2026 layover guide
Charlotte (CLT) connection time
At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, plan on at least 55 min for a domestic connection, and 2 h 25 min if you're arriving from abroad. Here's why, step by step.
Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction
Comfortable: 1 h 30 min
Customs, bag recheck and security
No terminal changes
Quick answer
Plan on at least 55 min for a domestic connection at CLT and 2 h 25 min after an international arrival. You stay inside security for domestic connections.
- Domestic, same terminal
- 55 min (comfortable: 1 h 30 min)
- From abroad
- 2 h 25 min, including customs and bag recheck
- Hub airlines
- American Airlines
How long a layover do I need?
- Get off the plane and walk to your next gate25 min
- Be at the gate before boarding closes15 min
- Buffer for a small delay15 min
Our estimate, rounded up, not the airline's official minimum connection time. If both flights are on one ticket, the airline will rebook you if a delay makes you miss the second one. How we calculate this
Recommended layovers at CLT
Our estimates for common connections, rounded up. Comfortable times leave room for a late arrival.
| Connection | MinimumRecommended minimum |
|---|---|
Domestic to domestic, same terminal Checked bags transfer automatically | 55 min Comfortable: 1 h 30 min |
International arrival, connecting domestically Customs, bag recheck and TSA | 2 h 25 min Comfortable: 3 h 15 min |
Same, with Global Entry and PreCheck Faster customs and security | 1 h 55 min Comfortable: 2 h 45 min |
Separate tickets with checked bags No protection if you miss it | 1 h 55 min Comfortable: 2 h 45 min |
Airlines' official minimum connection times can be shorter: if you booked both flights on one ticket, the airline has already checked that the connection is legal and will rebook you if a delay makes you miss it.
Getting around CLT
Terminals
One terminal with Concourses A, B, C, D and E.
Changing terminals
All concourses meet at the central atrium inside security, so you can walk between any gates. Concourse E, used by American's regional flights, is the longest walk.
Customs and international arrivals
Arriving from abroad, you clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), collect your checked bags, drop them at the recheck belt and go through TSA security again before your connection.
Tips for connecting at CLT
- •The atrium's white rocking chairs are a good place to wait out a long layover.
Plan your trip through CLT
The airport guide, and the bag rules for the airlines you're likely to connect on here.
CLT connection FAQ
Airlines set their own official minimums at CLT and only sell connections that meet them, so a one-ticket itinerary is always "legal". In practice we recommend at least 55 min for a domestic connection and 2 h 25 min after an international arrival.
Other airports
Sources
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Terminals and connection rules change, so check your airline's connection instructions before a tight layover.
Read how we collect and check this data, or tell us if something's out of date.
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