Flights to Hartford, Iowa from NT$12,132

If you're poorly prepared, airports and flying can be daunting. But there's no need to worry. Follow these tips and tricks and enjoy a comfortable start to your vacation in Hartford. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a great travel experience is to be prepared. So, let's start with the basics: passport, boarding pass, credit cards and important medications. Next, take on board items that'll help while away those hours, like your laptop or a good book. It's also a wise idea to bring your chargers, a neck pillow and a pair of earplugs. And of course, don't forget to toss in toiletry items like a toothbrush, deodorant and a spare change of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have sharp objects (like a pocket knife) hiding in the bottom of your hand luggage. Other restricted items include explosive or flammable products, like aerosols and matches, and liquids and gels in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your main priority when deciding what to wear on your flight. Loose clothing is a smart choice, as are flat, closed-toe shoes.
• It's likely you've heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by prolonged periods of sitting. To lower your risk on board, drink lots of water, consider wearing compression socks or tights and keep your legs and feet moving.

A little pre-planning before your flight can make your trip to Hartford a piece of cake. Read through our handy tips and tricks for a swift journey through security:

• Security personnel first need to make sure that you have a valid passport and matching travel documents before you're allowed to proceed any further. Keep them within easy reach.
• Time to strip down. Well kind of. Your belt, jacket, keys and other small items, like your earphones, will need to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them before your turn.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from the digital world. Your phone, laptop and any other electronic gadgets will need to be sent through the scanner.
• Remove all gels and liquids from your hand luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray scanner separately. Each item should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-lock bag.
• The right choice of footwear can save you several precious minutes. Boots are often required to be removed and separately scanned. Slip-on sneakers usually aren't.
• Sharp or pointed objects (like knives and scissors) can't be taken on board. They'll be confiscated at security, so put them in your checked bags.