Retired American Airlines Captain Steve Scheibner has advised all flight passengers to pack a sweatshirt or coat in their cabin luggage, regardless of the weather outside. He made the recommendation during a YouTube Q&A session, where he discussed various aspects of air travel.
Why cabin temperatures vary
One passenger asked who determines the cabin temperature, noting that on a recent return journey, the cabin felt "warm in the cabin" during the outbound flight but "very cold" on the way back. Captain Steve acknowledged the issue, explaining that temperature controls for the back of the aeroplane are located in the cockpit, a design that persists to the present day.
He revealed that "50 per cent" of his role was devoted to adjusting temperatures while airborne, as he would receive calls about it being too hot or too cold. He noted that on newer Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, temperature control has been given back to the flight attendants.
Recommended clothing for flights
However, he highlighted that cabin crew, being busy "up and down the cabin", build up body heat and lower the temperature to suit their own comfort. He therefore recommended passengers "come in layers", specifically advising: "Bring a sweatshirt or a coat with you even if it is the middle of summer because you might want it if it gets a little bit cooler on the plane. I wish it was a better system, but it simply is not."
Warning about seat-back pockets
Captain Steve also issued a stark warning about using the seat-back pocket on aeroplanes. He described it as the "black hole of despair" and urged passengers not to place valuable items there, as retrieval prospects are "diminishing" once they leave the seat.
He said: "Stop putting personal items in the seat back pocket in front of you. If you want to lose it and never see it again, put it in that dark hole that is the seat back pocket in front of you." He added that if the airplane is still at the gate, there is a chance someone could find the item, but the odds decrease with every minute.
