Cheap Flights to San Francisco from HK$649

Wherever you're jetting in from, flying can be an enjoyable experience if you're prepared. Take a peek at these handy travel tips that will help get your San Francisco escape started on the right note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First of all, pack in your passport, important documents, bank cards and daily medications. Next, you'll need some entertainment to while away the time. A thrilling book and a laptop filled with your favourite movies are some fantastic options. If you plan to take a short nap, a quality neck pillow and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones will also be useful. Finally, find room for a few toiletry items to ensure you arrive feeling fresh as a daisy.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of prohibited items differs between air carriers, the general rule to follow is nothing flammable, sharp or explosive. This includes screwdrivers, blades, fuel and fireworks. Sporting equipment like golf clubs, and items that could harm passengers, such as pepper spray and firearms, can't come on board with you either.

What to wear on a flight:

• Go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes in the cabin by layering up, and pick closed-toe, flat footwear like slip-ons.
• Caused by prolonged periods of inactivity, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clotting condition that can affect passengers on long-haul flights. Lower your risks by staying hydrated, keeping your ankles and legs moving and wearing compression socks or tights.

A little pre-planning before you arrive at the airport will make your trip to San Francisco a piece of cake. We've compiled some top tips for a stress-free journey past security:

• Keep your boarding pass and ID someplace easily accessible. They're the first things you'll be asked for by airport security.
• Next up, both you and your hand luggage must be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, remove anything that might set the alarms off. Personal belongings such as your coat, belt and headphones need to go through the machine.
• For just a few minutes, you'll have to unplug from the digital world. Your laptop, phone and any other electronic gadgets will need to be sent through the scanner.
• Travelling with your favourite hand cream? Not a problem. As long as it's in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and it's stored in a clear zip-lock bag, you can bring it with you in your carry-on bag.
• It's also likely that you'll be required to remove your shoes to be X-rayed, so wearing slip-on shoes is always a clever idea.
• Sharp items are not allowed on board. They'll be confiscated at security, so pack them in your checked suitcase.