http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...leet/b_747_400
shows you the seat layout

the new J is all partitions so if you are all 6 foot 6" you can see each other, otherwise you are all in your own cocoons I guess the design is to make people stand up to talk to each other so you don't get DVT
as for sitting on a highly priced J class ottoman to talk to each other it reminds me of a flight on CAAC in 1983 to Peking when I saw the cabin staff sitting on small plastic stools on the 707