TSA Fact Sheet: Amid Checkpoint Confusion, Some Real Numbers from the Airport

Nov. 22, 2010— -- An already busy week for travelers has grown more complex, with confusion over the TSA's newly-introduced security measures, which include x-ray screeners and enhanced pat-downs.

As Americans prepare to head to the airport, what's really going on at those security check points? Here are some interesting statistics.

According to the TSA, fewer than 3 percent of passengers get pat-downs, a number that has not changed since the new security measures were introduced. Also, unless you decline an X-ray screener, there is no reason you'd be more likely to face at pat-down at the airport than you were before the new protocols came into effect

Then, there's the question of wait times. A grassroots movement encouraging flyers to opt-out of X-ray screeners in favor of pat-downs has raised fears of long lines at checkpoints. So far, though, that has not proven to be the case.

The average wait time at checkpoints across the country is 8 minutes and 50 seconds, according to the TSA.

Below, we've compiled the average security checkpoint wait times at 10 of the nation's busiest airports.

AVERAGE WAIT TIME PER CITY:

Seattle: 14:53
Los Angeles-LAX: 15:00
Denver: 16:00
Phoenix: 10:00
Chicago-ORD: 7:00
Atlanta: 4:40
Miami: 6:29
New York-LGA: 5:30
Boston: 2:00
Washington-Reagan: 7:49

For more information on Thanksgiving travel, go to the Travel section at ABCNews.com/travel.