Cheap Flights to Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve from HK$1,305

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be challenging. But don't hit the panic button just yet. Follow these helpful hints for a pleasant start to your time in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• A plane ride can be a comfortable experience if you carry the right stuff. First things first, you'll need basic toiletry items, such as deodorant and a toothbrush, a spare set of clothes and a good novel. Secondly, find room in your hand luggage for your electronic gadgets, chargers, your medications and maybe a neck pillow as well. Lastly, don't forget to take your passport, travel documents and some money.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a sharp object lurking in one of the zippers of your carry-on luggage. Other restricted items include explosive or flammable substances, such as fuel and fireworks, and gels and liquids in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• Go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes by wearing layers, and wear flat, slightly roomy shoes like slip-ons.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-distance 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 socks.

As seasoned travellers know, the secret is to be prepared before you arrive at the airport security gate. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve in a flash. Follow these tips and get your trip off to a fantastic start:

• First things first. Your passport and boarding pass will need to be shown to security personnel. Have them close by so you don't hold up the queue.
• After that, both you and your carry-on bag must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that is likely to trigger the alarm. Items such as your belt, jacket and headphones need to go through the machine.
• For just a few moments, you'll need to unplug from technology. Your laptop, phone and any other electronics will also need to go through the scanner.
• Any gels or liquids, such as shampoo or hairspray, that you want to bring on board need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres). They must also all fit inside a quart-size (one litre), clear zip-close bag.
• Choosing your footwear wisely can save you several valuable minutes. Boots and heavy shoes are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Lightweight sneakers usually aren't.
• Airlines will not allow any pocket knives or other sharp items in your carry-on baggage. If you need to bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked baggage.