USAir thru Charlotte

[LeslieG]

Looking at return flights home, USAir has the best flight time for us, but I've never flown them or connected thru Charlotte. It's a 50 min. connection. Are all their gates in the same concourse? What's been everyone's experience?

My second option, though not as great with the times, is Delta thru Atlanta, which I've done before.

Thanks for any input.

 

[kathi29]

I would choose Charlotte over Atlanta anytime. Charlotte is a hub for USAir. They have 3 concourses, but they are super easy to travel between, they have people movers (flat escalators) and a huge food court at the juncture.

 

[quietgirll]

I actually usually fly USAir directly out of charlotte, so I don't have any experience CONNECTING with them, but I don't think it should be a problem. The airport is actually set up very well, no separate concourses that you need to take buses/trams too. USAir should typically have all their flights nearby in the same concourse/gate area, unless something unforseen happens and I have seen them use another concourse. Since they are the main airline at Charlotte, everything is set-up so you will find it easy enough. I think you will find the Charlotte airport easier/better set-up than Atlanta- at least that has been my experience!! HTH!

 

[Miandrea]

I had a connection on Dec. 24 in Charlotte - my original flight was delayed and I only had 10 minutes to connect. I made it (I even had time to do a quick washroom break!). I downloaded a map of the airport so I had an idea which gates I was at so I was simple. Easy airport to navigate. I will be making the same connection this year on Dec. 23!

 

[mommyintn]

We've had some bad experiences flying through Charlotte and flights getting delayed or cancelled all together (coming into Knoxville). I'd only be worried if your flight is the last out in the evening as it seems that's when they trim the fat so to speak and cancel flights that don't have enough people on them. Again this is just our experience, I'd personally pick Atlanta.

 

[musclecar_72]

We fly out of Charlotte almost exclusively so I can't say about the on time rate of connections but as far as the airport it is easy to navigate, usually pretty clean. We like it alot and would choose it over that monstrosity in ATL any day.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

My mom and sister went US Air through CLT in may both ways. They said the airport was nice. On the flight home they had a 49 min layover, but the flight from Orlando left late due to a thunderstorm. They made it to CLT and easily made the connection even though it was close. My mom and sister couldn't find their way out of a paper bag with a map (something they would readily admit to) and they had no problem!!

My mom even asked if I would book the same flights if possible in February for her and my 14 yr old...she liked the CLT airport and US Air that much.

 

[MEK]

Connected in Charlotte one year on USAir BWI to MCO. Sure, it takes longer than flying non-stop, but the airport was easy to negotiate and the layover went quickly. The airport is small and the walk between flights was minimal. They announce all the connecting flights. No problems whatsoever. I would do it again if that was the cheapest fair. Never flew through Atlanta, so I can't compare. I know that a Charlotte connection is more direct than a Atlanta connection.

I had a very good experience with US Air the last time I flew with them. My son kept complaining that his stomach hurt and he kept getting up to use the bathroom. He had to climb over someone to do this each time. Finally, we asked the flight attendant if we could just stand near the bathroom. She said yes and continued to ask my son questions and start up a conversation with him. She brought him cold towels. When he finally started to feel better she and he went back to his seat, she brought him over a little package of goodies. On it she wrote Good Luck in 5th grade with his name. He started school the next day and was just nervous about that. That's the reason I can never fly home on Labor Day Monday again. My kids told me they need a day to "unwind" ???? before they start school.

_____________________________________________________

Max is my favorite cat!

 

[safetymom]

Charlotte is a very nice airport to connect in. There are actually 5 areas including the Express gates. It's not hard to go between them unless you are in B and need to get to the express gates.

 

[maps]

We flew last yr with US Air connecting in Philadelphia--it was such a horrible experience we thought we would never do it again.

I talked my husband into it and this past week we flew to Charlotte. Everything went smoothly, the airport is very nice and we didn't mind spending some time there.

On the way home, we no sooner get boarded when they told us about a major problem with the plane and we all had to get off. I anticipated a nightmare on our hands. They were able to get another plane and have us all seated and off the ground within an hour. Very impressed.

So we realized we would fly US Air again as long as it stayed away from Philadelphia (no offense to those who use the airport it's just my opinion)

 

[DebbieB]

I've connected through Charlotte many times, it's easy to navigate. The last time I had to run from B to D because my first flight was late, but made it with no problem, the last zone was boarding.

I flew to Jacksonville last year and was scheduled to stop in PHL (no change of plane). The plane was ready to board but they said we had to wait because of "air traffic control delays" in PHL. I was glad when they rerouted me through Charlotte, I made it only about 45 minutes late. I checked later online and the original plane was over 2 hours late.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I like CLT. I did have ONE bad connection experience there though. I just made my connection (flew from Gainesville, FL on a turboprop and was late). When I went to PIT for my return flight, US Airways had in its records that I had not made the connection in CLT and cancelled my return flights. Now that was a pain. UGH. But stuff happens, and I still got home that day, just later (it wouldn't have seemed so bad but I flew up for my grandfather's funeral and was a wreck anyway).

 

[ctnurse]

i have used charlotte many times with us air. I also would pick it over Atlanta. THe airport is nice and never seems as busy as other airports that I have used.

 

[ducklite]

Charlotte's one of the nicer airports east of the Mississppi IMHO. Easy connections, nice layout, clean.

I'd always choose that over ATL!

Anne