Checkpoint 2 Awaits Spring Break Travel
Spring break travelers will notice some big changes at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
The much-anticipated Checkpoint 2 (formerly Checkpoint C) is now open and ready to welcome the expected surge of passengers in March and April. The Airport is expecting nearly three million passengers Thursday, April 10 – Sunday, April 27.
With an estimated average of 170,000 passengers per day, the busiest travel days will likely be:
- Thursday April 10 and Friday, April 11 for departures
- Friday, April 18 and Sunday, April 20 for arrivals
Checkpoint 2 Checks In, Exit Lane 4 Opens
Checkpoint 2 officially went live on March 24 and will be the brand-new primary Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre-Check checkpoint.
This latest milestone in the Terminal Lobby Expansion means that Checkpoints 1, 2 and 3 are now all operational.
CLT has consolidated its five previous checkpoints into three larger ones, creating four additional screening lanes for a total of 21 lanes, including 11 Automated Screening Lanes. This will further increase the Airport’s capacity to move passengers quickly. TSA estimates it will be able to screen 600 more passengers per hour.
Automated Exit Lanes also help CLT operate more efficiently and can process around 2,000 people per hour:
- Automated Exit Lane 2 is open.
- Automated Exit Lane 4 opening mid-April.
- Automated Exit Lane 3 opening April/May.
- Automated Exit Lane 1 opening in fall.
Don’t Wing It: Prepare to Fly
Remember, the Airport will be busy! Last year during spring break, over one million passengers flew out of CLT in a 12-day period from March 28 to April 8.
Don’t wing it on your 2025 travels! Here are some tips to help you have a smooth trip.
Ride Shares Temporarily Relocated
Beginning on April 3, Uber and Lyft ride-share services will temporarily relocate to the inner lane of the upper-level Ticketing/Departures area of the terminal for both drop offs and pick ups.
Previously, they were located at the Arrivals/Baggage Claim level (lower level, Zone 4).
All personal vehicles will use the outer lanes of traffic on both the upper and lower levels. The move is designed to improve traffic flow and operational efficiency.
Royalty Program Offers Parking Perks
Try to book your parking as soon as you book your flight.
Even though CLT has plenty of parking options - nearly 25,000 spots - they fill up quickly, especially during peak times like spring break and the holidays, when average daily occupancy is often above 90%.
Currently, 15,000 parking spots are designated for online booking only. A reservation guarantees the availability of your preferred option. It’s designed to give travelers peace of mind and better rates the further out they book, while helping the Airport operate more efficiently.
The CLT Airport Royalty Program offers Airport parking customers extra perks. It allows drivers to earn points and rewards when parking at any of CLT’s parking products. You’ll earn one point for every dollar you spend.
You can create a Royalty Parking account at parkCLT.com or on the CLT Airport app.
Enhanced Valet parking also was recently introduced. Check out the upgrades.
Real ID Gets Real Soon
You may not need it for your spring break travel, but you will need it very soon!
After two decades, REAL ID will become a reality for domestic air travel on May 7. Without one, you could face delays and enhanced screening at TSA checkpoints.
Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, but its implementation has been postponed multiple times. The Transportation Security Administration says it will not extend the May deadline but will phase in the enforcement to allow some flexibility.
While REAL ID is optional in North Carolina and South Carolina, if you opt out, you will need to provide additional identification, such as a passport or other acceptable form of ID, to board a domestic or commercial flight or visit select federal facilities and military installations.
Time Is Your Friend
- CLT suggests arriving at the terminal two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. During busy travel periods, you may need to allow extra time.
- Plan to reach the parking lot thirty minutes before your desired arrival time at the terminal, as you might need to take a shuttle bus from your location.
- Consider alternate routes in case of traffic congestion. Use a navigation app to avoid trouble spots.
Stay Informed
- Connect with your airline or monitor the CLT Airport app for flight updates. Check in for your flight before leaving home and save your boarding pass on your mobile phone.
- Review the TSA website for information on what you are allowed to bring through security. You can also text “travel” to AskTSA (275-872) or send a message through Facebook Messenger, X (formerly Twitter) or Apple Messenger.
- Check the CLT Airport website and app for shuttle bus wait times and security checkpoint wait times.
Explore CLT’s Growing Food, Shopping & Art Scene
Whether you’re craving a bite to eat, looking for a place to shop, or just want to get your steps in and explore the terminal, you can find it all at CLT! The CLT Airport app allows you to browse options. Click on “change area” to sort them by location.
Here are a few of our latest offerings:
- The Waterman Fish Bar - Concourse C
- Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB) Biergarten - Concourse D
- The Delta Sky Club - Concourse A Expansion - Phase II.
Browse some of our newest retailers:
- Be Relax Spa – Concourse A near A Connector and Concourse D near D/E Connector
- Market Place – Concourse A
- Lego, MAC/Jo Malone, Hip & Humble - Concourse D near D/E Connector.
And if you are an art lover, CLT has expanded its gallery of public art:
- “Nurture and Nature” mural by Olalekan “LeK” Jeyifous (Domestic Arrivals)
- “Weightless Monument,” a hanging sculpture composed by Benjamin Ball, made entirely of 10,000 stainless steel ball chain segments (Concourse A-Phase I)
- “Garden Carpet” terrazzo flooring by Susan Brenner (West Mezzanine)
Remember to follow CLT on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube for the latest Airport news.