I would think that every traveler's purchase has the explicit purpose of accessing the secure area, the exception in this case simply excludes boarding the plane.

Anyway, I talked to her today, and she evidently does have a transferable lounge membership with United. In some other thread there was a post saying that you can just invite guests to the secure area to meetings in said lounge- or something like that. I'd do that if it were easier.

My layover is long enough for dinner, but not long enough for exiting, driving around and coming back. If we did the ticket thing I'd just buy it/cancel it for her, I don't think she'd even have to speak to anyone if she didn't want to- seems like its about as complicated as your standard process thru security.