the 3-hour delay, little information was provided regarding what was causing the delay or an estimated departure time from airport staff.
I listed the renovations as a con for now because, due to the construction, CLT has removed some of the moving walkways in Concourse E. And those moving walkways are great when you are in a hurry!
Dining at CLT
At the heart of CLT is the Atrium, an area lined with eateries (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. The concourses also have restaurants and grab-and-go markets, but the Atrium is not as crowded.
Between Concourses D and E is another place that has a handful of eateries with tables called the Plaza.
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, with a daybed that converts to a bed, a white noise machine, a desk, a TV, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Some suites offer a shower and a private bathroom. The rooms can be booked 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 sleep and peace after a long day of traveling.
Walk-ins are welcomed, but reservations are recommended as availability is limited.
For more information on Minute Suites or to reserve a room, visit their website.
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 4 hours (it turned to about 7 hours thanks 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 did not visit the bar, but I did take advantage of the unlimited coffee! The biggest positive of the Admirals Club was the customer service. I ran into an issue with my flight seating assignment, and one of the AA representatives was able to resolve the matter and get me my requested window seat.
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!
US Customs for International Flights
My first connection at CLT was via a flight arriving from Europe, which meant I had to go through US Customs. All international flights arrive in Concourse D, and this is where passengers go through the formalities of passport control, baggage claim, and re-checking luggage. I completed the customs process in about 20 minutes as I was able to queue in an expedited service line. This line is available to those who have the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app and have completed the forms on said app prior to landing.
UPDATE May 2025: I stood in the expedited line available to those with the MPC app, and all I had to do was have my picture taken by U.S. Customs. I went through customs in under 5 minutes!
After passing US Customs, my final step was to go through security. That afternoon, the TSA PreCheck station was not open, and the line at the regular security checkpoint was rather long. Getting through 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: Like last year, the TSA security checkpoint was inefficient. This year, there was a TSA PreCheck line available, but the wait was about 30 minutes again. I highly recommend a connection of at least 2 hours if your connection requires U.S. Customs and TSA security.
Visit CLT online for more information.
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