Runway direction is determined primarily by wind direction at ground level (wind higher up is not relevant). There is a small tolerance (typically 5 knots) for aircraft to have a tailwind, then you go the opposite way. In some places the weather means it's a 50-50 chance which way you go, others like LAX have weather usually from the same direction.

But the opposite direction certainly gets used at LAX. When you land there in the normal westerly direction, as the aircraft turns off the end of the runway look at all the tyre marks of aircraft landing easterly. They're always there.

If there's anything unusual about an approach which might unnerve regular passengers most professional pilots would make an announcement to the cabin beforehand.