cltcane

April 17

1 hour ago, CLT Development said:

they are making a parking lot! woo!

aka the Levine La Quinta (or Peebles Plaza)

April 11

WOW, NEVER EXPECTED THIS!!! (How to you change the font color to blue?)

December 30, 2023

3 hours ago, LKN704 said:

Thanks for the stats.

I've often wondered how AA is able to prohibit its hub airports from opening Clear lanes in terminals where they operate. I would assume it must be a clause in their lease agreement?

Unrelated, but I noticed last night that United seems to be leasing the storage/prep room area formerly used by Starbucks when they had an outlet on the upper mezzanine of A North:

I used A21 last month and their logo on the door wasn't there. I may be reading too much into it, but a United agent did previously tell me they were looking at the possibility of opening a club in CLT. I didn't necessarily believe them, as CLT is a contracted field station for them and I believe stations with clubs have to be staffed with actual United employees.

This would likely be where a potential club would go (Delta's club is going in a similar area in the Phase II pier). I can't see them having any other use for the area - I don't think it would be an employee rest area and I don't think the area was built for office space.

Not getting my hopes up, but a United Club would be a great and very welcome addition! I’ve always thought the second floor of A-North was wasted space and should have been designed for lounges.

I also hope that United will add service when A-North Phase 2 opens (although they seem to be under-utilizing the gates they have now). They’ve upgauged a lot of flights to mainline, but it would be nice to have more than 3 flights a day to IAD, IAH and ORD (DEN is 2 and EWR is 5 most days). Also not likely, but I’d love to have at least 1 daily flight to SFO and LAX timed for Asia and Australia connections.

Edit: Save for 2 daily SFO flights, RDU, which has a United Club, has the same or a similar number of daily flights to United hubs.

December 27, 2023

Nashville is essentially guaranteed a team at this point, and my money is on the sleeper candidate, Salt Lake City (which has an ownership group and site ready), to get the other. MLB could use another team out west, and the last two expansions saw teams from each side of the country added (Miami and Denver in ‘93 and Tampa and Phoenix in ‘98). If Charlotte had a viable ownership group and plan in place, I think we could remain in the mix, but I just don’t see Raleigh being a serious contender, especially with the other expansion team just a state away. The Triangle is all about college sports with the Hurricanes giving the northern transplants a pro team to cheer for, plus Raleigh doesn’t have the corporate sponsorship base or central location in the Carolinas that Charlotte does that would realistically help them move ahead of Charlotte and leapfrog other contenders.

February 26, 2023

I hope the mezzanine renovation and expansion adds some much-needed lounge space. AA desperately needs more Admirals Club capacity, and it would be great to get a Capital One/Chase Sapphire/Plaza Premium lounge to ease Centurion Lounge and Club at CLT overcrowding.

August 17, 2022

Tepper and Levine deserve each other. Bets on who bamboozles who first?

October 1, 2021

12 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Just drive up to RDU and save big on Volaris Airlines

Volaris - Ultra low cost airline with the cheapest flight deals-Volaris notice they are an ULTRA Low Cost airline

You can pay for your flight in Cash at select Walmarts, 7-11s etc. and that is the truth.

Seems strange to us, but that’s a pretty common way to pay for online purchases in Mexico, which is much more reliant on cash. There is an OXXO (a convenience store) on almost every corner across the country.

Also, I’ve flown Volaris and VivaAerobus around Mexico quite a bit and wouldn’t hesitate to fly either again. Sure, they’re the Spirit and Frontier of Mexican airlines where everything beyond your seat is extra, but they have new Airbus planes, friendly crews, and good on-time performance. I wish Volaris would add a flight to MEX in addition to the current service to GDL from CLT.

August 23, 2021

On 8/20/2021 at 1:35 PM, DownEast said:

Blue Devil = Trust fund kid from New Jersey.

I’m partial to the University of New Jersey at Durham.

