She got through security at JFK by line jumping security lines. First started in the "known airline employee" security line and once past the ID checks, jumped into the regular security line to get through the metal detectors.
At the gate, she crowded into a large family group and somehow snuck on the plan without a boarding pass. My guess is one family member held all the boarding passes for the group and she snuck in as one of them.
Complete failure on security at the airport.