Pregnant influencer Dominique Elissa has described feeling shocked after a male flight attendant initially refused to help lift her nearly 9lb (4kg) cabin bag into an overhead locker, despite her explaining that she was pregnant and had previously injured herself lifting luggage.
The 31-year-old model discussed the experience during an appearance on the Big Small Talk podcast, in an episode published on 7 October 2026. Her account has prompted debate about passenger assistance and the workplace safety considerations surrounding cabin crew handling luggage.
@bigsmalltalk_pod @dominiquelissa on whether everyday acts of care and consideration are disappearing. Episode link in bio 💌 #pregnancy #pregnancyjourney #respectwomen
♬ original sound - BIG SMALL TALK
The Request That Left Her 'Shocked'
Elissa said she asked a male flight attendant to place her bag in the overhead compartment because she was pregnant and had previously hurt herself lifting luggage. She explained that her husband, Tom Bull, had advised her against lifting the bag herself. Elissa hoped the crew member would help after she explained her circumstances.
'I was on a flight the other day. I asked the flight attendant, "Can you please put my bag above my head, like I'm pregnant?"' she recalled. Elissa said the attendant initially responded: 'I can't help you, sorry.' She claimed she then explained that she was pregnant and reminded him of her previous injury.
'Well, I'm actually pregnant; I'd really appreciate it if you could help me because last time I injured myself,' she recalled telling him. According to her account, the attendant told her that if she could not lift the bag herself, she would have to check it into the hold. Elissa said the exchange left her feeling 'so shocked' and prompted her to text her husband because she did not know what to do.
Elissa also described a fellow passenger who apparently offered to help after noticing her messages. 'The guy next to me, I think he saw my text messages. He's like, "Would you like me to get your bag?"' She recalled.
Media reports differ on whether the flight attendant ultimately helped with the luggage, so the precise sequence of events has not been independently established. Elissa did not name the airline, and the interaction has not been independently verified.
Why Cabin Crew May Be Cautious About Luggage
Reflecting on the experience, Elissa said she felt there was a lack of consideration for pregnant women. 'I feel this lack of respect for pregnant women at the moment, now that I'm pregnant,' she said. Her account has drawn mixed reactions, with some social media users questioning the response and others pointing to the potential risks of lifting passengers' bags.
Some commenters who identified themselves as flight attendants said that workplace safety considerations could affect whether crew members handle cabin baggage. One commenter wrote: 'Flight attendant here! can confirm we are not allowed to put passengers' bags/luggage in the overhead locker due to workplace health and safety.' These comments represent individual users' accounts and do not establish the policy of the unidentified airline involved.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) provides guidance on carry-on baggage and the importance of safe stowage. Regulation 121.255 of Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 requires relevant aeroplane operators to establish procedures covering secure baggage stowage, permitted baggage weight and size, stowage locations, and passenger instructions. These provisions concern baggage safety and management; they do not, on their own, establish whether a flight attendant was required or prohibited from lifting Elissa's bag.
Australian media have reported that the flight was from Sydney to Melbourne, although the airline has not been identified in the coverage reviewed. Without the carrier's specific policy and a verified account of the full interaction, it is not possible to determine whether the attendant's response complied with the rules applicable to that flight.
Elissa's account highlights the difficulties passengers may face when they need help with luggage during pregnancy or following an injury, while leaving the precise circumstances of this incident unresolved.
