I was traveling with a fellow when we were in university. I assumed he was lost, so I exited the sterile area and went back to the checkin desk to look for him. I had stayed at a nearby hotel, he had stayed with local friends in Vancouver.
Turned out he overslept and almost missed the flight. At the point where it was about an hour till boarding, I returned through security and waited for him in the gate area.
I didn't have any trouble, and we met at the gate a few minutes before boarding. No issues whatsoever.