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?
Another mentally deranged, entitled MAGA “Florida Man”. #Sad.
On the other hand, I once stood at the BA PHL lounge reception, with my CX oneworld Sapphire card and an AA boarding pass, asking to access the lounge, which was quite empty in the morning time when I was there, only to be told by BA dragons that they only served QR pax. The dragons threatened to call the police. I left at that point and wrote to BA afterwards. BA apologised and confirmed I should have been granted access.
This appears to be the same man who was arrested in DTW last November for refusing to deplane per the crew's request off a DTW-MSN flight... Seems like he needs some sort of help, I feel bad for the individual and hope he gets the requisite assistance...
I'm tired of the nuts. We need institutions NOW and these mentally ill people can live in the institutions. I hope he gets the help he needs WHILE HE'S INCARCERATED in an institution. It was a huge mistake to ever close them down.
At least this was handled in a professional manner by both lounge staff and police
I didn't listen or watch the interaction but it probably got the reception it deserved.
However, there have been a number of times that airport lounges don't know or follow the rules. AA and UA in DFW/SFO have ofter refused entry on flights from the UAR via LHR not knowing that, on the day, international passengers have access. In one case we had to go to a second lounge to have a senior staff...
I didn't listen or watch the interaction but it probably got the reception it deserved.
However, there have been a number of times that airport lounges don't know or follow the rules. AA and UA in DFW/SFO have ofter refused entry on flights from the UAR via LHR not knowing that, on the day, international passengers have access. In one case we had to go to a second lounge to have a senior staff call the first and explain the rules. Frustrating on a 3 hour layover following a 10-14 hour flight.
I have a first class flight upcoming MIA-SEA-YLW in December (cash) and have checked several times about access and have been promised access in MIA and SEA (AA and AS). Web site indicates flight has to be over 2000 mi (or so) to qualify which qualifies but it will be interesting. I anticipate problems in SEA with AS and there are no lounges in SEA on my free list. (shrug)
Gotta admit that these bodycam videos are kind of a guilty pleasure of mine... and these people all act the same. They all seem to think they can somehow convince the cops to just go away, and when they get put in cuffs, they all then change their tune completely to say they were complying all along. It's the same 100% of the time. I don't know where this mentality comes from but some people are just brought up wrong.
And the REALLY funny thing ? In my experience, 80% of these criminals are card-carrying MAGA “law & order” conservative types.. At least in their delusional minds, that is.
A Darwin Award winner . . .
I was watching for the part where the officer identifies herself as police, not just some private security guard hired by Delta who would be familiar with what is in "the manual." Florida Man is obviously a few synapses short, but it might have helped to have used the words police and arrest and handcuffs and jail, before bringing in the sergeant to act tough and abrupt.
Sounded like a New Yorker, not a Floridian. You know, when people are in airports, that mght be a hint that they are flying home to somewhere else, right?
blah blah... who cares
"Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest! What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?"
Dusty most people wouldn't get this, get your hands off me
I love it...forgot about this. Had to look for that video again.
So what's the deal with this incident? Was the man SkyClub members but he bought a BE ticket or something like that?
Was it DCS? In a drunken stupor after his latest manic Hilton tirade..
Probably. So intoxicated on his Hilton status that he thought he was in a Hilton lounge.
Sad, really.
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.
100%. He is clearly not well, and frankly my heart sank a little when I saw the video.
Possibly except he kept asking questions then as soon as they stood him up he instantly claimed he said he was leaving. This seems to occur frequently with these incidents regardless of age. I would have expected a bit more confusion if it were dementia related.
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.
If he walked into a car dealership to test drive a car and returned it 6 hours later can he then argue, you don't have a time Duration in your manual. It doesn't say I can't test drive the car by myself you're suggesting he is perfectly in his rights to do as he wishes? This is why we are such a litigation happy country. Everything has to be spelled out in excruciating details.
Imagine...
If he walked into a car dealership to test drive a car and returned it 6 hours later can he then argue, you don't have a time Duration in your manual. It doesn't say I can't test drive the car by myself you're suggesting he is perfectly in his rights to do as he wishes? This is why we are such a litigation happy country. Everything has to be spelled out in excruciating details.
Imagine when you were 9 and your mom said no tv for 2 nights. And you go watch tv and argue but mom you didn't say when it starts.
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.....
He was in Florida, but sounded like a New Yorker. When people are in an airport, there is a pretty good chance they don;t live near there! 50/50 at best.
Tim Dunn is an angry elf.