I'm tall but not exceptionally so. When I fly, I do like to relax and stretch my legs out under the seat in front. I also like a window seat (and preferably one with a view of more than just the wing!).

A year or two ago, airlines went through a phase of putting a small box under the window seat, just inboard of the window-side seat support. That meant I could only stretch one leg out in front of me - there wasn't room to stretch two! Try sitting like that - no-one would call it relaxing or even comfortable, especially for more than just a few minutes.

I haven't experienced that for a while, but on an Air Canada 777 (seat 32K, if you wish to avoid it!) there was an even bigger box. This meant one could only stretch ones legs out to a limited extent - and on a nine and a half hour flight from London to Vancouver, I did not appreciate this!

I'm not sure what was in the box. I suspect it was the in-flight entertainment, or it could be related to the fact that seat 31K was by the emergency exit.

Whatever it was, it wasn't very comfortable!

I don't think it's odd or even unusual to want to stretch my legs out. And my only use of the in-flight entertainment (IFE) is the map! So I feel really cheated if the IFE infringes on my leg-room!

Don't designers of aircraft interiors ever ride in them? If so, what shape are they?