Thanksgiving 2017: Charlotte Airport Expects Record Traffic

CHARLOTTE, NC -- The holiday travel season officially kicks off Tuesday, with Charlotte Douglas International Airport expecting hordes of travelers in addition to the 100,000 passengers that connect through the airport each day.

Almost 30,000 originating passengers are expected at Charlotte International Nov. 21, with 30,160 expected Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Thanksgiving Day, by contrast, will be a quieter day traveling out of the airport, when originating traffic is expected to dip to 13,340 passengers. Those numbers will pick back up by the end of the holiday week, however, when 31,160 originating passengers are expected at the airport Sunday, Nov. 26.

SEE ALSO: Thanksgiving 2017: Travel Tips For Charlotte Airport

According to the airport, travelers can expect full flights as airlines traveling through Charlotte will be operating at near capacity. In order to accommodate the surge in passenger numbers, the airport is adding personnel for airport shuttle buses and ticketing and increasing the number of traffic officers.

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

PARKING
Parking at the airport is also expected to be in high demand starting Nov. 21 through Nov. 26. Some good news for travelers is that Charlotte’s airport has recently added 1,700 parking spaces in its Long Term Lot 2 this past year.

Want to know what you can expect on the parking front before you leave home? You can look at a real-time parking map or call 704-359-5555 to hear about current parking conditions.

Drivers are encouraged to use the Hourly Deck for picking up and dropping off passengers. It's steps from the terminal, and the first hour is free.

SEE ALSO: What’s Open, Closed In Charlotte This Thanksgiving

CELL PHONE LOT
Charlotte’s newly relocated Cell Phone Lot is another option for picking up family and friends. Drivers may enter the lot directly off Josh Birmingham Parkway. The 150-space lot has one center aisle, making it easy to enter and exit. The new location is adjacent to Long Term Lot 1 and allows drivers direct access to the terminal via Josh Birmingham Parkway.

RENTAL CAR ROAD CLOSURE
Charlotte visitors also should note Rental Car Road is now permanently closed to the public. Access will be given only to authorized vehicles. Anyone headed to the terminal must use Josh Birmingham Parkway. View the map for more details.

TERMINAL RENOVATIONS
Inside the Airport, terminal renovations are underway on Concourses A, B and C. During renovations, Airport operations will not be interrupted. Passengers, however, will see open ceilings and bare concrete flooring in some areas.

SECURITY CHECKPOINTS
Security checkpoints will open Tuesday, November 21-Wednesday, November 22 and Saturday, November 25 - Monday, November 26 as follows: Checkpoints A & B – 3:30 a.m.; Checkpoint C – 5:15 a.m.; Checkpoint D – 5 a.m. and Checkpoint E - 6:15 a.m.

Checkpoint assistance agents will be stationed at the entrance of each checkpoint to help expedite the screening process.

PASSENGER AMENITIES
Charlotte continues to offer free WiFi throughout the terminal. Select the network "CLT Free WiFi" to be connected. For mothers flying with infants, the Mother's Room 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. It is located on the upper level of the Atrium.

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