Short Layover for International Flight 😬

I have a 45-minute layover in CLT for a flight to St. Lucia. I know this is cutting it close, but it’s crazy that an airline would schedule a connecting flight that passengers can’t make. It’s got to be possible, right? :sweat_smile: Any tips to help me get through as quickly as possible?

Don’t check a bag, and be ready for the possibility of being pushed to a later flight.

Dell said:
Don’t check a bag, and be ready for the possibility of being pushed to a later flight.

I often check luggage. I’m a 2 million mile flyer on UA and my bags almost always arrive, even if I don’t. Just avoid packing anything vital you’ll need right upon arrival.

@Francis
Same here. I’ve had tight connections and my bags have made it when I missed the flight. Worst case, they arrive hours later.

Dell said:
Don’t check a bag, and be ready for the possibility of being pushed to a later flight.

We’re not checking any bags. Will we need to go through security again?

Riley said:

Dell said:
Don’t check a bag, and be ready for the possibility of being pushed to a later flight.

We’re not checking any bags. Will we need to go through security again?

If you’re in the US, you won’t have to go through security again in CLT.

@Dell
Thanks, yes, we’re in the US!

I made an international connection in Atlanta with only 10 minutes gate-to-gate. If you’re motivated, it’s possible! We had about an hour but our flight was delayed, so I had to hustle.

It’s possible, but not guaranteed. 45 minutes in CLT is tight. If on time, you should make it, but CLT is big with varying distances—1 to 15-minute walks.

Map out your arrival and departure gates beforehand. If you have to go from A or E to D, that’s a longer walk.

Yes, the airline wouldn’t sell you a ticket if you couldn’t make the connection. However, keep an eye on delays. If you miss your connection, they’ll put you on a later flight.

Francis said:
Yes, the airline wouldn’t sell you a ticket if you couldn’t make the connection. However, keep an eye on delays. If you miss your connection, they’ll put you on a later flight.

Thanks! I know our connecting flight is at D4, but not where the first one lands yet.

@Riley
Gates can be close if they’re on the same airline. They may hold the flight for passengers coming in.

Foster said:
@Riley
Gates can be close if they’re on the same airline. They may hold the flight for passengers coming in.

But keep in mind that CLT is large and construction may slow you down.

@Riley
If you’re coming from a smaller airport, your aircraft might be arriving at E. The walk might be a challenge.

Flor said:
@Riley
If you’re coming from a smaller airport, your aircraft might be arriving at E. The walk might be a challenge.

We’re flying out of PVD on an Airbus A321.

You will be running to your gate, so hustle!

August said:
You will be running to your gate, so hustle!

There’s no international terminal in CLT, but you can get across quickly if you move fast.

Flor said:

August said:
You will be running to your gate, so hustle!

There’s no international terminal in CLT, but you can get across quickly if you move fast.

It’s in Concourse D.

You should be fine. If you hustle, you can get across CLT in 10 minutes. Keep your flight app handy to track gate info.