Charleston Airport (CHS) Flights & Flight Status

Charleston International Airport (CHS), the largest and busiest in South Carolina, began as a municipal airport for mail flights and later became a military airport during both World War II and the Korean War. Today, the runways are still co-owned by the US Air Force, but more than 93% of annual flights are commercial. These expert tips will have you flying through CHS with ease next time you pass through.

Getting to and from CHS by car

Taxis are readily available at CHS, but this is the most expensive option, apart from hiring a private car service. If you still prefer this, follow signs to the taxi center outside of baggage claim and provide your destination address to a greeter. What I like about taxi service here is that rates are fixed from pickup, so you’ll know your total and it won’t be affected by traffic or delays.

Still, it’s less expensive and more convenient to hire a rideshare, like Uber or Lyft. As long as you have an app, or don’t mind downloading one, I strongly recommend this over a taxi at CHS. Both will take about 20 minutes to reach Downtown in normal traffic, but I’ve found rideshares to be noticeably less expensive on multiple occasions. Rideshare pickup is a just a bit past taxi pickup at CHS.

Several popular rental car agencies operate at Charleston International Airport. There are plenty of options just past baggage claim and the lots are conveniently located inside the parking garage, connected by covered walkways. Because Charleston area attractions are spread out, renting cars is popular here, and I’ve found long lines for rental check-in on multiple occasions.

To get a jump on these sometimes-lengthy lines, I recommend going straight to the rental counter after deplaning. Even if have you checked bags, you can collect these afterward. This gets you ahead of everyone else who is waiting at baggage claim and can save significant time. Your bags will still be waiting for you afterward. Or, if you’re with someone else, split it up and conquer both at the same time.

Parking at CHS

You have three options for self-parking at CHS and they are all just a short walk from the terminal. If you’re parking overnight, be sure to park in the daily garage. If you stay overnight in the hourly garage, the daily rate is more expensive than in the daily garage, so be mindful. There’s a connected economy lot that saves almost half the daily rate, but I prefer the 24-hour security of the garages.

If you have a lot of luggage or are running late, curbside valet parking is worth considering. It’s just a few dollars more than the garage rate, and allows you to leave your car at the terminal entrance with no wait and no walk. Your car will also be delivered to you on return. For such a minor cost difference, I consider this convenience worthwhile even when I’m not late.

Using public transportation at CHS

Charleston International Airport is only 12 miles from Downtown Charleston so you’d think an Airport Express bus would be a quick trip, but you’d be wrong. While there is a convenient station outside of baggage claim with CARTA buses that pick up at least once an hour, it can easily take up to an hour to reach Downtown on this route.

The bus is quite cheap so hop on if you have the time to spare, but I urge you to seek other options on your return to the airport. As I learned the hard way, the return route is not the same and does not include a stop at the airport, despite being the Airport Express.

Instead, you’ll have to go to the end of the line, which is a shopping center, and transfer to a return bus that will then stop at CHS. When I did this, I even had to pay for a second bus ticket in order to change directions and make my way back to the airport, even though the journey was on the same bus.

Security lines at CHS

Like many airports, CHS recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before your flight, and conventional wisdom suggest 2 hours before a domestic flight (3 for international). However, because this airport is on the smaller side, you will often breeze through security here in 15 minutes or less, as I always have. I urge you not to take advantage of this, though, and still show up at the recommended time.

On a recent visit when two flights were canceled and rebooking lines were astronomical, I spoke with an agent who said that Charleston flights are nearly always full and booked out for days. A missed flight can mean several days of waiting for the next available seat, so it’s not worth taking the risk of arriving late on the rare chance the security line will be long that time.

If you’re intending to save time by relying on CLEAR membership—a paid service that uses your biometrics instead of ID and allows you to cut to the front of your designated line—be warned that this is not yet available at CHS. Because lines are so short here, though, I’ve found that just going through the TSA PreCheck lane typically ensures just a few minutes in line anyway.

Lounges at CHS

Airline elites may be disappointed to learn that there are no airline lounges at Charleston International Airport, but there is still another lounge available. The Club CHS is an airport lounge available to Priority Pass members and anyone willing to pay a sizable day pass rate. It holds under 100 passengers with the potential to fill up fast, but I’ve not been turned away yet.

I personally don’t find this lounge worth paying the day pass fee as there isn’t much offered beyond snacks and canned drinks. It’s certainly worth the comfortable seating and calmer atmosphere if you have free access with Priority Pass, though. It’s on par with most Priority Pass-accessible lounges, which are considerably less luxurious than some airline lounges or Centurion Lounges by American Express.

Things to do during a layover at CHS

This tiny airport is understandably limited on entertainment option. There are a few typical airport shops and an assortment of places to grab a meal or something to drink if you just need to pass a bit of time, but nothing to spend several hours on. It’s tempting to head into the nearby city, but if your layover is 2 hours or under, it’s not worth the risk of bad traffic on your return.

Fortunately, Tanger Outlets are just 7 minutes away by car. This sprawling shopping and dining complex provides plenty of opportunity for better bites and much more interesting window shopping. Don’t do too much actual shopping, though, as you’ll need to carry-on your new purchases. I love to go here even for a more intriguing walk, and use an inexpensive rideshare for the short distance.

Service Animal Relief Areas at CHS

Charleston International Airport has three service animal relief areas. Two of them are outside—one near each end of the terminal—for quick bathroom breaks before or after long car rides. The third is near gate A2, after security, but don’t worry if your gate is in concourse B. Both concourses are connected airside and are relatively small, so you’re never far from a puppy potty break no matter your gate.

Speaking of dogs, among my favorite sights at CHS are the pooches in the pet therapy program. Pups and their handlers can often be found in the concourses visiting with anxious passengers to provide some calm and distraction. To avoid interfering with a working service animal, be sure to ask before approaching any dog you see, and look for the program badge worn by all dog therapy handlers here.

Free Wi-Fi at CHS

There is unlimited free Wi-Fi at Charleston International Airport, and I’ve always found it strong in both the check-in area and concourses. Even better, there are 2,000 available electrical outlets and USB ports for keeping devices charged so you can almost always find an open one if needed.