Any tips on flying out of Charlotte?

[methodtoll]

My wife and I are flying out of Charlotte for Las Vegas in a couple of weeks and I wanted to see if anybody can give us a few pointers when arriving at CDI. For example:

How busy is Charlotte Douglas on Saturdays?

Where is the best place to park?

Where is a good place to grab some lunch before we leave?

How fast is the security lines?

It has been a while since I have flown and the last time I flew was right before 9/11 so obviously I haven't been through the heighten security. My wife and I are planning to head out pretty early. Our flight leaves around 2:30 but we plan on leaving home around 10 since our drive is about 2 hours which puts us there around noon. I figured that would give us plenty of time to get checked in, get through screenings, and grab some lunch before we take off. Does that sound about reasonable?

[Niner National]

Security isn't heightened like it was right after 9/11. Last time I flew out of Charlotte (year and a half ago) I was through the security gates in 15 minutes or so.

[Delhommey]

Look for two wings and at least one working engine. You're good past there.

Anything more than an hour and a half before hand is overkill. Personally I shoot for 45 minutes (make sure to print your boarding pass before you leave the house though).

[AKPantherFan]

Tip-

Get on the airplane and you WILL fly out...

If not, well guess where you will be

slip on/off shoes

no metal belt

no change in pockets

no guns

no weed:)

check only 1 bag if you can

print your tickets online at home

carry as little as possible on the flight

dont get drunk and talk crap to the security folks

...best i can do

[Guest CatofWar]

Don't drop anything on the floor in the men's restroom on the end of B concourse.

[Panthro]

Relax and don't stress about it.

If I am flying out for a day or so I actually will pay the extra money and park in hourly. It's $12 a day max IIRC and you can basically park right up next to the terminal.

[DirtyMagic97]

Just don't be an idiot. Read the signs, and do what is asked of you. I flew out for the BCS National Championship in early 2009 on a freaking Wednesday, and it took me a little while to get through because they people in front of me couldn't understand that all metal needed to be removed from their pockets.

I repeat, read signs and don't be an idiot, and it should be fine.

[Panthro]

Now when you are leaving Vegas be prepped to wait in a hellified long security line.

[Go To Girl]

I think I heard on the news that one of the security check points was going to be closed for a bit while they are installing those new body scanners. It may already be done, but it was supposed to be happening in April (and I think another one in a couple of months)

[Carolina Husker]

Relax and don't stress about it.

If I am flying out for a day or so I actually will pay the extra money and park in hourly. It's $12 a day max IIRC and you can basically park right up next to the terminal.

It's more than that now. I think the daily maximum is like $36 now or something crazy. I paid $12 for 4 hours a few weeks back when I picked up my mom's car at the hourly.

[Hawk]

any airport with the call letters CLT better have lots and lots of signs or most of you won't be able to find it!

[Panthro]

It's more than that now. I think the daily maximum is like $36 now or something crazy. I paid $12 for 4 hours a few weeks back when I picked up my mom's car at the hourly.

It did? It must have been a pretty recent change. The website is showing $16 max at hourly. Valet is only $10?????

[Carolina Husker]

It might be that they consider max to be 4 hours which is what I paid. $16 for a day isn't that bad then.

[CosmoGirl]

Hourly is $16 per day as of three weeks ago. I usually park in the daily deck which is $6 or 8 per day.

Not really any good food there especially in the concourses.