August 8, 2021

Finally found the permit for the new The Club CLT lounge on A North. $2.38MM to build a 5,729 SF lounge with the rendered bar, food prep area, and restrooms (presumably single-occupancy). For comparison, the Admirals Club on B is approximately 4,500 SF and the Centurion Lounge is approximately 13,000 SF. Definitely a nice addition, especially when flying a non-AA carrier, but I imagine this lounge will be at capacity often since will be accessible with Priority Pass and LoungeKey (the developer, Airport Dimensions, is owned by the same parent company).

https://webpermit.mecklenburgcountync.gov/download.aspx?PosseObjectId=407827637

June 24, 2021

3 minutes ago, j-man said:

See this was what I was expecting. Like a wow factor. This one now just feels like someone just flipped an old house for some quick cash.

This was the rendering released for Marcus Smith’s failed MLS franchise bid a few years ago. Sure, this is sexy, but it was never going to happen. I am perfectly happy with a reconstruction of the original stadium (reusing stone and recreating period architecture) for community and minor league/smaller major league sports use. It’s not fancy, but it’s a great amenity that’s appropriately scaled for the neighborhood.

June 16, 2021

1 hour ago, LKN704 said:

The description made it seem like it would be quite large for some reason. The description also said the lounge would feature " full-service menu with locally inspired dishes" which to me means hot entrees.

There is a ton of space on the mezzanine level of the atrium that could potentially be free.

AA has apparently been looking for space for another (much needed!) Admirals Club, and I would guess the upstairs level of the atrium that is/was occupied by airport offices moving offsite would be a more likely location for that lounge. Not the same big windows and columns in the renderings up there.

Also, I assume “full-service” in this case just means food and drinks, not hot entrees. I’ve been to just about every The Club location at least once, and they’re all essentially the same. The adjective-filled press release for one of the newest locations at MSY said to expect “unique New Orleans-inspired cuisine from Chef John Folse”, but that was a reheated pre-made “gumbo” plus the usual sandwiches/wraps and snacks. It’s a shared pay-per-use lounge that will accept Priority Pass and Lounge Key members (the lounge developer/manager’s parent company, Collinson Group, company also owns those programs), so I’m not expecting high-end F&B or other amenities. I will just happily take another lounge option (especially on A-North, if that’s where it will be located) with a much nicer design than existing locations and the potential for some local craft beers.

June 16, 2021

2 hours ago, LKN704 said:

That area is extremely small, and once you account that the club will include a kitchen, reception area, restrooms, etc, I can't see it going there unless they build a second level.

For those that don't know, the area we are talking about is the alcove on the left hand side in between the two moving walkways.

It’s not a huge area for sure, but neither is the rendered space. The Club Lounges don’t require full kitchens like Centurion Lounges (they have a small selection of sandwiches/wraps, a heated pre-made soup or two and some basic snacks vs. a full hot food selection), so I think this fits. Restrooms would just be outside the lounge in the hall behind the bar or there could possibly be two single-occupancy restrooms where the two doors are in the back left corner of the rendering (also common for The Club lounges). I have no direct knowledge and could be totally wrong, but I can’t think of anywhere else in the existing terminal where this lounge could be located.

June 15, 2021

17 hours ago, LKN704 said:

Arrived at the airport early so I could go to the Centurion Lounge and get my money's worth, only to find it closed and only offering to-go lunch boxes due to "local government regulations". Something fishy is up as it was just open last week and all AA lounges are open. As far as I know there are no NC regulations in place that would prohibit the lounge from opening. My guess is there either must have been an outbreak that caused several staff members to call-out thus not allowing the lounge to open due to the lack of staff.

I decided to go sit somewhere quiet so I schlepped over to the A North pier, where I found that large open area on the A North area that was filled with chairs a couple of months ago was devoid of chairs and just was an empty space. I wonder why they would remove the chairs? I ended up sitting next to the Southwest gates on the mezzanine level of the pier, which looked to be a de-facto lounge for airline employees. Two airport staff members (not for CLT or an airline, maybe a staffing agency) were sitting next to me on their break and it was interesting to hear their conversation.

Didn't there used to be seating in this area? I recall rocking chairs, these weird modern sofas, and a diagram 3D model of the airport on display.

