Stafford has just one airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

The trip between IAH and downtown Stafford is reasonably long. You’ll need to travel 48 kilometres before you can check in to your hotel in the city.

Before booking tickets to Stafford, it’s a wise idea to decide which airport is most convenient. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is 48 kilometres from downtown. If you touchdown at William P. Hobby Airport, you’ll find yourself 29 kilometres away from the heart of the city.

There are 27 airlines that fly into Stafford from 167 airports across the globe.

American Airlines and United Airlines frequently fly into Stafford. Hopping on an American Airlines flight from Dallas is one of the most preferred ways to get there.

With roughly 4,657 direct flights each week, you’ll be landing in Stafford before you have time to say, “Are we there yet?”

Flights to Stafford from Dallas, Atlanta and Denver airports are in high demand.

Where you depart from determines how much of the in-flight entertainment you’ll get to enjoy. From Dallas to Stafford, the average flight time is 1 hour and 11 minutes. From Denver it’s roughly 2 hours and 22 minutes, and from Chicago it’s 2 hours and 43 minutes.

Don’t leave booking your flight to Stafford until the very last minute. That’s one trick frequent travelers use to get the best deals. Booking ahead means more choices and less expensive flights. Don’t stop there, however. Do some research and check if there are a couple of airports at your destination. Ticket prices often differ depending on the airport you jet into. Be sure to compare fares across airlines too. Last of all, be ready to secure your seat quickly if you find a real bargain. It might not stick around for too long. With a bit of knowledge and some luck, the perfect fare will be yours.

Wherever you’re jetting in from, flying can be an enjoyable experience if you’ve planned ahead. We’ve compiled a list of handy hints that will help get your Stafford vacation started on the right note.What to pack in your hand luggage:

• First things first, pack in your passport, travel docs, credit cards and vital medications. Next, you’ll want some extra in-flight entertainment to while away the hours. A juicy novel and a tablet crammed with your favorite shows are some terrific options. If you intend to take a short snooze, a neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones will also come in handy. Finally, squeeze in a few toiletry items so you’ll touchdown feeling fresh and ready to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• While the list of banned items can differ between air carriers, the general rule to follow is nothing sharp, flammable or explosive. This includes things like box cutters, razor blades, fuels and bleaching agents. Sports equipment like baseball bats, and items that could injure passengers, such as pepper spray and firearms, can’t come on board with you either.

What to wear on a flight:

• The goal here is to feel as comfortable as you can. Layer yourself up in breathable clothing and take a cardigan in case you get cold. Opt for a pair of flat, well-fitting shoes as it’s possible that your feet and ankles will swell during the flight. Leave the stilettos and hiking boots in your checked baggage.
• Unfortunately, one risk of long-distance flying is developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by extended periods of inactivity. To prevent this, take every opportunity to stretch your legs and walk around the cabin. Compression socks and tights are another easy way to help lower your risk.

The trick is to be organized before you arrive at security. That way, you’ll be boarding that plane to Stafford in a flash. Follow these tips and get your trip off to a terrific start:

• Security personnel first need to establish that you have a valid passport and boarding pass before you’re allowed to proceed any further. Keep them close by.
• Next up, both you and your carry-on luggage must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that might set the alarms off. Personal belongings like your belt, coat and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• Electronic devices like phones and laptops will also have to go through the machine for inspection. Don’t worry, you’ll be back online in no time.
• Any liquids or gels, such as lip balm or cologne, that you want to take on board must be no greater than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), zip-lock bag.
• Lightweight sneakers 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 often subjected to extra screening.
• Sharp items are prohibited in the cabin. They’ll be confiscated at security, so pack them in your checked luggage.