Cheap Flights to Waterloo , IN from CA $224

If you're not prepared, air travel can be overwhelming. But don't hit the panic button just yet. Follow these helpful hints and enjoy a stress-free start to your vacation in Waterloo. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The trick to having a pain-free travel experience is to be prepared. Start with the essentials: passport, travel documents, credit cards and medications. Next, take on board items that'll help keep you busy, like your laptop or a juicy novel. It's also smart to bring your chargers, a comfy neck pillow and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Finally, don't forget to chuck in toiletry items like a toothbrush, lip balm and a spare change of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Double-check that you don't have a pocket knife lurking in one of the compartments of your hand luggage. Other restricted items include explosive or flammable substances, such as bleach and fuel, and gels and liquids in containers with a volume of more than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your number one priority when choosing what to wear on your flight. Loose clothing is a sensible option, as are flat, slip-on shoes.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clots forming due to poor circulation and inactivity, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks.

As savvy travellers know, the secret is to be well organized before you get to the security gate. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Waterloo in the blink of an eye. Follow these helpful tips and get your vacation off to a fantastic start:

• First things first. Your boarding pass and passport will need to be presented to security personnel. Keep them within easy reach so you don't have to dig around for them.
• The X-ray machine is up next. Remove anything on you that is likely to beep. This includes things like earphones or headphones, as well as heavy coats or jackets. They'll all need to go on the X-ray conveyor belt.
• For just a few minutes, you'll need to unplug from technology. Your tablet, phone and any other electronic devices will need to go through the scanner.
• Any liquids or gels, such as perfume or hand cream, that you want to bring on board must be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), zip-lock bag.
• Slip-on shoes are a clever footwear choice as you're less likely to have to remove them when going through security. Boots and other heavy shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp or pointed objects, put them in your checked luggage. They won't be allowed in the cabin.