Cheap Flights to Milan from HK$2,974

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

• It's simple — first, put in your passport, travel docs, cash and medications. Next, you'll want some entertainment to help pass the time. A thrilling novel and a tablet filled with your favourite shows are some fantastic options. If you intend to catch a few z's, a neck pillow and some noise-cancelling headphones will also be useful. Finally, squeeze in a toothbrush and some facial wipes so you'll arrive looking and feeling fresh.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Leave all your full-sized bottles of hair gel and hairspray in your checked luggage. Any gels or liquids in your carry-on suitcase larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) will be confiscated by security. Sharp or pointed objects, like a pocket knife, and dangerous products which are flammable or explosive, such as flares, bleaching agents and fuels, are also restricted.

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your main priority when deciding what to wear on your flight. Loose clothing is a smart choice, as are flat, enclosed shoes.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-distance flights. It results from blood clots forming due to poor circulation, so do some gentle foot and leg exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

A little pre-planning before you arrive at the airport will help make your trip to Milan a pleasure. Here are some useful tips for a stress-free journey through security:

• Your boarding pass and passport will need to be presented to security personnel. Keep them someplace accessible so you don't hold up the line.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that might set the alarms off. Items such as your jacket, belt and earphones will be required to go through the machine.
• All your electronic gadgets, including your laptop and phone, are also required to be scanned.
• Remove all liquids and gels from your hand luggage. 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 in a quart-size (one litre), clear zip-close bag.
• Lightweight sneakers are a sensible footwear choice as you're less likely to have to remove them when going through security. Big boots and other bulky shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Sharp or pointed items can't be taken on board. They'll be confiscated at security, so pack them safely away in your checked baggage.