It looks like this time of year there are 8 direct flights on AA from PHX - CLT. Loads don’t look to crazy for a Friday (2/7). But YMMV during the higher travel seasons.
But as stated above when commuting hub to hub there are usually some viable stops that can be made at connecting “out stations”.
I commute from SMF to DCA. Usually through DFW but sometimes through PHX. I’ve only had to use the commuter clause twice last year (once related to weather and another time due to mainline AA jumpseaters bumping me
off).