What airline do you fly? That will determine what security checkpoint you have to go through.

Also, do you have to check in at counter or can you go directly at the gate (printed ticket receipt and no more than one luggage plus briefcase/purse)? If you're checking in at the counter, what's your elite status?

I have avoided all security lines by replacing trips with (video)conference calls, but from what I hear in certain airports the line at the check-in counter is worse than the one at the security checpoint. The latter can be well over an hour.