You can buy your way out of the line at the gate (first class boards first, despite the fact that this is decidedly non-optimal from an operational perspective), but the security checkpoint is not at the gate. The gate line is managed by the airline and is primarily concerned with ensuring passengers get on the right plane. (They saved me from an impromptu trip to Seattle when I was to the JavaOne conference. International travel does strange things to the brain.) Another concern is earning the airline money through rigidly enforcing the class system. (+)
The security line is managed by the TSA (an arm of the government) and its (stated) primary purposes are to ensure bad people and bad things do not get passed it.
(+) I watched the 2nd to last person onto the plane get yelled at for going through the left priority boarding line when she was holding an economy ticket, and holding an infant to boot. They made her back up three feet and go through the economy boarding line. It someone could have telepathically read my thoughts they would have probably taken away my Vast Right Wing Conspiracy card.
The security line is managed by the TSA (an arm of the government) and its (stated) primary purposes are to ensure bad people and bad things do not get passed it.
(+) I watched the 2nd to last person onto the plane get yelled at for going through the left priority boarding line when she was holding an economy ticket, and holding an infant to boot. They made her back up three feet and go through the economy boarding line. It someone could have telepathically read my thoughts they would have probably taken away my Vast Right Wing Conspiracy card.