Vacationers planning to fly out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport be aware — starting today, many American Airlines ticket counters are temporarily relocating as part of the Terminal Lobby Expansion project.

From Tuesday, July 9 to Sunday, July 21, all American ticket counters between Checkpoint C and E will close.

Temporary ticket counters include:

Outside door 2: four kiosks and four ticket counters
Mobile podiums: two dynamic ticket counters set up in available space
Other airlines’ ticket counters may be used as available

Before your flight, it's recommended to check with the airlines for any cancellations or delays due to weather or staffing shortages. | Photo via @cltairport

The temporary change may catch travelers off-guard and slow them down. That's why passengers are advised to arrive 2 and a half hours prior to domestic flights and 3 and a half hours before international flights.

Extra staff will be deployed + additional signage to direct travelers. The self-service kiosks in the lobby will not be effected, nor the American bag drop location.

The changes come as Charlotte Douglas is in the midst of a record-breaking summer travel season. From Memorial Day through the Fourth of July, CLT surpassed last year’s numbers by 14%. Passenger activity is forecasted to remain high through Labor Day, with a continued 13% increase in passengers over last year.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport anticipates more than one million travelers for the unofficial start of summer. | Photo by CLTtoday

The Terminal Lobby Expansion is part of a massive renovation project known as Destination CLT. The six-year project is scheduled to be complete in 2025. Travelers can expect to see a terminal transformation, which was built in 1982 to accommodate 2.8 million travelers a year. In 2023, CLT passenger traffic reached a record 53.4 million.

Fun fact: Charlotte Douglas International Airport is ranked among the world's busiest airports, offering nonstop service to 186 destinations worldwide.