I have also been on the Air China 747 Business seats. Row 44 are indeed on the upper deck.

Air China has 18 F seats located in the front of the plane (similar to the old UA F configuration). The rest of the main deck is filled with Y seats. Business class seats are only on the upper deck. They do have more business class seats on the upper deack than UA's. Seats are comfortable but they don't recline as far back and with less leg room.

They may have changed the confiiguration recently on some of the 744. but I can't confirm.