Christmas 2017: Charlotte Airport Expects Near Capacity Crowd

CHARLOTTE, NC -- The Christmas holiday travel season is well underway, prompting Charlotte Douglas International Airport to advise travelers to plan ahead and arrive early.

Nationwide, air travel is up almost 4 percent over last year during the holiday travel period running Dec. 15 through Jan. 4.

In Charlotte, the peak of this travel period is expected Friday, Dec. 22, when more than 30,000 travelers will begin their trips, the airport says. That same day last year, the airport had almost 28,000 travelers, according to airport data. The Christmas holiday is second only to Thanksgiving, which has a more concentrated travel period.

By contrast, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are expected to be much quieter, with around 18,000 and 20,000 travelers respectively.

Overall, peak travel days at Charlotte Douglas International are Thursday, Dec. 21 - Friday, Dec. 22 and Tuesday, Dec. 26 - Wednesday, Dec. 27.

TSA is expecting to screen more than 40 million passengers and crew through Jan 2. Passengers should plan to be at the airport two hours prior for a domestic flight and three hours prior for an international flight.

The TSA is also reminding passengers of new screening procedures being introduced in all airports. The new procedures involve requiring passengers to place electronic devices larger than a cellphone in bins for X-Ray screening. Passengers traveling with gifts are advised not to wrap the gifts because agents will need to unwrap them in case they trigger an alarm.

For more travel tips, check out the TSA holiday travel blog.

If you’re traveling through the airport this holiday, you can find parking tips here and airport news here.

Here are some tips from Charlotte Douglas International Airport that will help make getting into and out of the airport easier:

Changes This Year

• CLT's free Cell Phone Lot has relocated adjacent to Long Term Lot 1. Drivers may enter the lot directly off Josh Birmingham Parkway. The 150-space lot has one center aisle for easy entry and exit. View the video for more information. CLT has also closed Rental Car Road to the public. Access will be given only to authorized vehicles. Anyone headed to the terminal must use Josh Birmingham Parkway.

• Inside, terminal renovations are underway on Concourses A, B and C as part of Destination CLT, the Airport's $2.5 billion capital improvement program. During renovations, Airport operations will not be interrupted. Passengers, however, will see open ceilings and bare concrete flooring in some areas.

Checkpoints and Ticket Counters Opening Early

• Security checkpoints will start opening at 4 a.m. Ticket counters will begin opening at 4:15 a.m. Passengers, as a reminder, should check with their airlines for any weather related questions.

Parking Remains in High Demand

• Parking will be in high demand Wednesday, December 20 – Tuesday, January 2. Drivers are encouraged to use the Hourly Deck for picking up and dropping off passengers. It is free for the first hour and within walking distance to the terminal. Overhead dynamic signage and digital signage will prompt customers to use the Hourly Deck for quick drop off/pickup.

• Curbside is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers; curbside parking is not allowed, regardless of whether the vehicle is attended or not. Please remember vehicles left unattended may be towed, while vehicles parked and waiting may be subject to citations. This includes all lanes on the Departures/Ticketing and Arrivals/Baggage Claim levels.

Take Advantage of CLT's Amenities

• Passengers are encouraged to take advantage of CLT's various amenities. The Airport has more than 100 concessions spread throughout its five concourses. Indoor Animal Relief Areas are located on the A/B Connector and Concourse D. CLT also offers free WiFi. Select the network "CLT Free WiFi" to be connected. For traveling moms, a Mother's Room is located on the upper level of the Atrium and provides a dedicated area for mothers who wish for more privacy to nurse their baby or pump breast milk away from the intrusion of the public.

To accommodate holiday travel demands, CLT is:

• Using overhead dynamic signage and digital signage to prompt customers to use the Hourly Deck for quick drop off/pickup.
• Stationing traffic officers in front of the terminal and along other roadway locations as needed to assist with traffic flow, as well as positioning additional Aviation Department, TSA and airline staff in the lobby to assist customers.
• Adding more resources to Airport shuttle bus and parking operations.

Passengers may plan their trip to the Airport by:

• Arriving to the Airport early.
• Visiting parking.charlotteairport.com and viewing CLT's real-time parking map.
• Calling 704.359.5555 to hear the latest parking conditions.
• Slowing down and adhering to the signs when approaching the terminal.
• Paying attention to and following CLT's dynamic roadway signs strategically located around Charlotte Douglas for information on which lots are open or full.
• Using the Pay&Go stations when leaving the terminal for a quicker exit. Four Pay&Go stations are located in the Hourly Deck and at the Daily deck's shuttle bus stop. Remember to keep your ticket with you. Upon your return trip home, place your parking ticket in a Pay&Go station and pay by credit card. A validated ticket will be returned. Drivers may then proceed to any lane in the designated lots and insert their validated ticket in the machine to exit.

Holiday Travel Tips:

• View TSA's travel tips at tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips.
• For up-to-date parking conditions and prices, call 704.359.5555 or visit parking.charlotteairport.com.
• Get dropped off at the Airport, carpool, ride CATS, or use one of the many taxi and ground transportation companies serving the Airport.
• Visitors picking up family or friends are encouraged to park in the Hourly Deck. It's within walking distance to the terminal and the first hour is free.
• Another option is to park in the free Cell Phone Lot adjacent to Long Term Lot 1. Just wait in your vehicle and ask your passenger to contact you when they claim their luggage, then drive to either level of the terminal to pick them up.
• Passengers can be picked up and dropped off along the terminal's curbside; however, vehicles cannot be left unattended. Curbside parking is not allowed and unattended vehicles may be towed. This includes all lanes on the ticketing and baggage claim levels.
• Check with your airline for updated flight information, as well as baggage size and weight rules. Additional fees could be applicable.

Departing Passenger Tips:

• Passengers are advised to arrive early for their flights. When traveling with young children, infants, elderly or disabled passengers, allow for even more time. TSA advises arriving at least two hours before your flight.
• Checkpoint lines may be adjusted to accommodate the anticipated crowds. Pay close attention to signage directing you to the proper lines.
• Save time by printing boarding passes at home.
• Obtain specific information about Charlotte Douglas International Airport by visiting cltairport.com or by calling the Airport's automated phone information line at 704.359.4910.
• Contact your airline for updated flight information.

Patch Editor Doug Gross contributed to this article.

Photo of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by Ashim D'Silva courtesy of Unsplash