Flights to Telephone, Texas from NT$5,456

If you're not prepared, air travel can be daunting. But there's no need to hit the panic button just yet. Follow these useful tips and enjoy a pleasant start to your getaway in Telephone. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First and foremost, pack your passport, travel documents, credit cards and vital medications. Next, you'll want some entertainment to while away the hours. A juicy book and a laptop filled with your favorite shows are good options. If you hope to catch more than just forty winks, a comfy neck pillow and some noise-canceling headphones will also come in handy. Finally, find room for a toothbrush and some facial wipes so you'll touchdown looking fresh and ready to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of banned items differs between air carriers, the general guide to follow is avoid carrying anything flammable, sharp or explosive. This includes knives, scissors, aerosol cans and bleaching agents. Sports equipment like hockey sticks, and objects that could harm other people, such as firearms and ammunition, aren't allowed in the cabin either.

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of a plane aren't the place for a fashion parade. Don comfortable layers and go for shoes that are roomy, flat and easy to pull on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-haul flights. It's the result of blood clots forming due to poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks.

A little pre-planning before you arrive at the airport will make your trip to Telephone a breeze. Here are some handy tips for a swift journey past security:

• Airport security personnel first need to see that you have a valid ID and matching travel documents before you're allowed to proceed any further. Have them ready to show.
• After that, both you and your carry-on luggage will be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, take off anything that might trigger the alarms. Items like your belt, jacket and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All your electronic gadgets, including your laptop and phone, will also need to be separately scanned.
• Any liquids or gels, such as perfume or hand cream, that you want to bring on board must be no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). They must also all fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• There's a good chance you'll need to take your shoes off for scanning, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a good idea.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp objects like a pocket knife or tools, put them in your checked suitcase. They won't be allowed in the cabin.