Cheap Flights to Santa Maria from CA $249

Wherever you're coming from, flying can be a pleasant experience if you're prepared. We've put together a list of top travel tips that will get your Santa Maria vacation started on the right foot. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First things first, put in your passport, official ID, bank cards and daily medications. Next, you'll need some extra in-flight entertainment to while away the time. A thrilling novel and a phone crammed with your favourite shows are always good options. If you hope to catch a few z's, a quality neck pillow and some noise-cancelling headphones will also be useful. Finally, leave space for a toothbrush and some deodorant so you'll touchdown looking fresh and ready to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of prohibited items differs between air carriers, the general rule of thumb is nothing flammable, sharp or explosive. This includes things like tools, metal cutlery, aerosol cans and flares. Sporting equipment like hockey sticks, and items that could injure passengers, such as guns and swords, can't come on board with you either.

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your main priority when choosing what to wear during your flight. Loose clothing is a smart choice, as are flat, enclosed shoes.
• Caused by lengthy periods of inactivity, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot condition that can affect some passengers on long-distance flights. Lower your risks by drinking water, keeping your ankles and legs moving and wearing compression socks to help improve your circulation.

As seasoned travellers know, the secret is to be organized before you get to airport security. That way, you'll be hopping onto that plane to Santa Maria in a flash. Follow these tips and get your vacation off to a fantastic start:

• Airport security personnel first need to determine that you have a valid passport and matching travel documents before anything else. Have them within easy reach, ready for inspection.
• Time to strip down. Well kind of. Your belt, coat, keys and other contents of your pockets, like coins, will be required to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them as your turn draws near.
• For just a few moments, you'll need to unplug from technology. Your tablet, phone and any other electronic devices will also need to be sent through the scanner.
• Can't travel without your favourite cologne? No problem. As long as it's in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and it's stored in a zip-close bag, you can bring it with you in your carry-on baggage.
• There's a possibility that you'll need to take your shoes off to be X-rayed, so wearing lightweight sneakers is always a clever idea.
• Airlines won't allow any sharp objects in your carry-on luggage. If you must bring these kinds of items, put them in your checked luggage.