Flights to South Windsor, Connecticut from NT$5,556

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be a real challenge. But there's no need to panic. Follow these tips and tricks for a pain-free start to your time in South Windsor. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• Flying can be a stress-free experience if you carry the right gear. Firstly, you'll want a few toiletry items, such as a toothbrush and lip balm, a fresh set of clothes and a good novel. Secondly, find room in your carry-on bag for your laptop, a charger, any vital medications and maybe a blow-up neck pillow too. Lastly, remember to take your passport, travel documents and your bank cards.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of restricted items can differ between airlines, the general rule of thumb is nothing flammable, sharp or explosive. This includes screwdrivers, pocket knives, spray paint and fireworks. Sports equipment like ski poles, and objects that could harm other people, such as swords and guns, are also banned from the cabin.

What to wear on a flight:

• Your top priority is to be as comfortable as possible. Go for shoes that are easy to slip on and off, dress in loose, natural-fiber clothing and remember to bring a jacket in case you get cold in the cabin.
• The result of lengthy periods of inactivity, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot condition that can affect passengers on long-haul flights. Lower your risks by drinking water, keeping your lower limbs moving and wearing compression socks to help improve your circulation.

It's simple — be prepared. We've rounded up some top tips for a hassle-free trip through airport security. Look out South Windsor, here you come:

• Keep your passport and boarding pass within close reach. They're the first items you'll be asked for by airport security.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on luggage will be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that might set the alarms off. Personal belongings such as your jacket, belt and headphones need to go through the machine.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from the digital world. Your tablet, phone and any other electronic gadgets also need to be sent through the scanner.
• Any gels or liquids, such as shampoo or hairspray, that you want to bring on board need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, they all must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• Slip-on shoes are a great footwear choice as you're less likely to be asked to remove them when passing through security. Boots and other bulky shoes are usually subjected to extra screening.
• Knives and other sharp items are not allowed in the cabin. They'll be confiscated at security, so pack them in your checked luggage.