The other very interesting thing about this post is that she flew on Continental via Cleveland to NYC. I fly standby on CO often and the direct flights from Charlotte to Newark are NEVER full. Plus at this particular time USAirways was/is offering a $98 RT direct flight to NYC.
Ridiculous to have left also. Charlotte totally dodged the weather but 20 miles north it was a zoo.

Gretchen, I'm no expert at these so called "discount" websites, but I suspect that odd connection was a result of booking through expedia. It is my understanding, that you often get a connecting flight rather than a direct one. I agree, I'd never buy or get on a flight from Charlotte to New York that stops in Cleveland. Why would you do that to begin with, yet alone continue with that idea on a day when everybody had announced the weather was causing travel disaster everywhere?

Maybe but I've booked a direct flight on Expedia--you choose what flight you want--it isn't pressed upon you like HOtwire or Priceline.