Hols, Thanks for your knowledge/experience with CLT. I feel this is "doable",as long as there is no major snow storms! We have a 4hr layover on the way home,so that BBQ Spot sounds like a great place to have our dinner.
Does anyone know WHY the airlines schedule/sell such short connection times?

chrismattmom, CLT is definitely doable in 45 minutes if the flights are on time. One thing you should know is that the airlines 'pad' the push back and arrival times by 15 minutes so you will have a 30 minute window on your Albany flight.

The reason the airlines pad this time is so they can boast very high On Time Statistics.

Every notice how many of your flights arrive early?

Know this, if for any reason your flight is delayed because of weather, it is your responsibility to find and pay for accommodations in Charlotte. The airline is not responsible.

One of the smart things about being routed through Philly is that most of US Airways international long hauls arrive through Philly and those flights are never diverted because of weather. A stretch 747 just in from Amsterdaam to PHL headed to Charlotte is likely to be loaded down with flight crew dead heading to their next job so it will be one of the few flights that make it through if the weather is lousy.

I was in PHL for the two feet of snow they got Valentines weekend this past winter and that is exactly the flight I was on from PHL to CLT and one of the very few that left PHL that day.

So, my point is re-routing through PHL isn't such a bad idea.

Living in Philly I fly US Airways many times a year, at least 5 times a year through Charlotte.
-45 minutes is very possible to make your connection because of Charlotte terminal layout- I would not count on it though.


The good news is Philly has many flight on US Airways to Charlotte daily-The bad news is they have many flights daily to Charlotte-meaning they won't hesitate to cancel knowing there’s another flight headed to Charlotte they can put you on from my experiences.

I would estimate 50% of my flights out of Philly to Charlotte are delayed or cancelled.

GoTravel-does US Airways have 747’s?

If for some reason you find you have extra time in CLT. Check out the Yadkin Valley wine bar. In Concourse D/E, stay off the people movers though, you'll miss it.

My $0.02 worth on the Philly suggestion - don't do it. Charlotte departures are much more reliable for both weather and traffic volume. I fly in/out of Philly regularly as well. Charlotte is the primary connection to the carribean and Philly is subject to many delays due to traffic. A pilot I know says that Philly is his least favorite airport for the delays. You can sit at the gate or on the runway for a lengthy period of time. Also, if switching planes, you would need to be more concerned about the terminals you would fly in / out of. Terminal B to C is doable in 45 mins. If you fly in to either of these and have to book to Terminal A - you will be sprinting. It's a hike.

I love the Philly airport for the terminals, but the Charlotte is much more reliable.

Plus there is no reason to have a Philly / Clt connections...