Amazing NJ -- I agree that waiting in line for an hour or more is unacceptable. However, given that long waits are reality, one must arrive at the airport in plenty of time. Arriving just in the nick of time (80 min. is my opinion of "nick" ) won't help the overall situation, and makes the immediate situation even worse.

Thanks for the welcome! (I followed a link here from PlaneBusiness)

BTW I usually fly out of LGA (I've recently lowered my acceptable EWR fares), and have not experienced a long wait at curb-side check-in (lucky maybe). Inside lines can get long, but I've already bought my ticket when I get to the airport .