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Pregnant model Dominique Elissa asked a flight attendant to assist her in lifting her 4kg bag into an overhead locker during a flight but was refused help. The staff member instructed her to check the bag instead, despite Elissa explaining her pregnancy and concern about injuring herself. This incident reflects broader issues regarding airline policies and perceptions of responsibility towards pregnant passengers; many commenters noted that such assistance is against workplace health and safety rules.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Dominique Elissa, a 31-year-old model and influencer, faced an unexpected situation during a flight when she asked a male flight attendant for help lifting her 4kg bag into the overhead locker. Despite explaining that she was pregnant and had been advised by her husband Tom not to lift heavy objects, the staff member refused assistance. Elissa even mentioned previous injuries sustained from similar actions but still received no support. She felt shocked and disappointed when told to check in her luggage instead of receiving help with storing it in the overhead locker.
Written for “Flight Attendant Refuses Help” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but 1 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 2 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 73095: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-12
A pregnant woman who asked a flight attendant to lift her bag into the overhead locker was stunned when her request was declined.
asserted
request → ask → locker
Dominique Elissa, a 31-year-old model and influencer, said she asked the male staff member for help, but was instead told to check the 4kg bag in.
'I asked the flight attendant, "Can you please put my bag above my head, like I'm pregnant?",' she told the Big Small Talk podcast.
asserted
she → say → podcast
'It wasn't heavy and wasn't a big bag, but the flight attendant said, "Sorry, I can't help you".
asserted
I → say → you
Ms Elissa, whose husband Tom had told her not to lift her bag before she left, said the staff member still refused to help even though she explained she was pregnant.
"I said, "Well I'm actually pregnant, so I'd really appreciate it if you could help me because last time I injured myself",' she said.
uncertain
she → tell → myself
'And he goes, "Well, if you're not able to lift your bag above your head, you have to check it in".
asserted
you → go → it
Dominique Elissa, who is pregnant, asked a flight attendant to lift her bag into the overhead locker was stunned when her request was declined
asserted
request → ask → locker
Elissa - who did not identify the airline - eventually stored her bag in the overhead locker herself, but struggled to take it down after the journey.
asserted
who → identify → journey
Fortunately for her, a fellow passenger offered to help.
asserted
passenger → offer → her
'I was texting Tom like, "I don't know what to do, I don't know how to get my bag down because the flight attendant didn't come and help me",' she said.
asserted
she → texte → me
The guy next to me, I think he saw my text messages.
asserted
he → think → messages
He's like, "Would you like me to get your bag?".'
asserted
me → like → bag
She said the interaction reinforced her belief that pregnant women are often overlooked.
asserted
women → say → belief
'I feel this lack of respect for pregnant women at the moment now that I'm pregnant.'
asserted
I → feel → moment
Jetstar's website states that passengers 'need to be able to lift and carry your own bags'.
asserted
passengers → state → bags
Meanwhile, Qantas cabin crew are not expected to help passengers lift bags into overhead lockers, while Virgin Australia staff are also generally not required to do so because of the risk of injury.
asserted
staff → expect → injury
Elissa said she asked the male staff member for help, but was instead told to check the 4kg bag in.
asserted
she → say → bag
It turns out it is often workplace health and safety policy
Many Aussies felt it was the passenger's responsibility to carry their own bags.
'It's not their jobs to lift your bags,' one said.
asserted
one → turn → bags
'It's not a respect thing, it's a rules thing,' a second said.
asserted
second → say → ?
'If you can’t carry it, don’t take it,' another said.
asserted
another → carry → it
Others said it was due to airline policy.
asserted
it → say → policy
'We are not allowed to put passengers bags/luggage in the overhead locker due to workplace health and safety,' one said.
asserted
one → allow → health
'If the bag is too heavy for you to lift, it is too heavy for us to carry and we are not allowed to help with bags,' a second said.
asserted
second → lift → bags
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