Cheap Flights to São Francisco

Depending on where you're coming from, your trip to São Francisco could be completely stress-free or it could drag on forever. We've put together some handy tips that will help you start your unforgettable escape on the right foot. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having an amazing travel experience is to pack in advance. Start with the essentials: passport, travel documents, credit cards and medications. Next, bring items that'll help pass the time, like your laptop or a thrilling book. It's also wise to pack your chargers, a comfy neck pillow and a pair of earplugs. And of course, be sure to squeeze in toiletries like a toothbrush, facial wipes and a clean T-shirt.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don't have sharp or pointed objects hiding in one of the zippers of your carry-on luggage. Other banned items include explosive or flammable goods, such as fuel and fireworks, and liquids and gels in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your highest priority when deciding what to wear during your flight. Loose clothing is a sensible choice, as are flat, enclosed shoes.
• You're probably aware of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by long periods of sitting. To lessen your risk on board, stay hydrated, consider wearing compression socks or tights and move your legs and feet often.

The simple answer is — be prepared. We've pulled together some useful tips for a fuss-free trip through security. Watch out São Francisco, here you come:

• Security personnel first need to see that you have a valid passport and travel documents before anything else. Keep them close by.
• Time to strip down. Well sort of. Your coat, belt, keys and other contents of your pockets, like your earphones, will be required to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them before your turn.
• Your electronic gadgets like laptops and phones will also need to go on a tray to be scanned. Don't worry, you'll be back online before you know it.
• Any liquids or gels, such as hair oil or hand cream, that you want to take on board need to be in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), clear zip-lock bag.
• Slip-on shoes are a clever footwear choice as you're less likely to be required to remove them when going through security. Hiking boots and other heavy-style shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Sharp items such as knives and scissors are not allowed on board. They'll be confiscated at security, so put them in your checked bags.