When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Charlotte?
Once the summer hits, so do the increases in airfares. July and August are the most expensive months to travel to Charlotte. For the best deals on cheap flights to Charlotte, consider travelling in the shoulder season (March to May and September to November) to take advantage of the lower airfares and hotel rates. Deals on last-minute flights can be found around these times.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Charlotte?
If you want to have your pick of the best deals for Charlotte flights, then make sure to book your tickets well in advance. It is recommended to book 3 to 4 months prior to your preferred departure date because this is when rates tend to be lower. Deals for last-minute flights do come up, even as little as a week or so before travel.
Flying to Charlotte Airport (CLT)
Charlotte Airport, or to give it its full name, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), is one of the USA’s and the world’s busiest airports by both passenger traffic and aircraft movement. The only direct flights from the UK to Charlotte are from London Heathrow. Several direct flights depart each day from airlines such as British Airways, FinnAir and American Airlines, and the flight time is approximately nine hours.
However, indirect return flights are plentiful, departing from airports around the UK; Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh included. Including a stopover or transfer as part of your journey will generally bring your airfare down but increase your travel time by anywhere from four to eight hours. Carriers operating these indirect return Charlotte flights include Air France, Lufthansa, Delta Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
Charlotte Airport (CLT) is a busy, single terminal airport that’s split into five different concourses; A, B, C, D and E. It deals with over 40 million passengers each year and has an average of 700 departures per day. The concourse that you arrive at will depend on which airline you flew with. Concourses B, C and E are served solely by American Airlines. It can be quite a long walk between concourses but everything will be well signposted. The airport benefits from numerous charging stations, duty-free shopping, restaurants and currency exchanges.
Getting to the City from Charlotte Airport (CLT)
A busy, well-connected airport, Charlotte International offers a variety of services to connect passengers with the city. Taxi ranks along with hotel shuttles can be found outside the baggage reclaim area. The airport Sprinter service run by CATS (Charlotte Area Transportation System), is a fast and convenient way to transfer between the airport and the city. It only costs about $3. There are three different routes, Route 5 Sprinter, Route 590 Airport Connector – Northlake and Route 591 Airport Connector Archdale, that can take you to various spots around the city.
Why visit Charlotte?
Known as the Queen City, Charlotte has built quite the reputation for being the NASCAR capital of the United States. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is one of the most popular tourist attractions the city has to offer. The Charlotte Motor Speedway, another must-visit for any petrol head, is just 27 kilometres from the downtown area. If that doesn’t appeal to you then check out one of the numerous other museums, the Raptor Centre or Carowinds, a popular local theme park.
And that’s not all. Although California tends to get all the golden glory when it comes to the Gold Rush of the 1800s, North Carolina has a rush of its own. Reed Gold Mine is located just 40 minutes outside of the city and offers a wealth of information about this fascinating period in history. You can even try your luck at panning for gold yourself. Then retreat into Free Park – 100 acres of peace and quiet, the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Don't Forget Before you Fly
For visits of up to 90 days most British passport holders can apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) through the Visa Waiver program. Provided you meet all the required conditions, you can travel visa-free in the USA. If not, you must apply for a visa from your nearest US Embassy. The USA has restrictions on certain prescription medications. When travelling with medication, it must be in its original packaging with your prescription clearly printed on it or, if you no longer have the original packaging, it must be accompanied by a doctor’s note.
