Cheap Flights to Santa Elena from HK$559

If you're not prepared, airports and flying can be testing. But there's no need to panic. Follow these handy tips for a comfortable start to your getaway in Santa Elena. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• It's simple — first, pack your passport, important documents, wallet and medications. Next, you'll need some in-flight entertainment to while away the hours. A juicy book and a tablet crammed with your favourite movies are always good options. If you plan to catch up on some sleep, a neck pillow and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones will also be useful. Finally, make room for a toothbrush and some cleansing wipes to ensure you arrive at your destination feeling fresh and raring to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of banned items differs between airlines, the general rule to follow is nothing flammable, sharp or explosive. This includes box cutters, razor blades, spray paint and flares. Sports equipment like bows and arrows, and items that could injure passengers, such as swords and batons, can't come on board with you either.

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of a plane aren't the place for a fashion parade. Don comfortable layers and opt for shoes that are roomy, flat and easy to pull on and off.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-distance flights. It results from blood clots forming due to inactivity and poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

The secret is to be prepared before you reach the airport security gate. That way, you'll be boarding that plane to Santa Elena in no time at all. Follow these tips and get your trip off to a spectacular start:

• Security personnel first need to establish that you have a valid passport and matching boarding pass before anything else. Keep them close by.
• After that, both you and your carry-on luggage will be X-rayed. To make the process quick and painless, take off anything that might trigger the alarms. Personal belongings such as your belt, jacket and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from the digital world. Your tablet, phone and any other electronic gadgets will also need to go through the scanner.
• Remove all gels and liquids from your carry-on bag. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and everything must fit inside a single quart-size (one litre), clear zip-lock bag.
• Lightweight sneakers are a good footwear choice as you're less likely to be required to remove them when going through security. Hiking boots and other bulky shoes are usually subjected to extra screening.
• Airlines will not allow any sharp items or pocket knives in your carry-on luggage. If you must bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked baggage.