I'm booking a flight for my mother (73yo and nervous flying alone) to Asheville, NC. She has to make a connection in Charlotte, Atlanta or Cincinnati. I thought Charlotte would be the best bet since it's probably a smaller airport and she won't have to walk very far to her connection. Is this the best airport connection for her? Will be flying on US Air if we pick Charlotte. Thanks.

Charlotte is one of the best, nicest, newest, and most passenger freindly hotels in the country.

I would pay double to avoid Atlanta. Without fail, the gate you need to be at will be the furthest gate possible from your starting point.

I stopped flying Delta because of Atlanta.

Charlotte's a nice airport, but it's almost literally a hop, skip, and jump to Asheville, so I'm certain USAir will put her on one of those propeller planes -- which means probably not a jetway to get to the plane, and which may mean a bit more anxiousness for her. It's also likely that the flight from Atlanta to Asheville is also on a turbo-prop.

If it would make a difference to her to be able to fly on a jet rather than propeller plane, and if you can be sure that Cincinnati can get her onto the regional jet using a ramp rather than stairs (if this is a consideration), I'd consider Cincinnati.

If someone is meeting her at Asheville, you might want to consider seeing if they will drive the 100 miles to Charlotte to pick her up.

Just completed my plans for Asheville, and looked into all the options last week. All U.S. Air connections from Charlotte are on a propeller plane, not a jet. All Delta connections from Atlanta are on a propeller plane, not a jet. Eliminated both these options.

Delta had limited service via Cincinnati on a regional 50 seat jet. I went with Continental, connection in Newark, all their planes into Asheville were regionals jets.

I think your mom would be more comfortable on a jet. Look at the possible connections on the Delta and continental web sites.

Hope this helps.

Charlotte is a nice airport, and there is something to be said for being close to your destination if something goes wrong (cancelled flight) That way she could always rent a car, take a very expensive limo ride, etc., if the flight is cancelled overnight.

However, I think the big USAIR jets land exactly the other side of the airport from the USAIR commuters. I had to take of my heels and run it once, with my bags, and let me tell you, its a long,long way...even with the people movers. I think you should a) plan for her to request assistance (a cart) and b) make sure the connection time is not super short...at least an hour.

Atlanta is kind-of scary if you have to change terminals "STEP AWAY FROM THE DOORS".

I'm suspecting that good Delta connections are available through Cincinnati, which would be my choice. Delta connections seem to very easy and close there -- Atlanta would be my last choice where connections always seem to be about a mile or two apart!
Charlotte would be good except for that prop plane and stairs/walking thing.