Flights to Johannesburg, from NT$20,253

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be a real challenge. But there's no need to worry. Follow these helpful hints and enjoy a comfortable start to your vacation in Johannesburg. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• Firstly, and most importantly, pack your passport, travel documents, bank cards and vital medications. Next, you'll need some in-flight entertainment to while away the hours. A thrilling book and a laptop filled with your favorite movies are some terrific options. If you hope to take a short snooze, a quality neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones will also be useful. Finally, leave space for a toothbrush and some deodorant so you'll arrive at your destination looking fresh and raring to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have sharp objects (like a knife or scissors) hiding in the bottom of your carry-on luggage. Other banned items include flammable or explosive products, such as fuel and matches, and liquids and gels in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• You'll want to choose comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes by donning layers, and wear flat, slightly roomy shoes like slip-ons.
• It's likely you've 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 socks or tights and move your legs and feet often.

As savvy travelers know, the secret is to be well prepared before you reach airport security. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Johannesburg in the blink of an eye. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a terrific start:

• Be sure to keep your travel documents and passport close by. They'll be the first things you'll be asked to show at security.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on luggage must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that might set the alarms off. Personal belongings such as your jacket, belt and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All electronic gadgets, including your laptop and phone, will also need to be scanned separately.
• Any liquids or gels, such as shampoo or hand cream, that you want to take on board must be no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you several minutes. Hiking or heavy-style boots are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Lightweight sneakers usually aren't.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp or pointed objects, put them in your checked baggage. They won't be allowed on board and will be confiscated.