A friend shared a story with me that was triggered by a recent encounter with a crying toddler in an airport lounge. It reminded them of an experience from a few years ago when they were traveling with their family, including their two-year-old son. They had two short flights with a long layover in Atlanta.

Their toddler, who was usually a good traveler, suddenly started crying shortly after they settled into the Sky Club lounge. Despite their best efforts and the help of the lounge attendants—who even brought snacks and tried to find juice and a toy—nothing seemed to calm him down. As they were considering leaving the lounge, a man in his late 40s approached them. He used a harsh tone that quickly escalated to inappropriate comments and threats directed at the women in the family, avoiding speaking directly to my friend.

Feeling shocked, my friend decided to leave with their family. On the way out, they reported the incident to the lounge staff, who were extremely apologetic. They offered miles, free Sky Club passes, and other compensations, but my friend appreciated their sympathy more than anything. The staff emphasized that no customer should speak that way to another person and that any issues should be addressed by the attendants.

They spent the next couple of hours walking around the airport with their toddler, who eventually calmed down. However, as luck would have it, the same man who had caused the disturbance was on their flight. Worse, they were both flying in first class. Concerned for their family’s safety, my friend returned to the Sky Club and informed the staff, who took immediate action. The attendant communicated with the gate agent, who then informed the flight crew about the situation. The man was subsequently moved to the last row of the plane.

The flight was uneventful, and their child slept through it. They were grateful for the support from the Sky Club staff, who handled the situation professionally. Other passengers and attendants had also reported the man’s behavior, which helped validate my friend’s account.