Police body cam video has been releaed showing a passenger being removed from the Delta SKy Club at West Palm Beach airport. The customer kept insisting they were entitled to access, but the lounge disagreed and eventually called the cops.
This happened on July 5. A female officer engaged him, and he calls her “disgusting,” demanding to know where Sky Club access rules are in her manual.
He demands a supervisor, and tries to debate access rules, but the offer says plainly, if he won’t leave, he’ll be trespassed. The supervisor arrives and tells him he is “about two seconds from leaving the airport,” asking are you going to leave right now? He answers “Yes, certainly,” but doesn’t stand up.
The supervisor cuts off the back-and-forth and the officers move to handcuff him for trespass. During cuffing he complains and the officer replies that cuffs aren’t supposed to be comfortable. He’s seated in a wheelchair and rolled out while handcuffed.
- He was wheeled out in the sStroller of shame.”
- He got a “free upgrade to the 911 Lounge.”
- And ultimately learned that “after 10,000 Delta Jail Miles you get a window cell.”
The man was always ‘just about to leave’ as soon as the handcuffs come out. (As one commenter observes, “Saying you’ll leave isn’t leaving. You have to stand up.”) Interestingly, he insulted the female officer and only switched to “yes, sir” once a male supervisor arrived.
He didn’t seem to be intoxicated so one wonders what triggered the event. Maybe he’d already used up his Amex lounge visits for the year. Ultimately, though, he picked a fight he couldn’t win in a private, high-security environment. And frankly the West Palm Sky Club just isn’t worth this effort.
(HT: One Mile at a Time)
Oof. Not worth it, generally, but especially not for the one in PBI. FLL? Maybe. That one’s kinda nice. Bah!
I don’t find lounge access that great except for the “Do You Know Who I Am” feeling. The rare exception might be when a shower is used. Otherwise, I can usually find seating in the terminal. Food is usually not so great that a lounge is necessary. Perhaps an exception based on reviews is the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt but access to that is by First Class, not membership or being a credit card holder.
A self-entitled, overweight, out-of-shape, middle-aged white man in Florida that has no respect for any female authority figure (or possibly any female).
Hmmm, I wonder who he voted for in the last election?
FAFO. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
@derek — Ah, the “Do You Know Who I Am” feeling mixed with “I’m showring in an airport”… superb. Like a fine wine… a Magnum of Charles Shaw’s ‘Two Buck Chuck’…
not the time or place, larry….i agree, but can we do better?
Dude goes to jail for trying to stay in a DL SC at PBI? I’ve been in that lounge-LOL. Was thought of free 7/11 like food just too tempting to risk arrest?
If the Delta Sky Club® at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) offered grab and go food like found in a Capital One lounge, this valued passenger could have enjoyed regionally-inspired tasty food while in jail.
@Derek
Don’t lose hope Derek. You can always earn their Honored Circle classification. Then you can go in any of their first class lounges or first class terminal, even when flying economy.