Flights to Dongxihu Qu, Wuhan from NT$9,270

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be daunting. But there's no need to panic. Follow these handy tips and enjoy a pain-free start to your time in Dongxihu Qu. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having an awesome flight experience is to plan ahead. Start with the essentials: passport, boarding pass, cash and vital medications. Next, take on board items that'll help keep you entertained, like some electronic gadgets or a few magazines. It's also a wise idea to pack your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Finally, be sure to pop in toiletries like a toothbrush, facial wipes and a clean set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have a sharp object hiding in your carry-on luggage. Other banned items include flammable or explosive substances, such as aerosol cans and bleach, and gels and liquids in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Your goal here is to be as comfortable as possible. Choose shoes that are easy to slip on and off, dress in loose, breathable clothing and don't forget to bring a sweater in case it gets cold in the cabin.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-distance flights. It's the result of blood clotting due to poor circulation and inactivity, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

The trick is to be organized before you get to security. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Dongxihu Qu in the blink of an eye. Follow these helpful tips and get your trip off to a flying start:

• Airport security personnel first need to determine that you have a valid passport and matching travel documents before you can proceed any further. Have them close by, ready for inspection.
• The X-ray machine comes next. Remove anything on you that is likely to set off the alarm. This includes things like headphones or earphones, as well as heavy coats or jackets. They'll all need to go on the X-ray conveyor belt.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from the digital world. Your phone, laptop and any other electronic devices will need to go through the scanner.
• Any liquids or gels, such as perfume or hairspray, that you want to take on board must be no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, they all must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• The right choice of footwear can save you several minutes. Boots are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Slip-on sneakers usually aren't.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp items or pocket knives in your hand luggage. If you need to bring these kinds of items, pack them in your checked luggage.