A woman boarded a flight expecting nothing more than another long journey—only to end it with a once‑in‑a‑lifetime encounter.
Patricia Albassit (@patriciaalbassit), 29, from Australia, was traveling on a Qantas commercial flight on March 3 when she noticed a tall man seated in business class who looked strikingly familiar. Though she suspected it might be actor Jacob Elordi, 28, she initially brushed the thought aside, assuming the Hollywood star wouldn’t be flying commercial.
Her TikTok, which documented the experience through a series of photos—including a selfie with Elordi, a signed copy of Wuthering Heights, the book behind his latest movie adaptation, and an image of him reading on the flight—has since garnered 1.7 million views.
“So he just sat opposite me, but when he was trying to put his carry-on in the overhead locker, I kind of looked at him, and I was like, is that Jacob? I’m like, I know that guy, but what are the chances?” Albassit told Newsweek.
She said her suspicions were confirmed after spotting his luxurious luggage—two RIMOWA suitcases and two Bottega Veneta carry‑ons—which made her certain the actor was who she thought he was.
Throughout the flight, Albassit said Elordi kept to himself, wearing headphones and reading what appeared to be a script. She and nearby passengers quietly exchanged looks, trying not to draw attention or disturb him. It wasn’t until the plane began its descent that she finally confirmed his identity with flight attendants.
Newsweek reached out to Jacob Elordi’s publicists for comment via email.
“We were all kind of like low-key trying not to freak out, and we didn’t want to disturb him… by the end of it, I went to the bathroom, we were descending. I went to the bathroom, and I came out, and I was asking the flight attendants, Hey, is that Jacob or? And they’re like, yeah, it is. And I was like, okay, I’m starting feel flushed now,” she said.
When Elordi removed his headphones and began chatting with another passenger, Albassit decided to take her chance.
She approached him and explained she’d had “a s*** day” for personal reasons, adding that she wanted to say hello and ask for a photo. Elordi, she said, immediately put her at ease.
“I was carrying my Birkin and he was like I’ll take a photo if you give me your Birkin. And we both started laughing,” she said.
Relieved by his warmth, Albassit said they chatted casually while the plane landed, making small talk about his RIMOWA luggage and whether it was worth the high cost. The original cabin case retails at $1,775.00.
“I was like it’s so crazy that the one day I’m not wearing makeup and I’m having a s*** day I run into you! Then he was like you’re beautiful come here and then grabbed my phone and took the picture,” she said.
After disembarking, Elordi politely asked Albassit and another passenger not to share details about the location. As they walked through the airport, the two women began to process what had just happened—until Elordi suddenly ran back toward them.
He asked them to wait, disappeared briefly into an airport shop, and returned with two books. Kneeling down to write inscriptions—something Albassit said explained his messy handwriting—he asked her name before signing the novel.
Inside Wuthering Heights, the star wrote: “Dear Patricia, I hope the sun comes out for you today. Love Heathcliff.”
Albassit said Elordi also wrote a separate message for the other woman, intended for her daughter. The pair hugged goodbye, exchanged jokes about his height—“six foot five,” he told her—and went their separate ways.
She described the actor as “very, very sweet,” adding that he treated them “like a friend.” The gesture, she said, meant more because it came on a particularly difficult day.
Elordi, best known for his roles in Euphoria, Saltburn and Priscilla, most recently portrayed Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights. The classic Emily Brontë novel centers on the brooding, tragic anti‑hero—a connection fans were quick to notice in his handwritten sign‑off.
TikTok users flooded the comments, stunned by the interaction.
“What do you mean he BOUGHT IT FOR YOU and signed as HEATHCLIFF,” shared one user.
“But is the sentence he wrote to you as a dedication taken from the movie Wuthering heights or is it his own idea?” asked Rossella.
“‘Love, Heathcliff’ I AM LOSING MY MIND,” said Ana.
“Girl you’re so strong,” added Katrina.
“I’m happy for you but not from the bottom of my heart,” joked Mollie Moore.
“I would never stop talking about this,” said Lauren.
Another commenter, Muz, shared a similar experience: “Honestly he is the most down to earth human. Was lucky enough to get his euphoria in photos zine from season 1 personally signed with a message. That was 5 yrs ago and he is still humble.”
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