Cheap Flights to Vail from HK$4,356

Wherever you're jetting in from, flying can be a seamless experience if you've prepared well enough. We've made a list of handy tips that will help get your Vail holiday started on the right note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First and foremost, put in your passport, travel documents, credit cards and daily medications. Next, you'll want some in-flight entertainment to while away the hours. A juicy book and a tablet crammed with your favourite shows are some terrific options. If you hope to take a short snooze, a neck pillow and some noise-cancelling headphones will also come in handy. Finally, squeeze in a few toiletry items so you'll step off the plane feeling fresh as a daisy.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have a sharp object hiding in the bottom of your hand luggage. Other banned items include explosive or flammable products, such as aerosol cans and bleach, and gels and liquids in containers with a capacity of more than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an aircraft aren't the place for a fashion parade. Wear layers and go for shoes that are flat, enclosed and easy to pull on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-distance flights. It's the result of blood clotting due to poor circulation and inactivity, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

The secret is to be well organised before you reach the airport security gate. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Vail in no time flat. Follow these tips and get your holiday off to a flying start:

• First things first. Your travel ID and boarding pass will need to be shown to airport security. Keep them someplace accessible to avoid fumbling around for them.
• Your belt, coat, keys and other items in your pocket, like coins, will need to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process easier by removing them as your turn draws near.
• For just a few moments, you'll have to unplug from the digital world. Your laptop, phone and any other electronics also need to go through the scanner.
• Remember to remove gels and liquids from your carry-on bag. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray separately. Each item should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and everything must fit inside a single quart-size (one litre), clear zip-close bag.
• Slip-on shoes are a practical footwear choice as you're less likely to be required to remove them when going through security. Boots and other heavy-style shoes are usually subjected to extra screening.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp items or pocket knives in your hand luggage. If you need to bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked baggage.