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On 11/4/2002 9:51:01 AM ITRADE wrote:
What is the Customs/Immigration facility set-up these days at CLT? IIRC, it wasn't too big and that caused some whopper delays in clearing.[/P]
I also noticed that the [A href="http://www.usairways.com"]www.usairways.com[/A] map of CLT has about 8 international gates in the D concourse. Is this an expansion or does US now have access to all international gates?[/P]
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First, it is an extension to the D Concourse. They knocked down the old area for US Express, and added on 7 or 8 more gates (could be off by one or two). Apparently, it takes care of the space issues they had for multiple flights (not just LGW, but FRA, and the Mexican and Carribean destinations where you could not pre-clear). Right now, I think the last gate is numbered D13 (which BA used to use when they flew CLT-BWI-LHR). The old gates are D1-3, and maybe D4 was changed to D5. Jetways look to be installed at all of the gates save one. The extension reminds me of the old A Concourse in PHL - but with higher ceilings. No provision for more club space, but there's still the old D Concourse US Airways Club (shuttered after the opening of the massive C/D Club, and maybe permanently so post-9/11), and the BA Lounge located in the atrium, upstairs from the Food Court.
I haven't arrived in CLT from an International destination since they opened the extension to the D Concourse, but it is supposed to include an expansion to the FIS facility, since delays were a big issue. Assuming that they have access to the full space created by the expansion, should make the Customs/Immigration situation much better. However, there was a concern that CLT did not have enough inspectors, regardless of physical space, and so that issue might have been handled by subtle pressure from the local Congressional Delegation.