Flights to Robbins, Chicago from NT$6,269

If you're poorly prepared, traveling can be testing. But there's no need to hit the panic button just yet. Follow these tips and tricks and enjoy a trouble-free start to your time in Robbins. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• It's easy — first, put in your passport, travel documents, cash and vital medications. Next, you'll need some extra in-flight entertainment to while away the hours. A thrilling book and a phone filled with your favorite shows are some terrific options. If you plan to catch a few z's, a quality neck pillow and some noise-canceling headphones will also be useful. Finally, squeeze in a toothbrush and some facial wipes so you'll hop off the plane feeling fresh and raring to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a pocket knife lurking in your hand luggage. Other banned items include explosive or flammable substances, like aerosols and matches, and gels and liquids in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your main priority when deciding what to wear on board. Loose clothing is a wise choice, as are flat, slip-on shoes.
• It's likely you've heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by long periods of inactivity. To minimize your risk on board, drink plenty of water, consider wearing compression socks or tights and keep your legs and feet moving.

The trick is to be well prepared before you arrive at the security gate. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Robbins in the blink of an eye. Follow these tips and get your trip off to a fantastic start:

• Security personnel first need to check that you have a valid passport and boarding pass before you can proceed any further. Keep them within easy reach.
• Next up, both you and your hand luggage must be X-rayed. To speed things up, take off anything that is likely to trigger the alarm. Personal belongings such as your belt, jacket and headphones need to go through the machine.
• All electronic gadgets, including your tablet and phone, will also need to be scanned separately.
• Don't forget to remove liquids and gels from your hand luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray separately. Each product should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• Lightweight sneakers are a great footwear choice as you're less likely to be required to remove them when passing through security. Boots and other heavy-style shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp or pointed objects in the cabin. If you must bring these kinds of items, check them in.