Celebrity Sightings on DL Flights
Feb 15, 2024, 11:14 am
#4636
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,187
Flew last week ATL - GCM, returning this past week, had Mike Pence and his wife a few seats behind me on both flights. Sat in the cattle holding area just like everyone else in GCM, baseball hat, Ray Bans, and suitcoat. They flew main cabin both ways, which was surprising. Once he landed at ATL, he was met by 6-8 airport police escorted them from outside the jet bridge, through customs, and then off through baggage claim. Funny to watch him have to take off his hat and sunglasses going out to the plane at GCM past tarmac security and then again through customs Global Entry in ATL. Probably the safest I ever felt on a flight! 
Feb 15, 2024, 1:43 pm
#4637
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: GRB, MKE, ATW
Programs: DL DM & MM, Hilton Diamond, IC Plt Amb , Marriott LTP, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 572
You know, I wasn't going to mention it because I didn't want to raise flags, but since you did (lol) I did notice that there wasn't anyone assigned to him while he was down there. At least that I could see, which was also very surprising. I was not aware that VPs only get it for 6 months. At least come to the airport and hide in the VIP lounge (Sir Turtle Club - GCM) away from public eye. It looked like no one even noticed who he was albeit a handful of people. No other body guards that I could see in terminal, on the plane, or at ATL joining the group when they got off the plane. I would have thought that they would have someone looking out for them being the VP at one time.
Feb 15, 2024, 5:00 pm
#4638
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,456
Feb 15, 2024, 5:03 pm
#4639
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,187
Under a new law signed today by President Obama, all former U.S. presidents and first ladies will receive lifetime Secret Service protection. This protection limitation was reversed in early 2013 by the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012. All living former presidents and their spouses after Dwight D. Eisenhower are now entitled to receive lifetime Secret Service protection. Their children are entitled to protection "until they become 16 years of age".
Congress passed legislation (H.R. 5938); the “Former Vice President Protection Act of 2008,” which authorized Secret Service protection for former Vice Presidents, their spouses and their children less than 16 years of age for up to six months after the Vice President's term in office has ended.
Feb 15, 2024, 6:46 pm
#4641
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,187
Feb 15, 2024, 7:40 pm
#4642
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: East Coast/West Coast, USA
Programs: AS, DL, UA, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 268
Without going too far off topic, I saw Sen. Elizabeth Warren at the Sky Club at BOS. I'm not sure if it was because she was in the Sky Club or if they do that otherwise, but there were Sky Club staff members confirming whether you were departing out of A1-A11 or if you were accessing on arrival before letting you up the stairs/elevator. They asked anyone else to use the Sky Club in the concourse their flight was departing out of
Feb 16, 2024, 8:48 am
#4643
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: GRB, MKE, ATW
Programs: DL DM & MM, Hilton Diamond, IC Plt Amb , Marriott LTP, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 572
I did see both PENs on the UG list now that it was mentioned, never put two and two together.
Feb 16, 2024, 9:26 am
#4644
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Hyatt Explorist, Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 313
Not on a flight but the sighting happened inside the terminal 3 skyclub at LAX on February 3. As soon as I entered via the D1 checkin, I headed straight for the showers. about 20 minutes later, I walk over to the less crowded food station and Joe Gatto from the show Impractical Jokers was sitting with some guy and deep into conversation with him.
Feb 16, 2024, 10:42 am
#4645
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: SW Florida
Programs: DL Gold, HHDiamond, IHG Plat Regular Joe Everywhere Else
Posts: 538
Also not on a flight, but at the gate in ATL many, many years ago Little Richard came through. He was using a wheelchair, but in great spirits conversing with fans.
Apr 21, 2024, 9:21 pm
#4646
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KATL
Programs: DL DM/2MM
Posts: 2,034
Sat next to Cam Newton tonight PHL-ATL.
Admittedly I didn't recognize him - he looks very different from what I remember - but got the vibe that he was famous. Due to his height I thought he might be a basketball player. While boarding, someone asked me to get his attention and then handed him something, trying to promote his product or himself or whatever.
The same basic thing happened when I sat next to Charlize Theron several years ago. Some Hollywood type walked by and tried to hand her his business card.
Neither were particularly appreciative.
He was wearing a Bless the Babies sweatshirt. So once I googled it, I figured out who he was.
This is the 4th famous person I've sat next to: Charlize Theron, Larry King, Chesley Sullenberger, and now Cam Newton.
Admittedly I didn't recognize him - he looks very different from what I remember - but got the vibe that he was famous. Due to his height I thought he might be a basketball player. While boarding, someone asked me to get his attention and then handed him something, trying to promote his product or himself or whatever.
The same basic thing happened when I sat next to Charlize Theron several years ago. Some Hollywood type walked by and tried to hand her his business card.
Neither were particularly appreciative.
He was wearing a Bless the Babies sweatshirt. So once I googled it, I figured out who he was.
This is the 4th famous person I've sat next to: Charlize Theron, Larry King, Chesley Sullenberger, and now Cam Newton.