If you’re traveling by air, you won’t have to ponder too long which airport to fly into. Wingate has just one – Charlotte-Douglas Intl. Airport (CLT).

A flight to Wingate means hitting the tarmac at Charlotte Airport. Step off the plane, gather your bags and you’ll be 56 kilometers from downtown.

Wingate is serviced by 12 airlines from 168 airports around the world.

Wingate receives the largest number of flights from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Spirit Airlines with American Airlines being the favorite choice of airline. Queens Village is the most popular city for travelers to depart from.

Flying to a new place is much easier when there aren’t any stopovers involved. If you’re making your way to Wingate, the good news is that there are roughly 4,280 direct flights every week.

The most popular flights to Wingate leave from Orlando, Atlanta and Nashville airports.

If you’re flying to Wingate from Washington, you’ll have a flight time of 1 hour and 36 minutes. Those departing from Queens Village can expect to be midair for 2 hours and 7 minutes. From Orlando it’s about 1 hour and 44 minutes away.

Don’t leave locking in your flight to Wingate until the last moment. That’s one move savvy travelers use to get the best deals. Booking well in advance means more choices and cheaper flights. Don’t stop there, however. Do some research and see if there are multiple airports at your destination. Prices often differ depending on which airport you jet into. Be sure to compare fares across airlines too. And finally, remember that the early bird catches the worm. Familiarize yourself with airfare costs and be ready to book your ticket as soon as you spot a bargain. The sweetest deals never last long.

If you’re poorly prepared, air travel can be overwhelming. But there’s no need to panic. Follow these helpful hints and enjoy a worry-free start to your vacation in Wingate.What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a hassle-free travel experience is to be prepared. So, let’s start with the basics: passport, official ID, credit cards and vital medications. Next, bring items that’ll help keep you occupied, like your laptop or a magazine. You’ll also want to bring your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of earphones. And of course, don’t forget to pop in toiletry items like a toothbrush, deodorant and a clean T-shirt.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Leave all your full-sized bottles of shampoo and hair gel in your checked baggage. Any liquids or gels in your carry-on bag larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) won’t be allowed on. Sharp objects, like your beloved Swiss Army knife, and products which are explosive or flammable, such as flares, bleaching agents and gasoline, are also banned.

What to wear on a flight:

• Your number one priority is to make yourself as comfortable as you can. Layer yourself up in natural fibers and pack a cardigan in case it gets cool. Pick a pair of roomy, flat shoes as your feet may swell during the flight. Leave the stilettos and chunky boots in your checked luggage.
• The condition known as DVT (deep vein thrombosis) can pose a risk on long-distance flights. It results from blood clots forming due to poor circulation. Doing leg and foot exercises while seated helps to prevent this from happening. Wearing a good-quality pair of compression tights or socks also helps reduce your risk.

As savvy travelers know, the secret is to be prepared before you reach the airport security gate. That way, you’ll be boarding that plane to Wingate in a flash. Follow these tips and get your trip off to a spectacular start:

• Have your boarding pass and ID close by. They’ll be the first things you’ll be asked for by security.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage will be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that is likely to set the alarm off. Personal belongings like your coat, belt and earphones need to go through the machine.
• Electronic devices like phones and laptops will also have to go through the machine for inspection. No need to worry though, you’ll be back online in no time.
• Remember to remove gels and liquids from your hand luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• It’s also possible you’ll be required to take your shoes off for scanning, so wearing slip-on sneakers is always a clever idea.
• Knives and other sharp items are not allowed on board. They’ll be seized at security, so pack them in your checked suitcase.