A guide to Charlotte Airport (CLT)
Quick insights
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) consists of one main terminal with six concourses.
- There are many convenient ways to get to and from the airport, including Charlotte’s local CATS bus service.
- Priority Pass™ members can access one airport lounge, two Minute Suites locations and one Gameway location at CLT.
CLT is an international airport located roughly six miles west of Charlotte’s central business district. It’s the main airport for both commercial and military use in the Charlotte area.
Read on to learn about navigating to and from CLT, your parking options, things to do during a layover and more. Plus, find out what amenities are available to Priority Pass members.
Navigating to and from Charlotte Airport
Whether you’re headed to the airport or back home, there are plenty of transportation options at CLT:
- Taxi: Go to the Arrivals/Baggage Claim level for taxi service. You may prearrange a ride using any taxi service provider, but only companies evaluated annually by CLT are available through the taxi queue.
- Rideshare: Navigate to the Arrivals/Baggage Claim level (lower level, Zone 4) for rideshare pickup.
- CATS 5 bus: Route 5 of Charlotte’s CATS bus service runs from the airport to uptown Charlotte. Refer to the CATS app for up-to-date bus schedules.
- Rental cars: The Rental Car Facility is in the Level 2 lobby of the Hourly Deck in front of the terminal.
- Hotel shuttles: If your hotel provides a shuttle, you may use one of CLT’s Traveler Information Centers on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim level to contact them and confirm pickup information.
Parking at Charlotte Airport
CLT has a variety of hourly and long-term parking options (self-park and valet available). Note that CLT has a limited number of spaces to book online, so your desired lot may still be available for drive-up purchase if it’s not available online.
There’s also a free cell phone lot available to drivers picking up passengers from arriving flights.
Visit CLT’s website to book parking online and review your lot options.
How early to arrive at Charlotte Airport
Airport officials typically recommend arriving at the airport two hours prior to takeoff for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
However, you’ll want to take your individual situation into account when heading to the airport. If you are parking in a long-term lot, for example, you may want to budget additional time for parking and traveling to security.
On the flip side, if you have TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry, you may be comfortable getting to the airport closer to takeoff as it typically takes less time to get through security.
Refer to CLT’s website for up to date security wait times.
Charlotte Airport map
Before you head to CLT, it may be wise to take a look at their available maps to get acquainted with the terminal, shops, dining options and parking availability.
Have a layover or plan to get to your flight early? Their interactive terminal map will help you filter for coffee, dining, shops, services, airlines and more.
Charlotte Airport terminal information
Charlotte Airport has one terminal, so you won’t need to worry about parking near the right one or traveling between terminals for connecting flights.
Terminal amenities include:
- Wi-Fi and charging stations
- Sanitizer stations
- Mother’s rooms
- Pet relief areas
- Currency exchange
- An interfaith chapel
- CLT Canine Crew therapy dogs
Visit CLT’s website for airline information.
Priority Pass amenities at Charlotte Airport
Priority Pass members can access a variety of benefits at Charlotte Airport. If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit card or are interested in applying for one, you may be eligible for complimentary Priority Pass Select membership as a credit card benefit (note that the card has an annual fee).
Here are the locations and details for participating lounges, suites and gaming locations:
The Club CLT airport lounge
Charlotte Airport’s location of The Club is located in Concourse A just before gates A21 and A22. Access is permitted three hours prior to your scheduled flight departure and may be limited during peak hours. Children under two years are admitted for free.
Complimentary amenities at The Club CLT include:
- Snacks and beverages
- Workstations
- High-speed Wi-Fi
- Shower facility
- Digital newspapers and magazines
Priority Pass members may use one lounge entitlement for this location; other guests may purchase day passes for entry. Learn more about how to access participating lounges with a Priority Pass Select™ membership before heading on your next trip to CLT.
Minute Suites
Minute Suites are private suites where visitors can sleep, work and/or relax before departing flights, during layovers or in the event of delays/cancellations. There are two Minute Suites locations at CLT:
- Main atrium next to the food court area
- Concourse D; in the Concourse D/E connector corridor near the food court
Amenities include:
- A daybed sofa (sleeps two)
- Fresh blankets and pillows
- A workstation
- Amazon Alexa (for music, white noise, alarms, flight tracking, weather and more)
- Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi
- Smart TV
- Showers (available at both locations)
Access to Minute Suites locations at select airports is another travel-related benefit of Priority Pass. Members may use one of their lounge entitlements to get a complimentary first hour at any location. There are also additional discounts after your first hour; for details, please visit Priority Pass Benefits – Minute Suites.
To reserve a suite in advance, visit the Minute Suites website. A minimum stay of at least 1-hour and 15 minutes must be booked in order to reserve online and guarantee suite availability prior to your arrival. Reservations may be beneficial as private suites are in high demand, especially during peak travel times, in the event of mass cancellations and/or delays, etc.
Please note that complimentary one-hour reservations are not available to be booked online and may only be booked in person, at time of arrival, and are based upon availability.
Gameway
Priority Pass members can also choose to pass the time gaming with a complimentary hour at Gameway locations. After the first hour, members receive a 10% discount payable directly to Gameway.
CLT’s Gameway location is opposite gate E36 (accessible post-security to all concourses). Each gaming station includes a variety of games, high-speed internet and luggage storage. Priority Pass members can also get a complimentary snack and non-alcoholic drink.
Things to do at the Charlotte Airport
Have a layover at Charlotte Airport? Luckily, there are plenty of options for shopping, dining or relaxing in the area. Here are just a few ideas of how to pass the time:
- Relax in an airport lounge: Want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the airport without actually leaving? There are eight total airport lounges at CLT (including The Club) and two Minute Suites locations.
- Shop in the terminal: There are plenty of shopping options available within CLT’s terminal. Head to the duty-free store, one of the many gift shops or a TripAdvisor store location for travel essentials.
- Plan a short adventure: If you have a long layover and want to leave the airport, there are several popular nearby spots to visit. Head to downtown Belmont for local shops and classic Southern dining, shop at Charlotte Premium Outlets or peruse the year-round Charlotte Regional Farmers Market.
In summary
Whether you find yourself at Charlotte Airport for a couple of hours or a lengthy layover, there’s plenty you may want to explore. And if you’d like to access additional amenities at CLT and participating airports worldwide, learn more about the benefits of Priority Pass membership.
This article contains the most up-to-date information at the time of publication. Details since publication are subject to change. Visit Priority Pass' official website for the most up-to-date benefits information.
