My wife and I frequently travel to London (we go each summer, and in fact are in the process of planning this year's adventure today because we've bought tickets to the Monty Python show at the 02!).
The first time I got on an international flight I was actually surprised that it wasn't more uncomfortable. There was some space for my elbows and I could comfortably use my iPad. That was for the first 4 hours. After that I was extremely uncomfortable and unable to sleep and I felt like I had been kicked in the face by the time we finally landed at LHR.
I'm a pragmatist, however, and so I don't complain too much about the cost (1300 or so each for a round trip isn't really all that bad). And I also understand that more comfortable seats take more space and use more material, which increases weight and thus cost. And at the same time, spending less time in the air means going faster, increasing speed and also cost.
Thus, it seems to me that the advancements need to come in the areas of materials (lighter, stronger build materials for the amenities) and in aerodynamics (which I'm sure are limited by safety requirements and the problem of getting that many people across the pond at one time).
The first time I got on an international flight I was actually surprised that it wasn't more uncomfortable. There was some space for my elbows and I could comfortably use my iPad. That was for the first 4 hours. After that I was extremely uncomfortable and unable to sleep and I felt like I had been kicked in the face by the time we finally landed at LHR.
I'm a pragmatist, however, and so I don't complain too much about the cost (1300 or so each for a round trip isn't really all that bad). And I also understand that more comfortable seats take more space and use more material, which increases weight and thus cost. And at the same time, spending less time in the air means going faster, increasing speed and also cost.
Thus, it seems to me that the advancements need to come in the areas of materials (lighter, stronger build materials for the amenities) and in aerodynamics (which I'm sure are limited by safety requirements and the problem of getting that many people across the pond at one time).