A s the vacation season fades into fall, travelers have wended their weary way home from far-flung destinations such as Hawaii, Queensland, Europe and beyond. The problem is, the farther-flung the destination, the wearier the returnees are likely to be -- and the angrier. Not because they didn't enjoy their August break at a nice, sunny beach or in some exotic foreign city, but because most of them had to endure discomfort and indignity getting there and back. It has been said before, but it bears repeating until there is some breakthrough on the subject: The current state of long-distance, economy-class travel is a disgrace to the airline industry.

Who besides the fortunate regulars in first or business class hasn't suffered? The litany of woes is numbingly familiar. Too few toilets. Scratchy blankets. Hard, narrow seats apparently designed to ensure that a passenger's head tips ever-so-slightly forward, thereby guaranteeing a crick. Armrests just wide enough for one normal-size arm, thereby guaranteeing that passengers will spend the flight bumping one another's elbows -- and getting increasingly irritated in the process.

But all that pales in comparison to the real killer: legroom, or the lack of it. Riding in coach, you wonder if the airlines have ever heard of the concept. Here, for their benefit, is the dictionary definition: room in which to stretch the legs while seated. The ultimate irony is the playing of videos in which smiling models demonstrate foot-and-leg exercises designed to prevent blood clots -- modest drills such as rotating the foot or raising and lowering the leg a few centimeters. As every economy-class passenger knows, it is impossible to do those things in airline seats as they are currently configured and under which "extra" carry-on luggage has obediently been "stowed."