Thinking of taking the family to Asia some time in future, and hence will be aiming to travel in J. But I didn’t realise how few "lie-flat" J products there are out there. The angled ones arent much use as I don’t want to have to keep finding the kids having slid down under the chair in front! Also, I don’t like the herring-bone product of Virgin (fine for business men but not very family friendly).

So on the *A network going eastwards there are no options. BA is obviously ideal, but wanted alternatives.

Am I missing something? Given that so many people gripe about angled J products, why do they continue to introduce them?

My research was based on Skytrax's table of seats, which is admittedly out of date in places, but I think still relevant for this event.

i.e. SQ, LX, LH, TG are the options and all angled lie-flat in J.

If HKG works for the trip, NZ's business class to HKG is absolutely fantastic but is the herringbone layout as well. I wouldn't let that put you off though!! It worked fine for us travelling with a toddler. We could keep an eye on him when he had his own seat (Spare one available on flight) across the aisle from my wifes.

hmm, in that case I may bring it into my choices again. Might have a search on VS/NZ forums for toddler advice. I'm not sure I like the idea of them being so "distant" by comparison though.

SQ's new C is flat, but normally excluded from * awards.

SQ new C (on 7&W and A380 a/c) are available using kris flyer double mileage awards, but not using other *A programs.

I'm not sure why you think BA layout is okay but not VS/NZ?

You may get a wider audience for this question in the *A forum. Thread moved.

Based on the opinion of a friend of mine, with the BA layout and the privacy screen of the seat next to him down, he can monitor what they're up to without continually getting out of his seat. Something he can't do on VS/NZ, the wall is a little too high for spying over.

in *A, I think SA C is also lie flat.

If you go westbound, UA (still hit-or-miss for now) and AC both have lie-flat C.

The new AC seat is also herringbone layout (like VS/NZ) while the old AC seat is not lie flat.

Getting seats across from one another solves that issue.

That's what I said. I then got the usual look of "You definitely don't have kids do you ?"

It has to be the seat next to Daddy, the one opposite just will not do. That and the fact that peeking over to the neighbours is too much to resist. At least when they're next door, it's him who gets to play peekaboo.

SAA's seats are very nice (was flying the A343 leased versions on 9w) and the only other option in *A is to fly in LH F.

I agree that SA seats are good, but they're not much use going to Asia.

Again, not much use for my Asia bound trip.

BA layout is perfect for families. They have side-by-side seats which are just right, but then even the backwards facing ones are good for interaction with kids. And they're in earclipping distance whilst seatbelted.
On VS we'd be all over the place, and quite some distance away.


Another option appearing seems to be LX's new J product.

The BA layout would also have a problem if more than one kid per adult, right?

I think it'd be fine. If it was just me and 2 kids, I'd take seats DEF. This means you have one kid by your side as usual, and the other also by your side but facing you. With the divider down I think this is just as manageable. No aisles in the way.