Model slams airline who said she was 'naked' and stopped her boarding

A German fitness influencer has sparked a global debate over airline dress codes after claiming staff at a Berlin airport temporarily blocked her from boarding a flight by telling her she looked naked.

Edda Elisa Pilz, 25, is a model and content creator with 639,000 followers on TikTok and 555,000 on Instagram. Pilz attempted to board a Lufthansa flight from Berlin to Austria during a European heatwave, with outdoor temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F).

Media additions

Airline responds after influencer says she was stopped from boarding for looking “naked” - Dexerto

To cope with the heat, Pilz wore athletic attire consisting of tight cycling shorts and a white bra-style crop top with black trim, paired with a cropped grey sweatshirt. According to Pilz, as she scanned her boarding pass, a gate agent told her: You cannot board.

When Pilz questioned the decision, the representative allegedly told her: You have nothing on. You are naked, according to reports from Daily Star and Mirror. In a video shared on TikTok, Pilz described the encounter as ridiculous and criticized the agent's tone.

The influencer stated she was directed to step aside and could only board once she wore normal clothing. Pilz retrieved a jacket from her carry-on, but she claims the staff member still refused entry until the garment was zipped completely closed to cover her chest. Following this, Pilz alleges the agent blamed her for delaying the flight, stating that because of her, the whole flight was delayed and she was holding up traffic.

Airline Defense and Internal Investigation

Lufthansa has since distanced itself from the specific language reported by the influencer. A spokesperson for the airline stated that the words do not correspond to our standards and would not have been used by their staff. However, the carrier defended the right of its employees to police passenger attire based on the company's General Conditions of Carriage.

According to a statement cited by Dexerto, Lufthansa expects all passengers to wear clothing appropriate to the nature of public travel so as not to impair the well-being of fellow passengers from a wide range of countries. The airline maintains that employees act with due discretion and within their own judgment to ensure compliance.

Lufthansa confirmed it reviews reports of irregularities in passenger handling and is investigating the incident internally.

Public and Professional Reaction

The incident divided opinion across social media. Some supporters accused the airline of body-shaming and policing women's bodies, arguing that the outfit was standard sports gear. Others argued that airplanes are public spaces where basic decorum is necessary, with some commenters suggesting that exposed skin on shared fabric seats is a hygiene risk.

Pilz expressed that while she accepts rules, she objects to the tone of the enforcement. She specifically questioned if a double standard exists, claiming that men returning from Mallorca are often allowed to board shirtless or in tank tops. She later took to Instagram on Monday to thank her fans for their support, stating the messages gave her courage and strength.

Comparative Airline Dress Codes

While Lufthansa relies on discretion, other global carriers maintain varied benchmarks for appropriate attire:

Airline	Dress Code / Prohibitions
United Airlines	Can stop passengers for being barefoot or wearing clothing deemed lewd, obscene or offensive.
Spirit Airlines	Rejects passengers who are barefoot or inadequately clothed, including see-through garments or outfits exposing private areas.
Hawaiian Airlines	Reportedly bars bikinis or anything that does not properly cover the torso.
Qatar Airways	Applies stricter standards in premium cabins, limiting sportswear and shorts.
Saudia	Requires loose clothing that fully covers arms and legs.
Delta Air Lines	Allows removal if a passenger's attire or hygiene is deemed likely to offend others.
American Airlines	Passengers must dress appropriately.

The ongoing dispute highlights the subjective nature of "appropriate" attire, which often leaves enforcement to the judgment of frontline staff.