Cheap Flights to Santa Catalina from CA $78

We've pulled together all the info you need to make your flight a pleasant experience. Follow our tips and tricks and you'll be breezing through airport security and exploring Santa Catalina in no time flat. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• The secret to having an amazing travel experience is to pack ahead. So, let's start with the basics: passport, travel docs, cash and vital medications. Next, bring items that'll help keep you occupied, like your laptop or a few magazines. You'll also want to bring your chargers, a quality neck pillow and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. And of course, don't forget to chuck in toiletries like a toothbrush, deodorant and a spare change of clothes.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of restricted items differs between air carriers, the general rule to follow is nothing sharp, flammable or explosive. This includes things like screwdrivers, blades, aerosol cans and bleaching agents. Sporting equipment like bows and arrows, and objects that could harm other people, such as guns and swords, can't come on board with you either.

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your top priority when choosing what to wear on board. Loose, breathable clothing is a wise choice, as are flat, slightly roomy shoes.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a potential risk on long-haul flights. It results from blood clots forming due to inactivity and poor circulation, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression tights or socks.

Being organized before you get to the airport will make your trip to Santa Catalina a piece of cake. Here are some top tips for a speedy journey past security:

• Keep your ID and boarding pass close by. They're the first items you'll be asked to show at security.
• Time to strip down. Well sort of. Your belt, coat, keys and other small items, like your headphones, will need to go on a tray through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them before your turn arrives.
• Your electronic devices like phones and laptops will also need to go on a tray for inspection. Don't worry, you'll be back online soon enough.
• Any gels or liquids, such as hair oil or hand cream, that you want to bring on board must be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres). Also, they all must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), clear zip-close bag.
• Lightweight sneakers are a good footwear choice as you're less likely to have to remove them when going through security. Boots and heavier-style shoes are often subjected to extra screening.
• Airlines won't allow any sharp or pointed objects in your carry-on luggage. If you need to bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked baggage.