SafetyDude From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3795 posts, RR: 20 Reply 3, posted (7 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2630 times:
I am pretty sure that they are air vents.
In other news, Boeing is evaluating if air vents should be overhead or on the seat.
Edit: For clarification (that I forgot to mention) Boeing is evaluating that for the 7E7.
Afay1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 1292 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (7 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2525 times:
The IL-86 does have electric vents in the seats, with the switch on the center. The air often smells a bit like jet-fuel, which is nice if you ask me. On the inside of the left-side of the seats, there is an F/A call button, but it is not visible in this photo.