Flights to Menard, St Mary from NT$27,016

Wherever you're jetting in from, flying can be an enjoyable experience if you're prepared. We've put together a list of essential travel tips that will help get your Menard escape started on the right note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a pain-free flight experience is to plan ahead. First up, the essentials: passport, boarding pass, credit cards and vital medications. Next, bring on board items that'll help while away those hours, like your laptop or a few magazines. It's also wise to pack your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of earphones. And of course, be sure to toss in toiletries like a toothbrush, facial wipes and a clean T-shirt.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of prohibited items can differ between air carriers, the general rule of thumb is nothing flammable, sharp or explosive. This includes things like knives, scissors, fireworks and fuel. Sporting equipment like bows and arrows, and items that could harm other people, such as firearms and swords, won't be allowed on board either.

What to wear on a flight:

• Go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes by layering up, and wear easy-to-remove footwear like slip-ons.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potential risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clots forming due to poor circulation and inactivity, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression tights or socks.

The simple answer is — be prepared. We've rounded up some useful tips for a speedy trip through airport security. Watch out Menard, here you come:

• Security personnel first need to establish that you have a valid ID and matching boarding pass before anything else. Have them in your hand, ready for inspection.
• Next up, both you and your hand luggage will be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, remove anything that is likely to set the alarm off. Items like your coat, belt and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All your electronic gadgets, including your phone and tablet, will also need to be scanned.
• Remember to remove liquids and gels from your hand luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• The right choice of footwear can save you several valuable minutes. Boots and bulky shoes are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Slip-on sneakers are usually not.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp or pointed objects, put them in your checked baggage. They won't be allowed on board.