Airport Travel During COVID-19

June 10, 2022

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Don't Wait Until the Last Minute

The deadline to get a REAL ID is 11 months away, but it's never too early to prepare for your travels.

Just as you would check your flight status, your list of what to pack, security wait times or Airport parking options, be sure you check off your list getting your REAL ID before May 3, 2023.

It's the law. Every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States beginning on that date. The REAL ID Act was enacted in the wake of 9/11 to create federal standards for identification, such as driver's licenses, which are typically used to get through airport security checkpoints to board a plane.

Check for the star. REAL ID-compliant cards are marked with a star at the top of the card. If you’re not sure, contact your state driver’s license agency on how to obtain a REAL ID-compliant card. Links to the North Carolina and South Carolina motor vehicle and driver services divisions are on cltairport.com. The Transportation Security Administration also has information on its website tsa.gov/read-id.

Summer Travel Underway
Expect Lines, Parking in High Demand, Arrive Early

Everyone loves travel tips that make the journey to your destination easier, right?

Here are two VERY IMPORTANT tips as you prepare to fly from Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

First: Get here early. Earlier than you think is necessary. The Transportation Security Administration, which operates security screening, strongly recommends you be at the Airport two hours before a domestic flight departs; three hours for international travel. By 'be here' we mean in line at the airline check-in counter or security checkpoint. Not in the parking lot or on the shuttle bus. The Airport is busy. Long lines are not only possible, but probable, and we don't want you to miss your flight.

Because more people are traveling, our second tip is to plan ahead. When you book your flight, book your parking online at the same time. High demand for the Airport's 24,000 parking spaces means lots fill fast. You are guaranteed a space if you book early and online at parkCLT.com.

With summer travel in high gear and parking lots filling to capacity quickly, passengers are strongly encouraged to check on parking availability in advance and to consider other ground transportation options if parking is limited or unavailable. This includes getting dropped off at CLT, carpooling, riding the CATS’ Airport Sprinter, or using one of the many ride app services, taxis and ground transportation companies serving the Airport.

Stay Safe, Travel Safe

In addition to arriving early and planning ahead for parking (see story above), here are some additional tips for summer travel.

Plan ahead: Learn more about Charlotte Douglas International Airport on our Prepare for Travel webpage. It is chock full of information about everything from traveling with children and service animals to services available to customers. Passengers needing extra time or other information about Airport accessibility can find that at cltairport.com too.

Be safe: The COVID-19 virus is still in our communities. While passengers are not required to wear a mask in the Airport anymore, they can choose to do so. Masks are available at the TSA checkpoint podiums, Airport Information Desk in Ticketing and the Visitor Info Center in Baggage Claim. For passenger convenience, hand sanitizing stations are located throughout the terminal as well. Plus, all of the safety measures adopted at the pandemic's start - improved air filtration, UV sanitizing of moving handrails, special attention to cleaning and sanitizing - remain in place for passenger comfort and confidence in flying.

Get here early: TSA recommends passengers be in line at the airline check-in counters and/or at the security checkpoints at least two hours before domestic travel departure time and three hours before an international flight. You can check wait times at any of CLT's five checkpoints on the CLT Airport app or at cltairport.com. Feel free to get in line at any checkpoint, regardless of the concourse you are flying out from.

For more CLT travel information, try these links:

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