Flights to Brooklyn, Iowa from

Depending on where you're coming from, your journey to Brooklyn could be a breeze or it could drag on forever. We've rounded up some handy travel tips that will help you start your next big adventure on a positive note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a great flight experience is to pack ahead. Start with the essentials: passport, boarding pass, bank cards and medications. Next, take on board items that'll help keep you entertained, like some electronic devices or a juicy novel. You'll also want to pack your chargers, a neck pillow and a pair of earphones. Finally, don't forget to pop in toiletries like a toothbrush, cleansing wipes and a spare change of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of restricted items differs between air carriers, the general rule of thumb is nothing flammable, sharp or explosive. This includes box cutters, razor blades, fuel and fireworks. Sporting equipment like golf clubs, and objects that could harm passengers, such as pepper spray and guns, can't come on board with you either.

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an aircraft are no place for a fashion parade. Don comfortable layers and go for shoes that are flat, enclosed and easy to pull on and off.
• You've probably heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clotting condition caused by long periods of inactivity. To reduce your risk on board, drink lots of water, consider wearing compression tights or socks and do gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat.

As seasoned travelers know, the secret is to be prepared before you arrive at the security gate. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Brooklyn in no time at all. Follow these helpful tips and get your trip off to a great start:

• Keep your boarding pass and passport someplace easily accessible. They're the first items you'll be asked for by airport security.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage will be X-rayed. To speed things up, take off anything that is likely to trigger the alarm. Items such as your belt, coat and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• For just a few moments, you'll have to unplug from technology. Your laptop, phone and any other electronic devices must also go through the scanner.
• Any gels or liquids, such as perfume or toothpaste, that you want to bring on board must be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• There's a chance you'll need to take your shoes off to be X-rayed, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a wise idea.
• Pocket knives and other sharp items are not allowed on board. They'll be seized at security, so put them in your checked suitcase.