It's good to know that British company Design Q—who created the successful first class seats for Virgin Atlantic—has time to think about the rest of us, the air cattle. According to the company, the configuration "shows a generous gap between each of the seats, which could be reduced, but the centre seats are staggered to coincide with the gaps on the outboard seats."

It seems to offer more leg room than normal seats, but this doesn't look comfortable at all, even if it's only for short-distance flights. Then again—like Runway Girl Mary Kirby points out—if these kind of side seats are good enough for the military, why not for the rest of us?

Do you agree? Would you travel like this only to pay a bit less? Isn't flying cheap enough already? I know I won't do it myself. Tell us what you think in the comments. [Runway Girl]

At the top of the seat there is a movable winged head-and neck-rest cushion; and when you recline your seat-back panel, the seat-base sitting area moves forward by a couple of inches.

This type of mechanism is frequently used for seats at theatres, cinemas and sports stadiums because it provides an added amount of personal comfort without encroaching on the space of the people in the row behind you.

The Qantas long-haul economy-class experience is further enhanced by the addition of footrest nets placed under the seats of the row in front of you.

When stretching out, passengers can get their feet off the floor and supported in a comfortably flexible cradle. This ingenious innovation is much simpler to use than the traditional front-or rear-projecting foot bars — the nets stop passengers from sliding forward when they are sleeping [...] the footrest net is an excellent accessory because it is virtually weightless.

That's how Jennifer Coutts Clay—author of Jetliner Cabins—describes the economy class seat in Qantas' long-distance flights, which just got an Australian design price. It sounds marginally better than the torture chairs that we are used to. Not that much better, but better.

Nevertheless, it's amazing that the majority of passengers still get treated like cattle, while just a few decades ago flying was a much more comfortable experience. Our comfort keeps getting down along with the price of tickets. And while I appreciate prices going down, did anyone ask me about making the wonderful experience of flying a pain in the ass?

I would gladly pay a little more to get a bit more of comfort. Not business-class super-seats or first class full beds. Just a decent, smarter seat like the one described above, with enough space around it. Just a few more inches will do wonders, really. You know, a seat where I don't have to get my personal space constantly violated by some man with body odor problems drooling over my shoulder while he's sleeping. [Jetliner Cabins via Runway Girl]

The Chaise Him and Her chairs are the brainchild of Italian designer Fabio Novembre, intended to be an updated response to the famous Panton S chair by Verner Panton. Should you be enticed show the world a rump that you may or may not be blessed enough to possess, the chairs are available for $340 apiece. Airholes are, sadly, not an option. [Amateur DeDesign via Le Journal du Geek]

Sitting on a cast aluminum frame, a cloth or leather cushion waits to do your rump's bidding. The arm rests customize the seat's comfort, and pneumatic springs arrange the seat, backrest and headrest.

Maybe you will never be able to afford the surely expensive Relaxation Chair, but fret not. Without actually sitting in it, you'll never know what you're missing. [Frederic Sofia via DVICE]

The original 1968 design is mostly unchanged, its fiberglass shell and nylon/wool interior retaining their timelessly different style. The only difference seems to be the updated JBL speakers, coyly hidden beneath the padding, emitting music that promises to be unobtrusive to those not sitting.

The Ovalia runs $7700 and will only be sold to 900 lucky people. But if that price still seems expensive, keep in mind that the chair can be hung from the ceiling. The ceiling! [Panik Design via unpluggd]

Delta is planning on installing the Cozy Suite in its Boeing 777 and 767 economy class aircraft by 2010. Plus, the impending merger between Delta and Northwest could mean that travelers loyal to the latter company might reap the benefits of these new seats as well. Until then, you will just have to suck it up or spring for a higher class ticket. [Thompson Solutions via DVICE via Crunchgear]