Cheap Flights from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Charlotte Douglas (CLT)

Direct service from Los Angeles International to Charlotte is limited to flying with American. The company does offer departure times throughout each day, however. The non-stop flight takes about 4.5 hours. A number of other flights with a roughly 1 to 1.5 hour stopover are available with United, Frontier, Southwest and Delta. Tickets generally run anywhere from $150 to $250 each way and around $400 to $450 for a round trip, with Frontier (which always has a short stopover in Denver) usually offering the lowest fares by far.

Los Angeles International Airport Departure Information

If you're interested in taking light rail to the airport, you can take the Metro Green line to the Aviation Station. From there, you can take the complimentary "G" shuttle the rest of the way to the airport. Another shuttle (the "Lot C") connects to the Metro Bus Center.

LAX has a wide range of pre-flight dining options, but the majority are after the security checkpoints. Pre-security options include 7-Eleven, Cantina Laredo, Earl of Sandwich, Pinkberry, Planet Hollywood, Starbucks, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Wolfgang Puck's WPizza.

Free WiFi is available throughout the terminal to all visitors in increments of 45 minutes. You are required to watch a 30-second video advertisement prior to connecting, however. Frequent travelers can purchase an ad-free high-speed plan for $10 per month; look for the "Boingo Unlimited" option.

Preparing to Arrive at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Upon arrival at Charlotte Douglas, you'll find a nice range of restaurants that feature some higher-quality food than you usually find at the airport. Some of the better options at the facility include Bad Daddy's Burger Bar, Beaudevin, the Carolina Beer Company, Phillips Famous Seafood, The Stock Car Cafe and Whisky River. Of course, if you just want to grab something quick, there are dozens of options. These include popular chains like Burger King, Chick-Fil-A, Cinnabon, Einstein Bros., Quiznos, Starbucks and Wendys.

Light rail service is available from the airport on the local CATS line, which you can board from the Zone D area of baggage claim. Of course, there are the usual shuttles, taxis and ride sharing services. And if you wish to rent a car, that can be arranged on site with many of the major national chains such as Enterprise, Hertz and Dollar

Things to do in Charlotte

Known as the Queen City, Charlotte offers a wide variety of parks, dining, shopping, museums and nightlife to visitors.

It's a particularly attractive destination for families with children due to the wide variety of activities available. Popular destinations of this nature include Carowinds water park, the Land of Oz, Discovery Place, Ray's Splash Planet, the Carolina Raptor Center and Rock Hill.

Singles will find plenty to interest them, however. Charlotte's hot dining and nightlife neighborhoods include Uptown, the South End, NoDa, Dilworth and Montford. If you have more refined tastes, options for enjoying the arts also abound. The Levine Center for the Arts and the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center are the two major music venues. And in addition to dining and nightlife, NoDa is the city hotspot for galleries and all different types of live music.