alt Hacker News> The gate keeper has no say into who gets let on the plane and who doesn't, they are there just to enforce the decision.
No, that's not true. He is literally, physically, the gate keeper: To pass the gate, he has to let you pass. Now, you could insert another gate keeper into the scenario at the entrance to the airplane, or some turn-style with a scanner etc. but that wouldn't change the basic argument, just make the scenario a little more complex.
But they are not making the decision whether you are allowed to board or not, they are just there to enforce it. You can't talk your way on a plane with them no matter what you say if your scanned boarding pass lights up red instead of green. They don't have any authority to make decisions.