Flights to Mahurangi West, Auckland from NT$19,602

If you're not prepared, air travel can be daunting. But there's no need to panic. Follow these handy hints and enjoy a hassle-free start to your getaway in Mahurangi West. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First things first, pack your passport, travel docs, wallet and vital medications. Next, you'll need some extra in-flight entertainment to while away the time. A thrilling book and a phone filled with your favorite shows are good options. If you intend to catch forty winks, a quality neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones will also be useful. Finally, find room for a few toiletry items so you'll hop off the plane feeling fresh and ready 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 one of the zippers of your hand luggage. Other banned items include flammable or explosive products, such as aerosol cans and fuel, and liquids and gels in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Go for comfort over style. Prepare for changes in temperature by wearing layers, and wear closed-toe, flat shoes like sneakers.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-haul 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 tights or socks.

The secret is to be organized before you reach security. That way, you'll be stepping onto that plane to Mahurangi West in a flash. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a great start:

• Your boarding pass and travel ID will need to be presented to airport security personnel. Keep them handy to avoid fumbling around for them.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on bag must be X-rayed. To speed things up, take off anything that is likely to trigger the alarm. Personal belongings like your belt, coat and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• Your electronic gadgets like laptops and phones will also have to go on a tray to be scanned. Don't worry though, you'll be back online before you know it.
• Remember to remove gels and liquids from your hand luggage. They often need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• The right choice of footwear can save you valuable minutes. Boots are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Lightweight sneakers usually aren't.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp or pointed objects in the cabin. If you need to bring these kinds of items, check them in.