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 TSA PreCheck, there's always just good old-fashioned showing up early. You may try checking the wait times in advance. 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.