A pilot has cautioned travellers against placing their belongings in the rear pocket of plane seats for one straightforward reason. Captain Steve Scheibner is an American Airlines pilot widely recognised by his substantial YouTube following as Captain Steeeve. He disclosed this advice in a recent clip where he outlined numerous travel recommendations for air travellers.

He regularly encounters passengers at the agent’s desk following their use of the rear pocket during their journey, experiencing a “fingers crossed” situation where they confront “diminishing” chances. Captain Steve labelled the pocket the “black hole of despair” and cautioned individuals against placing anything of value in it whilst travelling unless they “don’t ever want to see it again”.

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.”

Captain Steve said he’d spoken to many people who’d exited the plane but left personal items in the seat pocket, and then couldn’t return to the flight to collect them.

He added: “If the airplane is still at the gate, fingers crossed that somebody who cares can go out there and find the thing that you left in that seat back pocket.

“But the odds are diminishing with every minute that ticks by after you leave that seat and you leave it in that black hole of despair. So, my friends, do not put your personal items in that seat back pocket, unless of course, you don’t ever want to see it again.”

This follows reports that budget airline passengers may soon encounter an unusual method of flying – standing-only seats. The new upright seats, purportedly for flights under two hours, allow passengers to lean but not sit.

Initially unveiled to the world by Italian firm Aviointeriors back in 2018, the ‘Skyrider’ seats enable carriers “increase the passenger number by 20%”, allowing for “increased profits”, a spokesperson for the company claimed.

They also claimed that the seats would offer an “increased upright passenger position” but would ensure “adequate comfort”. However, one expert believes the seats could present a problem for “perception”.

Dr Akhil Bhardwaj, a former engineer and senior lecturer at the University of Bath’s School of Management, told the Express that the move would require “very strict oversight”.

Dr Bhardwaj said: “The idea of a flying bus that packs passengers might seem appealing, but it might undermine the perception of how the industry thinks about safety. At the very least, such a move requires a very strict oversight and a very clear explanation to the flying public why this is safe.”