Their conversation went as follows: apparently Southwest is short-staffed at CLT and it took them almost 25 minutes to fully unload an inbound flight. One of the staff members next to me saw that the Southwest CLT station manager had to physically help unload the bags and with the general ground-handling process, which he said was almost unheard of/unprecedented. He said while it was a nice-gesture for him to help out, the fact that he had to help was a sign that things were amuck in regard to Southwest's ops in CLT. He also noticed a large number of transfer bags being pulled to side, meaning Southwest pax are actually making connections in CLT, which I thought was interesting.

Arriving from Nashville.

At around 25 minutes before boarding I decided to head to my gate at E18 (the end of one of the piers there) and I clocked it at a little under a half a mile. The end of the concourse was an absolute zoo. Bus stations in Europe are nicer. This end of the concourse happened to be the one that had new jetbridges (servicing E175s) and that weird gate area where there is one boarding lane and podium servicing 4-6 gates. It's hard to see in the image, but that area was refurbished with new carpeting, ceiling panels, LED lighting, signage, and those gray wall panels bordering the gate door as seen in the A Concourse. Don't know why that area was refurbished but the rest of the concourse was not. I know CLT said they are putting a pause on refurbishing D & E because of COVID (maybe they will resume soon?) so maybe that section was done before COVID.

Bus station CLT-style. It's hard to see but the area in the distance has been refurbished.

Nasty (literally) bathroom on the E Concourse that wouldn't be out of place at a dive bar somewhere.

Rocking chairs removed because that area is being turned into The Club CLT? Obvious spot for a lounge (although I assume restrooms would be outside), and the rendering of the exterior wall matches.

June 4, 2021

18 hours ago, Vitamin_N said:

Chase just announced that it will be building a network of airport lounges and Capital One did the same a few months ago. Anybody care to speculate on the odds of CLT getting one of these?

The renderings for the new The Club lounges at CLT and SFO are very different from the other locations (much nicer, IMO), so I wonder if we are getting one here? I reached out to both CLT the lounge developer/operator a few weeks ago to see where and when the The Club would be opening. The former said they couldn’t comment, and I never heard back from the later.

May 12, 2021

On 5/11/2021 at 4:24 PM, CltFlyer said:

It definitely does sound like it's been in the works for a while. The mezzanine level of the atrium makes sense, but if the rumor of another Admirals Club going there is accurate. I would think it would have priority, but it's possible that rumor was related to the "The Club CLT" the entire time. This would explain the proximity to the C/D lounge and be central enough for pax flying any airline at CLT to use (including LH business class). The only other existing spaces I can think of are the A North Part I, The Plaza (across from the Centurion Lounge?) and the new E concourse expansion (obviously not going there).

August 13, 2019:

Thank you for visiting The Club CHS. We hope you enjoyed your stay. CLT, your home airport, is certainly a location where we hope to open a Club in the future.

We appreciate your interest and your feedback.

April 8, 2021

19 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Charlotte startup Phoozy scores $500K in investment on Shark Tank.

Here is what they do:

""Conway and Inglis co-founded Phoozy in 2017. The startup manufactures thermal capsules that prevent handheld electronics from overheating in the sun and prolong battery life in extreme cold. The capsules also float in water and provide military-grade drop protection.""

Congrats!

Startup Phoozy lands 'Shark Tank' investment - Charlotte Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

The Ultimate Protection For Your Phone, Tablet & Laptop | PHOOZY

My phone almost over heated just yesterday as I left in my vehicle in the sun! I need to get a Phoozy

Me too! My phone actually did overheat yesterday while leading a conference call from my sunny condo courtyard. Was using it as a WiFi hotspot too, so double whammy.

March 5, 2021

4 hours ago, turbocraig said:

For those hoping for regular Qatar service (in any form), this Forbes article seems to put the kabosh on that. Not sure why Forbes would generate a whole story based on this, but it answers some questions and gives some general info about the state of the air cargo industry.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedreed/2021/03/03/pandemic-brings-an-unfamiliar-boeing-777-flight-to-charlotte/?sh=6a83c8d64009

Because the writer, Ted Reed, is a former Observer columnist who still lives here and was probably just as excited as us to see a Qatar 77W at CLT.

