WITH holiday destinations ever more far-flung, it is essential to make air trips as comfortable as possible and diminish the risk of flight-related deep vein thrombosis (DVT) on flights that last longer than three hours.

Get your holiday off to a flying start with some top tips from Scholl, manufacturers of flight socks or flight knee-highs, which Scholl says are medically proven to help prevent flight-related DVT and other circulatory problems:

Stock up hand luggage with travel games, books and a personal CD player to keep you entertained.

Buy a guidebook and use the time to swot.

Take a toothbrush and toothpaste on to the plane - just cleaning your teeth will freshen you up.

Wet wipes are useful for mopping up spillage, cleaning sticky children and freshening up, as is a revitalising face spray.

Take a stroll up and down the aisle to relieve stiffness and maintain good circulation, or follow the in-flight exercises in the airline magazine.

Wrap up in warm, loose clothing - the air conditioning on aeroplanes can make you feel chilly.

A bottle of water keeps you hydrated in the dry cabin climate.

Camomile, lavender and sandalwood help relief stress and tension if you are a nervous flyer.