First of all are you going to Charleston West Virginia or Charleston South Carolina? My airline, USAirways serves either one from LAX through either CLT or PHL. Since I work out of Charleston SC I will try help if that is the city of your choice. If you are heading to CHS you would have back-up cities of MYR, HHH and SAV all less then 2 hours away. I would also be able to get information on CRW as I have contacts there.

Be careful with Delta, they have cut service to many of their smaller cities while in Bankruptcy. The flights are often full even on weekdays.

You may wish to go with the carrier in which your airline has an alliance. We get a better deal with the Star Alliance then airlines not in our group.