Our Review of Charleston Airport (CHS)

Our Review of Charleston Airport (CHS)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Charleston Airport (CHS)

Pros

Modern and Efficient Terminal
The airport has a single, well-designed terminal with two concourses (A and B) connected by a central hall, making navigation easy and efficient for travelers.
Wide Range of Airlines and Destinations
Over 12 airlines operate from CHS, offering flights to more than 50 domestic destinations and international service to Toronto and Bermuda, providing good connectivity.
Ample Parking Options
The airport offers multiple parking facilities including hourly, daily, economy lots, and valet parking with thousands of spaces, plus a free cell phone waiting lot.
Good Passenger Amenities
Facilities include restaurants, shops, business centers, baby care, animal relief stations, and a Priority Pass lounge (The Club CHS), enhancing passenger comfort.
Convenient Location and Transport Links
Located about 12 miles from downtown Charleston, the airport is easily accessible by taxi, rideshare, shuttle, and public transportation, making city access straightforward.

Cons

Limited International Destinations
Despite being the busiest airport in South Carolina, CHS serves only two international destinations, which may require travelers to connect through other hubs for global travel.
Security and Boarding Delays Reported
Some passengers have reported long security lines and inefficient boarding processes, including confusion during connections and delays at gates.
Limited Lounge Access
The Priority Pass lounge (The Club CHS) has restricted access hours and allows entry only up to 3 hours before departure, which may limit comfort for some travelers.
Parking Costs Can Be High
Hourly parking is relatively expensive ($3 per hour, $21 daily max), and valet parking costs $25 per day, which can add up for longer stays.
Customer Service Inconsistencies
While many reviews praise the airport staff’s friendliness, some travelers have experienced poor customer service, especially during flight disruptions and baggage handling

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Charleston International Airport (CHS) is South Carolina’s busiest airport and a key gateway to the historic city of Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry region. Located approximately 12 miles northwest of downtown Charleston in North Charleston, CHS serves over 6 million passengers annually and offers a range of domestic and limited international flights.

Terminal and Facilities

CHS features a single, modern terminal with two concourses-Concourse A and Concourse B-connected by a central hall. The terminal is designed on one level, making it easy to navigate for travelers of all ages and abilities. Concourse A primarily serves Delta Air Lines, while Concourse B hosts American, Southwest, JetBlue, and United Airlines, among others.

Inside the terminal, passengers will find a variety of amenities including restaurants, cafes, retail shops, duty-free stores for international travelers, ATMs, business centers, baby care facilities, and animal relief areas. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal, and a Priority Pass lounge (“The Club CHS”) offers a comfortable space for eligible travelers.

Parking and Transportation

Parking at CHS is plentiful and versatile. Options include the Hourly Parking Deck near the terminal, the large Daily Parking Garage with over 3,000 spaces, Economy Lots A and B with shuttle service, and convenient Valet Parking. There is also a free Cell Phone Waiting Lot for drivers picking up arriving passengers.

Transportation to and from the airport is easy, with taxis, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, rental cars, and public buses (CARTA Route 11) connecting CHS to downtown Charleston and nearby areas.

Popular Routes and Airlines

CHS offers nonstop flights to major hubs such as Atlanta, Charlotte, New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and Miami, with flight durations ranging from about 1 to 3 hours. Seasonal international flights connect Charleston to Toronto and Bermuda.

Tips for Travelers

• Arrive early during peak travel seasons to avoid long security lines.
• Use the economy parking lots for longer stays to save on parking fees.
• Check your gate and flight status frequently, as gates can change.
• Take advantage of the airport’s dining and shopping options to relax before your flight.

Charleston International Airport combines modern convenience with Southern hospitality, making it a pleasant and efficient starting point for your journey.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Charleston Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Charleston Airport (last month)