Many large airports have additional screening points that, while a little out of the way, more than make up for the inconvenience by being rarely used.

Log on to the Transportation Security Administration’s Web site, which lists security checkpoints at every U.S. airport and publishes average wait times by the hour at waittime.tsa.dhs.gov.

…At airports with one central security checkpoint (such as Denver), the shorter lines are usually the ones at the outer edges, away from where most of the traffic is funneled. And airports with hotels attached, such as Detroit Metro (the Westin) or Dallas/Fort Worth (the Hyatt), often have a separate security entrance for hotel guests, but anyone can use it.

Check out k-em’s comment below, which bears out the value of this tip…