I actually think he's right that there should be no status of any kind at the security checkpoint.

With things that have to do just with the airline, status is all well and good. But the security is something that everyone pays equally for through their taxes, and it's a government function. Why should the government prioritize some people over others based on their FF status? Also, just in principle airline security is one of the burdens of maintaining civil society, so ought to be shared equally by all.