I can only assume this whole incident was at an airport without kerbside check-in and a Club of some kind? surely kerbside check in and boarding pass at the Club cuts out the 50 minute wait?

Surely that is what flying F gets you at the very least? If I saw huge lines, No F or Elite line, and there was NO kerbside, I'd simply roll up the bag to the club and ask nicely given the situation if they could take care of it.