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Are people allowed to hang out in CLT overnight if they land at 9 PM and have a flight out at 6 AM? Or do people get kicked out of the airport when it's late at night? Do we HAVE to get hotel rooms?
If you have a layover, there's nothing that says you have to leave the airport. The food court has rocking chairs galore, so just hangout. You have a valid ticket that allows you to be there to wait for your flight to be called. Having been stuck in an airport overnight and sleeping on the uncomfortable chairs, the rocking chairs will be a great way to save your back. You might be asked to move to one of the benches outside the security area, but once you are in the security area, I believe the issue is moot.
I've been in and out of CLT at all kinds of hours over the years so I guess one probably could stay in the airport overnight. However, especially with the way airport security is these days, I do not know what security would make of a few people camped out in an otherwise empty terminal when there are no actual flight delays. Be aware that nothing will be open during the wee hours and security checkpoints are not 24/7.
That said, I don't know why any sane person would want to voluntarily spend the night in an airport rather than in a comfy hotel room.
I've been in and out of CLT at all kinds of hours over the years so I guess one probably could stay in the airport overnight. However, especially with the way airport security is these days, I do not know what security would make of a few people camped out in an otherwise empty terminal when there are no actual flight delays. Be aware that nothing will be open during the wee hours and security checkpoints are not 24/7.
That said, I don't know why any sane person would want to voluntarily spend the night in an airport rather than in a comfy hotel room.
I've flown into Charlotte around midnight several times and the place is dead! Fellow passengers and I had trouble finding our way out (arrived on an internal flight) and discovered the only way to get out of the air side was through the secuirty check area (which wasn't operating).
It's not like JFK or O'Hare etc where you can always get refreshments.
That said, I don't know why any sane person would want to voluntarily spend the night in an airport rather than in a comfy hotel room.
I agree, but by the time you subtract time for exit, travel, and entry, there's only a few hours left between landing and taking off. Add in travel and room costs, and it might not be worth it.
There are several good hotels right outside the entrance to the airport at Exit 32 on I-85, a no brainer. They have shuttles to take you back and forth to the departure gates etc. Sleeping in an airport is about the worst experience. The lights are on all night long, the cleaning people are there all night vacuuming, talking, yada yada .... been there done that, got stuck at a few airports over the years. You will not sleep a wink, don't even try.
There are several good hotels right outside the entrance to the airport at Exit 32 on I-85, a no brainer. They have shuttles to take you back and forth to the departure gates etc. Sleeping in an airport is about the worst experience. The lights are on all night long, the cleaning people are there all night vacuuming, talking, yada yada .... been there done that, got stuck at a few airports over the years. You will not sleep a wink, don't even try.
Well not sure what time the cleaning crews start/finish but there was no sign of them around midnight and the lights were all turned down low in the food court area.
I've flown into Charlotte around midnight several times and the place is dead! Fellow passengers and I had trouble finding our way out (arrived on an internal flight) and discovered the only way to get out of the air side was through the secuirty check area (which wasn't operating).
It's not like JFK or O'Hare etc where you can always get refreshments.
^ Good information.
TSA is gone after the last departing flight, which is typically around 10:45 pm. They lock down the security checkpoints, and airport security has to unlock a security gate to allow passengers on late arrivals to get out.
Quite sure you can't overnight on the concourse side (restaurant/rocking chairs).
Common areas in upper level ticketing and lower level baggage areas should be OK for an overnighter...cleaning crews don't seem to care, and I've often seen overnighters camped out on the floor near the JetBlue/US Air baggage areas. Don't expect any rocking chairs or food.
TSA reopens at somewhere around 5:00 or 5:30 to accommodate 6:00 am departures.
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