I’m not sure what’s more surprising — that someone was so insistent on staying in a Delta lounge that they wouldn’t leave until the cops were called, or that the Sky Club doesn’t actually look that crowded?!
In this post:
Police called to remove traveler from Sky Club at PBI
This incident happened on July 5, 2025, at Delta’s Sky Club at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). In body cam footage that has been posted online, the Delta representatives are explaining to the two police officers that the man didn’t have proper access to the lounge, but refused to leave.
So the police officers approached the man, and he was immediately hostile, telling one of the police officers “get away from me, you’re disgusting.”
The police officer explains that “you don’t have the proper identification to get into the club in the first place,” and that “you have to have that card.” He responds by asking the astonishingly stupid question of “where is that in your manual,” as if a police manual contains the Sky Club access rules. They’re simply enforcing the rules of Delta, which runs the space, and can decide who gets access.
These are some no-nonsense cops, and they explain that either he can leave right now, or he’ll be arrested for trespassing. He continues to try to stall and not answer the question of whether he’s willing to leave, so they then arrest him immediately. Go figure that once he’s in the cuffs, he immediately says “my choice was to leave,” and “I said I was going to leave.”
While this was all happening, another guest comes up to one of the police officers, and says “he’s way out of line, insulting them tremendously.”
The traveling public can be a pain to deal with
I don’t know what this guy’s deal was — was he drunk, was he off his medication, or was he just stubborn and not going to be told what to do by anyone? Regardless, my sympathy here is pretty low, given the horrible way he communicated with others. “Get away from me, you’re disgusting…” really?!? What a way to talk to a fellow human…
Admittedly I’m probably at the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to my appetite for confrontations or pushing my luck, but I still don’t see how this guy thought this was going to end? When the police said he can either leave voluntarily or get arrested for trespassing, how did he see that playing out, exactly? Did he think the police officers would end up saying “oh, you know, you’re totally right, we’re instead going to compel Delta to actually let you stay in the club, even though they called us to remove you?”
If there’s any silver lining, at least this is better than the situation we recently saw, where a man was arrested for stealing items from others in a Sky Club.
Bottom line
Sometimes people are confused about what it takes to enter an airport lounge. If you end up in a situation where you don’t have access to a lounge, just leave with grace, rather than having the cops called, and being dragged out in cuffs. It’s really not worth it for a $2 glass of pinot grigio, I promise.
What do you make of this Sky Club incident?
I don’t want to go into too much detail (IYKYK) but the gentleman is clearly unwell. He is almost certainly not drunk but is suffering from a very specific, age related, condition.
Doesn’t excuse his behaviour , and I think the police acted respectfully and processionally, but a reminder for all of us with friends or relatives who suffer from similar conditions, to help them help themselves stay out of trouble.
Oh man I came here to post it was probably Miami. I was close!
lil Timmy D just triggered over all the positive UA EWR press this week
I saw the video. Getting arrested over a lounge entrance (I think this was PBI so a small lounge at that) where you get free Wawa like food and cheap booze? I don't know what to say for that level of stupidity.
BTW, the cops are not there to determine should he get in the lounge. A business has the right of refusal of service and if asked to leave and no compliance the...
I saw the video. Getting arrested over a lounge entrance (I think this was PBI so a small lounge at that) where you get free Wawa like food and cheap booze? I don't know what to say for that level of stupidity.
BTW, the cops are not there to determine should he get in the lounge. A business has the right of refusal of service and if asked to leave and no compliance the cops are called to exit that person. No different than a passenger denied boarding by the airline that refuses to leave the aircraft.
Well, the "where is that in you manual" is not "that" stupid. More too often are airline employees wrongly refusing you a service you are entitled to (the fault at byzantine rules airlines implement, but still...). On the other hand, did the cops took for granted the affirmation of the lounge employee(s)? How did they knew who was right?
Delta's the one who decides who gets access, not the cops.
First, Delta is the leaseholder of the property. Delta doesn't have to prove to the police that the person is not authorized to be on the property. Delta told the police the person was not authorized. The police have no duty verify anything. That being said, when asked, the person failed to produce proof of authorized admission.
Second, Delta has house rules. "Delta reserves the right to refuse admittance to anyone who interferes with the...
First, Delta is the leaseholder of the property. Delta doesn't have to prove to the police that the person is not authorized to be on the property. Delta told the police the person was not authorized. The police have no duty verify anything. That being said, when asked, the person failed to produce proof of authorized admission.
Second, Delta has house rules. "Delta reserves the right to refuse admittance to anyone who interferes with the business-like atmosphere of the Delta Sky Club or appears to be intoxicated." Delta identified the individual as disruptive and asked the person to leave. The person refused to leave. The police have no duty to verify anything.
If the person believes he was wrongly denied admission, that is a civil matter. And, you comply with the police at the scene and you take Delta to court. That's how the system works.
Palm Beach is my home airport. It is one of the smallest Delta bases with a sky club. During certain times of the day, when there is not a bank of flights, it can actually be very quiet and empty. While the sky club is dated, most of the time I can easily find a seat.
Pinot Grigio for USD 2?
Can you please direct me to that US airport where this is on offer like that?
The value of being able to enter the lounge is not the value of the items consumed in there, but the opportunity cost of purchasing such items in the terminal.
Has he already filled his gym bag with food, he would have left voluntarily.
Slow news day?
You're so funny hahahahaha
That's premium trespassing right there.
A Florida man.....
Tim Dunn is an angry elf.