Flights to Oakland, St. Louis from NT$7,434

We've got the lowdown on how to make your journey as stress-free as possible. Follow our tips and you'll be speeding through the airport and having a ball in Oakland in no time flat. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• Air travel can be easy if you take the right things. First of all you'll need toiletry items, such as deodorant and a toothbrush, a clean pair of socks and a good novel. Next, leave space in your carry-on bag for your electronic gadgets, chargers, any medications and perhaps a neck pillow as well. Lastly, and most importantly, don't forget to bring your passport, travel documents and some money.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have sharp or pointed objects lurking in one of the compartments of your hand luggage. Other restricted items include flammable or explosive products, such as aerosol cans and fuel, and liquids and gels in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an aircraft are no place for a fashion parade. Layer up with comfortable clothing and opt for shoes that are flat, roomy and easy to remove.
• It's likely you've heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clotting condition caused by long periods of sitting. To reduce your risk on board, drink plenty of water, consider wearing compression socks or tights and keep your legs and feet moving.

Being prepared before you arrive at the airport will help make your trip to Oakland quick and painless. Below you'll find some handy tips for a stress-free journey through security:

• Your travel documents and passport will need to be presented to airport security. Keep them someplace accessible so you don't hold up the line.
• Time to strip down. Well sort of. Your coat, belt, 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.
• Your electronic gadgets like phones and laptops will also need to go on a tray for inspection. No need to worry though, you'll be back online in no time.
• Don't forget to remove liquids and gels from your carry-on luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray separately. Each product should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a single quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• It's also possible you'll be required to take your shoes off for scanning, so wearing slip-on sneakers is always a smart idea.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp objects in your hand luggage. If you must bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked luggage.