Question about Layover time in Charlotte

[MissManda]

I apologize for this not being Disney related, but I need some help and thought that all the knowledgeable people on these boards could help.

I'm getting ready to buy tickets for a flight that will include a lay over in Charlotte, NC. We will be arriving in CLT at 6:26am. The flight for Chicago leaves at 7:34am. Both flights will be on US Air. The layover time will be just a little over an hour. Is this enough time? There is another flight out of Charlotte closer to 8:30am but its more expensive. I don't want to spend additional money and "waste" time sitting in an airport if its not necessary. I'm not familiar with this airport at all, so any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[LilyWDW]

I apologize for this not being Disney related, but I need some help and thought that all the knowledgeable people on these boards could help.

I'm getting ready to buy tickets for a flight that will include a lay over in Charlotte, NC. We will be arriving in CLT at 6:26am. The flight for Chicago leaves at 7:34am. Both flights will be on US Air. The layover time will be just a little over an hour. Is this enough time? There is another flight out of Charlotte closer to 8:30am but its more expensive. I don't want to spend additional money and "waste" time sitting in an airport if its not necessary. I'm not familiar with this airport at all, so any thoughts are appreciated.

That should be fine especially since it is so early.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

+1

I've had as little as 45 minutes in CLT. That early in the morning *should* be easy

 

[dioxide45]

I have flown through Charlotte twice. A round trip. In both cases we landed on one end of the airport and had to book it to the farthest reaches on the other side. We almost missed one flight because we had delays leaving our departure city. Charlotte IMO is a truly miserable airport because of this. The flights were both US Air.

 

[DebbieB]

Are they both mainline planes or is one express? The express concourse (E) is far from the mainline (B, C).

 

[MissManda]

Are they both mainline planes or is one express? The express concourse (E) is far from the mainline (B, C).

The first flight is express and the second is mainline. I looked at today's flights that are equivalent to what I will be taking. The first flight lands at gate E8 and the second flight leaves from gate B16. I went ahead and booked the flight. Will just keep fingers crossed first flight lands on time and if necessary I will book it across the airport. Plan to just do carry on so won't have to worry about luggage making it if there is a delay.

 

[dioxide45]

Are they both mainline planes or is one express? The express concourse (E) is far from the mainline (B, C).

This was our experience. We were switching between commuter and mainline and then the opposite on the return. It was a hike, though they do have moving walkways. Just hope people are walking on them instead of standing and blocking them.

 

[DebbieB]

The first flight is express and the second is mainline. I looked at today's flights that are equivalent to what I will be taking. The first flight lands at gate E8 and the second flight leaves from gate B16. I went ahead and booked the flight. Will just keep fingers crossed first flight lands on time and if necessary I will book it across the airport. Plan to just do carry on so won't have to worry about luggage making it if there is a delay.

If it's a small express plane (CRJ200), you will have to wait for your carryon to be brought to you, it will not fit in the overhead unless it is backpack size or smaller.

This was our experience. We were switching between commuter and mainline and then the opposite on the return. It was a hike, though they do have moving walkways. Just hope people are walking on them instead of standing and blocking them.

They should be standing on the right. If not, just say "excuse me" and push past.

 

[LadyBeBop]

They should be standing on the right. If not, just say "excuse me" and push past.

Should be standing on the right, but not necessarily.

Once, coming from the Chicago O'Hare parking lot (I was taking public transportation and was running late...the bus was late), I was running up an escalator to the trams that take you to the terminals, and a passenger literally blocked my way with a large carry-on. No way could I push through. I watched in horror as the tram left the station...the next tram wouldn't be for another ten minutes.

Made my flight with literally seconds to spare.

 

[Jaco5nc]

I live in Charlotte and frequent this airport. It is on the smaller side, you should have no problem.

 

[dioxide45]

If it's a small express plane (CRJ200), you will have to wait for your carryon to be brought to you, it will not fit in the overhead unless it is backpack size or smaller.

Exactly, and waiting is a painful exercise. You wait there while they unload all the plane side checked bags on to a cart and then wheel the cart over. It seems like it takes forever when you are running late for a connection.