Cheap Flights to Long from HK$342

Wherever you're jetting in from, flying can be a seamless experience if you prepare well enough. Check out these handy tips and tricks that will get your Long escape started on the right note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having a great travel experience is to plan ahead. First up, the essentials: passport, boarding pass, credit cards and important medications. Next, take on board items that'll help keep you occupied, like your laptop or a good book. It's also a wise idea to bring your chargers, a neck pillow and a pair of headphones. Last but not least, be sure to pop in toiletry items like a toothbrush, cleansing wipes and a clean set of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have a sharp object hiding in one of the zippers of your hand luggage. Other restricted items include explosive or flammable products, such as aerosol cans and bleach, and liquids and gels 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. Don comfortable layers and opt for shoes that are flat and easy to pull on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-distance flights. It results from blood clotting due to poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks.

Being prepared before you arrive at the airport will help make your getaway to Long a pleasure. Below you'll find some handy tips for a stress-free journey past security:

• Be sure to keep your passport and boarding pass within easy reach. They're the first items you'll be asked for by airport security.
• Your belt, coat, keys and other contents of your pockets, like your earphones, will need to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them before your turn.
• All your electronic devices, including your phone and laptop, are also required to be separately scanned.
• Don't forget to remove liquids and gels from your carry-on bag. They often need to be sent through the X-ray scanner separately. Each product should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and everything must fit inside a single quart-size (one litre), clear zip-lock bag.
• The right choice of footwear can save you several precious minutes. Boots and heavy shoes are often required to be removed and X-rayed separately. Slip-on sneakers usually aren't.
• Sharp or pointed objects (like knives and scissors) are not allowed on board. They'll be seized at security, so put them in your checked luggage.