They are bearable for short journeys. I am 5ft 8in and can still stretch my legs even when the seat in front reclines. Trouble is with narrow seats you cannot forecast what your seat mate will be like. I recently sat in a aisle seat and the middle was taken by a tiny elderly lady. Thought that would be ok. I aways leave the armrest between for the middle person as I think it's an awful seat. Trouble was I had a tiny little elbow over my side of the armrest time and again as papers/magazines were perused. Being elbowed is not nice but my Mam brought me up to respect the elderly so I put up with it. Still annoying.

Longer journeys - it's club/biz or nothing.

abmj-jr your comment was interesting. My FIL flew With the RAF during/ after the war and when he passed away his uniform was donated to a museum. Before it went the smallest member of the family - short and very slim - tried it on and couldn't get anywhere near doing it up. No wonder seats are so tiny