German Fitness Influencer Claims Lufthansa Blocked Her Boarding Over “Naked” Sports Outfit

German fitness influencer Edda Elisa (also known as Edda Elisa Pilz) has accused a Lufthansa gate agent of temporarily preventing her from boarding a flight after deeming her athletic clothing inappropriate.

In a viral video filmed at the airport, the influencer said she was stopped while attempting to scan her boarding pass for a flight from Berlin to Austria. She was wearing a sports bra-style crop top and short athletic shorts amid temperatures of around 30°C (86°F). According to her account, the agent told her she could not board “like that,” adding that she was “not wearing anything” and was effectively “naked.”

Elisa said she was directed to step aside and cover up. After retrieving a jacket from her carry-on and putting it on, she claimed the agent insisted she zip it fully closed before allowing her to proceed. She further alleged that the staff member then blamed her for delaying the flight.

“This is a sports outfit. It’s 30 degrees outside. What am I supposed to wear? This is clothing,” she said in the video. She added that she would accept clear rules if shown them, while also pointing to what she described as a double standard, noting that male passengers often board in casual or revealing attire without issue.

Lufthansa responded by stating that the reported use of the word “naked” does not align with its standards. The airline emphasized that it expects all passengers to wear clothing “appropriate for the nature of public travel” that does not negatively affect the well-being of fellow passengers from diverse cultural backgrounds. It said employees exercise discretion based on the carrier’s Conditions of Carriage and that it takes reports of passenger treatment seriously, conducting internal reviews of such incidents.