So tired, tired of waiting...

Q. My wife and I were on our way to Jamaica when, after checking in, we were held up in a ridiculously long security line. By the time we were cleared, our gate was closed and the plane was pulling away. We had to catch a much later flight, and lost a full day at the beach. Isn't there something to be done about these lengthy waits?

A. Aside from applying for a Clear card (currently available for use in only 10 U.S. airports), there's always just good old-fashioned showing up early. You may try checking the wait times at your security checkpoint (and others around the country) by visiting waittime.tsa.dhs.gov. Though the times listed are estimates and averages, not live data, they can give you an idea of the general traffic patterns. Also, if flying from an airport you've never used before, leave yourself extra time in case of unexpected obstacles. Getting your boarding pass online or using an automated check-in kiosk will save you time as well. If all else fails, it certainly doesn't hurt to let security know that you're late for your flight. You may be allowed to skip to the front of the line.