The wait times at airport security checkpoints have become a guessing game during the shutdown of a single U.S. government department, with the daily attendance of Transportation Security Administration officers determining whether lines move quickly or stretch far outside terminals.

Increasingly, the effects of the shutdown are being felt by air travelers — specifically in ballooning security checkpoint wait times.

A stylish airport outfit can move smoothly right up to the scanner, then stall at the shoes. That detail matters more now because the long-running requirement to remove footwear at security has largely been rolled back.

Over a dozen airports are insulated from the shutdown because they use private contractors instead of federal TSA employees.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Deciding what to pack before heading to the airport can be a hassle, but so can wearing the wrong thing. As you pass through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, consider ...