September 24, 2020

1 hour ago, tozmervo said:

Did the centurion lounge ever open? Just realized I couldn't recall hearing that it had.

Yes, it opened (briefly) in late February, and I had a chance to visit a few days later. Amex just announced that they will be slowly reopening lounges starting in early October, but a reopening date hasn’t been set for CLT.

September 9, 2020

6 hours ago, tarhoosier said:

In a previous election I received a phone call for a candidate in a statewide election. The caller encouraged me to visit the office for the candidate located on "Tyrone" Street. "Where are you calling from" I asked. "Massachusetts".

Thanks for the unintended 90s Erykah Badu flashback, tarhoosier!

September 1, 2020

AA is also adding FSD (Sioux Falls, SD) 1x daily on a PSA CRJ-700 starting 11/4. A seasonal RAP (Rapid City, SD) flight has been around for a couple years, but I don’t remember any previous CLT-FSD flights.

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/293451/american-airlines-w20-north-america-network-additions-as-of-30aug20/

August 31, 2020

7 hours ago, LKN704 said:

AA will resume CLT-PVR this Winter.

US last served this route in 2010/2011 IIRC.

Nice to get this route back seasonally! I just returned from a 30-day working vacation in Mexico, including a long weekend stay in Puerto Vallarta and neighboring Sayulita on the Riveria Nayarit.

Pro Tip: If you’re on the west coast of Mexico, don’t let the US Department if State’s Do Not Travel warning scare you away from Mazatlan (in Sinaloa) or Acapulco. Both are beautiful, and I couldn’t have felt more safe, even after dark. Plus everything is cheaper, the food is better, and you actually feel like you’re in Mexico.

August 25, 2020

8 hours ago, CLT> said:

Wait till the signage goes up... There's a reason planning didn't follow their own rules with the rezoning and didn't notify the majority of residents who get the 'glow' in their windows.

Are they going to project their logo into the night sky like a Bat, I mean Bank, Signal? That would be pretty cool, except... does purple light help you sleep? I already get the glow from the light sabers through my bedroom window.

August 20, 2020

22 hours ago, Mgelbach said:

I would hate to live there, but I guess there's always pros!

Don’t hate on Boise! It actually has a nice little skyline is a great town . And fun fact: it has the largest concentration of Basques in the US.

August 9, 2020

19 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Been there done that. City owned this site as the old convention center with the pyramids on top then sold it for a deal to a developer. I think the city needs to GET out of retail and entertainment deals as Cityfair was a failure, this has problems and now they are talking about doing something with Mr Tepper. I say let entertainment districts develop on their own like Southend and NoDa and they will be much more successful in the long run.

I think this would be a great way for BofA to spend some of the $1B it has committed to advancing racial equality and economic opportunity. Subsidize rent and/or provide low/no interest loans to small and minority-owned businesses to create a diverse retail destination (and small farmers market!) in the shadow of their world HQ building.

August 5, 2020

39 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

I think that it will happen as Charlotte grows as a financial center.

The types of financial services jobs in Charlotte DO NOT generate any meaningful international travel demand. Folks here make a good living supporting domestic consumer and small business banking operations and doing back office work (things like risk, compliance, legal, technology, HR, etc.), but those aren’t jobs that often require domestic travel, much less international travel. I think Charlotte will continue to add those types of jobs, but that will not get us non-stops to any global financial centers that are not already served from CLT. With modern technology that allows global teams to engage virtually (I talk to my teammates in APAC, EMEA and LATAM daily), banks are not going to buy enough business class seats to send employees from cost centers (vs. profit centers) halfway around the world for face-to-face meetings to make non-stop flights viable. Any additional international service we get once air travel recovers post-COVID will be due to AA’s prioritization of CLT as a low-cost connecting hub and the introduction of long range narrowbodies that make service to secondary European leisure destinations feasible, not because Charlotte has emerged as a global financial hub.

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