Flights to Banqiao, Nanjing from NT$5,972

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be a real challenge. But there's no need to worry. Follow these tips and tricks for a pleasant start to your getaway in Banqiao. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a worry-free flight experience is to pack in advance. So, let's start with the basics: passport, travel docs, bank cards and vital medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help while away those hours, like your laptop or a good book. You'll also want to bring your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Last but not least, be sure to pop in toiletries like a toothbrush, cleansing wipes and a clean T-shirt.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Double-check that you don't have a Swiss Army knife hiding in one of the zippers of your hand luggage. Other banned items include explosive or flammable products, such as bleach and fuel, and gels and liquids in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• You'll want to go for comfort over style. Prepare for changes in temperature by layering up, and wear flat, closed-toe shoes like slip-ons.
• The result of prolonged periods of inactivity, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot condition that can affect passengers during long flights. Lower your risks by drinking water, keeping your ankles and legs moving and wearing compression tights or socks.

It's easy — be prepared. We've rounded up some useful tips for a speedy trip through airport security. Look out Banqiao, here you come:

• Keep your boarding pass and passport handy. They're the first items you'll be asked to show at 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, jacket and headphones need to go through the machine.
• All your electronics, including your laptop and phone, must also be scanned.
• Any liquids or gels, such as lip balm or cologne, that you want to bring on board need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). They must also all fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• It's also possible you'll be asked to remove your shoes to be X-rayed, so wearing slip-on sneakers is always a wise idea.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp or pointed objects in the cabin. If you need to bring these kinds of items, check them in.