You find out something a little strange if you start reading about what people have to say about Charlotte Douglas International Airport online – people like it! So, there's no need to dread a layover or flight delay at this airport, and we will give you an overview of things to do, with some recommendations.
Lay of the land
The airport is divided into the atrium and 5 concourses, A-E. Restaurants and shops are located in the atrium and all airport concourses, as well as on the connecting area for gates D and E.
Concourse A – Air Canada, AirTran, American, Continental, Delta, Midwest, Northwest, United
Concourse B & C - US Airways
Concourse D – US Airways, JetBlue, Lufthansa
Concourse E – US Airways Express
Online Charlotte Douglass International Airport maps, with detail of each concourse and the main terminal are available on the airport website.
Dining
There are many dining options, including the usual fast food places found at most airports, and sit down places, but here are a few suggestions.
California Pizza Kitchen – at the near end of concourse B – this is one of the ASAP locations who's goal is to provide many of the California Pizza Kitchen items quickly, from pizzas and sandwiches to soups and salads. This location also provides food to go. Here is the description of CPK ASAP from the company: “As part of our strategy to build upon our leadership position in the premium pizza segment, we have developed a high quality fast-casual concept called CPK ASAP. Our ASAP restaurants, which are significantly smaller than our full service restaurants and offer a limited selection of our most popular pizzas, salads, sandwiches and appetizers, provide us additional development opportunities in attractive high traffic venues. There are currently a total of 28 CPK ASAP locations.”
Brookwood Farms Bbq – centrally located in the main terminal atrium near the business center on the Ticketing/Boarding level – This is North Carolina Pit Cooked Barbecue, made in Siler City. Their barbecue is sold is grocery stores in NC, and people generally have good things to say about their experience at this airport location.
Phillips Famous Seafood – on concourse C – towards the far end of concourse C, between gates C13 and C15. In addition to their famous crab cakes, a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, and entrees will also be available. Customer favorites include the lobster bisque, coconut shrimp, and cream of crab soup.
Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs – about a 3rd of the way down Concourse C, just past gate C4. A Nathan's Famous Coney Island Hot Dog may be just what you need between flights!
Beverages
There are some interesting beverage options to help you while away the time of your layover or flight delay at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. You can find the usual airport bar, or there are few more unique places that you can check out.
Yadkin Valley Wine Bar on D/E connector, between the Harley Davidson Store and Destination Charlotte and Starbucks, just before corridor to concourse E. Sales and Tasting of Wines from the Yadkin Valley Winegrowers Association (YVWA). Wines can be purchased by the bottle, by the taste or by the glass. The member winemakers and winery owners work a few days a month at the store. The prices for bottles are the same as if purchased elsewhere. Visitors can also obtain information on visiting the member wineries. Wineries represented are Hanover Park Vineyard, RagApple Lassie Vineyards, RayLen Vineyards, Round Peak Vineyards, Shelton Vineyards, Stony Knoll Vineyards, and Westbend Vineyards.
Carolina Beer Company Bar on Concourse D. They serve beers from the local Carolina Brewing Company, and their flagship beer, Carolina Blonde is available at airport dining establishments. Read more at the Carolina Beer Company web site.
Taste of Carolina Bar – serves North Carolina Microbrews. Samplers are available. Two doors down from California Pizza Kitchen on concourse B.
And for those in the mood for non-alcoholic beverages, there are Starbucks in the Atrium and on Concourses B and C and the D/E connector.
Shopping
There are a number of familiar stores for you to browse during your flight delay or layover in the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Including Airport Wireless (D/E), Harley-Davidson (D/E), Rocky Mountain Chocolate (D/E), Brookstone (C), the Body Shop (Atrium), the NASCAR Shop (Atrium) and newsstands.
Bijoux Terner is a Miami, Florida based corporation dedicated to the production of more affordable imitations of high-end costume jewelry inspired by the international haute couture design houses of Chanel, Dior, Gucci and Bulgari. They have “one price boutiques” that generally range from $10-15 depending on location. On concourse C.
Erwin Pearl has created fashion jewelry including earrings, necklaces, pins, and rings for more than 40 years. On Concourse C
Relaxation
There are a few more relaxing ways to spend your layover or flight delay at the Charlotte Airport.CLT's new spa, Terminal Getaway, is now open on the D/E Connector, beside Checkpoint D.
The spa features relaxing facial treatments, massage therapy, manicurist services, and an oxygen bar. It also features its own line of makeup and body products. Prices start as low as $15 for a chair massage.
Hours of operation are 7:30 am. - 9:30 pm. Monday through Sunday. For more information call 704-359-4365.
Look for the Charlotte Airport's signature rocking chairs, provided by Troutman Chair Co in the airport atrium, giving it a southern “front porch” feel.
If you are lucky you will be able to listen to music being played on the grand piano while you relax in the atrium.
See Some Art
Charlotte Douglas International Airport's Art Program, Just Plane Art, includes over 20 permanent and rotating exhibits. Just Plane Art helps promote Charlotte and the surrounding regions. It also helps to improve and enhance the passengers experience at the airport while giving them a memorable sense of place. Check it out during your layover or flight delay.
Go Online and/or Get Some Work Done
Some people will want to spend their layover or flight delay time being productive. The Charlotte Airport offers a few opportunities for this.
Free WiFi is available. Wired dataports are also located in the Quiet Zone of The Atrium. Look for dataport capable phones.
A business center sponsored by Bank of America is located in the Atrium. Business services such as computer, high-speed internet access, faxing and copying are available. 704-359-4320
Additional Links
Customer services: http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Airport/Passenger+Services/home.htm
This link provides information on Charlotte Douglas International Airport services such as business center, baggage carts, banks, chapel, rest rooms, etc,
The link for Charlotte Airport Shops and Restaurants is fairly well concealed on the airport web site. But here it is: http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Airport/Food+and+Gifts/home.htm.
I hope this will help make your time more enjoyable during flight delays or layovers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Until next time - Happy Travels!
-Gus
