The airport is very efficient. If you have a delay it will not be the fault of the airport- that's an airline call. I've flown in and out of CLT much of my life and I consider it one of the best airports in the country. It's busy and crowded but easy to maneuver. It's spread out but they have moving walkways. On a Saturday you shouldn't have any trouble at all ( barring weather). A lot of the Saturday crowds used to be E-saver flyers going out on weekend jaunts. Since the merger those have dropped off dramatically. Enjoy and have a good trip.

Douglas airport is very effient and runs at capacity almost 24/7. It is logically laid out and it is no longer than a 10 minute walk from the two lfurthest apart gates of USAIr. There is a prettyh good food court inside security with everything from burger king to find set down dining. The food will be easilly available at that time. The only problem that you may incure is a possible usair metl down. Since they switched to the america west reservation system they have problems rerouting if there are storms that mess up the system even if you are going south and the storms are north. If you arrive on time and leave on time you will have time to use the restrooms, get a quick bite to eat and still make your connection. The airport is big but logical and if usair does not melt down you should have a nice uneventful layover.

Thanks, you have eased my mind a lot!! I'll just hope for no storms!

I think it is a great airport, free wireless internet and 3$ a day long term parking are valuable add-ons. Security check-ins are rather fast and there are good restaurants there too. I usually fly to New York area and this unfortunately gives me long delays, but it is NYC airports fault (top of the ranking for delays).

Flown in and out of Charlotte since I moved here a few years back 2-3 times a month on business. I've noticed in the last year or so it just keeps getting worse. Flights are getting later, airport is generally more crowded. I heard they were just rated the 3rd worst in the country for delays (can't find the source, might have been CNN)? This summer has been the absolute pits for air travel everywhere.

The good part of this is that you are flying on a Saturday, and an early flight to boot. You should be totally fine making that connection. The airport is quite easy to navigate and there are no trams (although I wish there was one from E Terminal!). Since you are flying to the islands, you will be in a larger terminal, so shouldn't be a problem.

Like the other folks said, there is a decent wireless connection and some good food options. Hopefully the weather will hold, so you can get out on time. Take care and safe travels!

The airport itself was great, just beware of a certain bartender at the Budweiser bar/grill. I was there Wednesday, July 18 waiting to fly out to JFK. There were severe storms in NY which caused lots of delays & cancellations throughout the country.

My flight was delayed twice and as such I was hanging out at the bar nursing my second beer when I thought I should go check on our departure status and use the ladies room. I told the person sitting next to me that I'd be right back and to watch my things, (he was on my flight). I left my carry-on on my seat so that noone would take the seat when I got up. I left my beer and money and when I returned they were both gone.

When I questioned the bar tender she said she thought I had left so she took the beer and money off the bar. She took herself a tip of $8.54 for delivering 2 beers and gave me a snide response.

Long story short...watch out here...if you get up, make sure that your bartender knows you will be returning!

To the one who wrote about 4th worst: it is because usairways is having major problems with their computer systems not the airport itself. USair's melt downs are what has given douglas such a bad rating on ontime departure and arrival.

The airlines ARE the airport. It's like saying a hospital is great, except for the doctors. The Charlotte airport is a mess... avoid at all costs. Charlotte Douglas is, like the rest of Charlotte, a lot of sizzle, no steak

luvvacation, you shouldn't have any trouble getting from one gate to the other. I travel into and out of CLT dozens of times a year. I have connected through hundreds of airports. You aren't going to find much to entertain yourself at CLT. What you will find is more sit-down restaurants than most other similar-sized airports, fewer crowds to pass through between gates, and shorter distances to go. And the moving sidewalks are rarely out of order, again unlike so many other airports.

This past year USAirways has had major problems, and an especially bad short period of time where they were arguably the worst out there. However in the great scheme of things I think you'll find it is a far more organized and less stressful airport than atlanta, chicago, newark, denver, LA, dc, etc. To consider it an absolute mess seems a bit parochial in scope. Compared to many other airports it's simply delightful.