Cheap Flights to El Dorado from HK$1,242

Wherever you're coming from, flying can be a pleasurable experience if you've prepared well enough. Follow these handy tips and tricks that will help get your El Dorado escape started on the right note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a worry-free travel experience is to pack in advance. So, let's start with the basics: passport, travel docs, credit cards and important medications. Next, bring items that'll help keep you entertained, like some electronic gadgets or a thrilling book. It's also wise to pack your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of earplugs. And of course, be sure to squeeze in toiletry items like a toothbrush, facial wipes and a fresh set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have sharp objects (like a pocket knife) hiding in one of the zippers of your hand luggage. Other prohibited items include explosive or flammable products, like aerosols and matches, and liquids and gels in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an airplane are no place for a fashion parade. Don comfortable layers and choose shoes that are flat, enclosed and easy to remove.
• It's likely you've heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clotting condition caused by prolonged periods of inactivity. To lessen your risk on board, drink lots of water, consider wearing compression socks or tights and move your legs and feet often.

The trick is to be prepared before you reach security. That way, you'll be boarding that plane to El Dorado in the blink of an eye. Follow these helpful tips and get your holiday off to a flying start:

• Your boarding pass and travel ID will need to be presented to airport security. Have them easily accessible so you don't have to dig around for them.
• Next up is the X-ray machine. Empty your pockets and remove anything that is likely to set off the scanner's alarm. This includes items like headphones or earphones, as well as bulky coats or jackets. They'll need to be placed on the conveyor belt for screening.
• All your electronic devices, including your tablet and phone, will also need to be scanned separately.
• Remember to remove liquids and gels from your carry-on bag. They often need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each item should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and everything must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), clear zip-lock bag.
• Lightweight sneakers are a good footwear choice as you're less likely to be asked to remove them when passing through security. Boots and other heavy-style shoes are often subjected to additional screening.
• Airlines won't allow any sharp objects in your hand luggage. If you need to bring these kinds of items, check them in.