CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With busy holiday travel set to begin this Saturday, Charlotte Douglas International Airport says it is ready to welcome Christmas travelers.
Though numbers will not be quite as high as previous years due to the pandemic, CLT says it expects the busiest days to be Saturday, Dec. 19, Wednesday, Dec. 23, Saturday, Dec. 26, and Sunday, Dec. 27.
The total number of passengers, both local and connecting, is also expected to be smaller than that of Thanksgiving.
CLT is advising passengers to plan ahead and arrive early to clear check in and security. Officials suggest arriving two hours prior to a domestic flight or three hours if traveling internationally.
The airport has also provided the following tips and information to help ensure a smooth and safe travel experience.
Book Parking Online
Local passengers are encouraged to book their parking online. Online booking is available for Curbside Valet, the Hourly Deck, Long Term Lot 1 and Daily West Deck.
Visit cltairport.com, and select the “Book Parking” icon in the middle of the homepage to complete the four-step process that provides a contactless parking experience. More than 1,000 bookings have been made online this month.
Booking lead times vary with a minimum of six hours for Curbside Valet. Same day booking options also are limited and not all products are available for every date and time. Prebook early for the best prices and options.
The Airport has transitioned to cashierless parking operations with no face-to-face contact. Drivers must pay for parking by credit card, using one of CLT’s pay-on-foot machines located in the Hourly and Daily decks or by booking ahead online.
With the launch of a new parking system, CLT has reopened Long-Term parking at $7 per day and has returned Hourly Deck to preCOVID-19 rates of $20 per day. The first hour in the Hourly Deck remains free.
Got Presents?
Check out TSA’s tips for flying with holiday gifts.
Safety Measures
Safety measures remain in place at CLT. For more information, view the CLT Travel Advisory.
Stay in the Know
To stay connected with the Airport, follow @CLTAirport on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Also remember to download the free, all-in-one CLT Airport app at the App Store or on Google Play.