Best seats for couples on VA's A330 J cabin

[MH_fan]

I have yet to experience the new J class on VA's A330 but that should change in the next few months. Is the window and aisle or the two middle seats better for a couple? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[thetimeisnigh]

I would go the two middle seats, that said the small pull across opaque window isn't ideal if you are wanting to converse.

 

[Bagpuss]

I have yet to experience the new J class on VA's A330 but that should change in the next few months. Is the window and aisle or the two middle seats better for a couple? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

When I fly with my partner we sit in the window seats, so one behind the other. Main reason is other half feels motion sickness when sitting anywhere other than the window. ( In a 3 seating configuration I get lumbered in the middle seat )

 

[Cessna 180]

I would suggest one window and one aisle if you wish to chat a bit. Maybe you could swap half way through so you both get a turn looking out the window !
Not that I ever really travel with anyone, but the old set up was better for this, definately

 

[MH_fan]

Thanks for the advice. That's one of the problems of these semi-private suites/pods. Wonderful for travelling alone but not great when travelling with someone else. I think I'll go window + aisle. Now, the same numbers line up with each other, right? And any advice about which seats would be the best?

 

[Dee#]

love the private pods in business. As a couple we sit one behind the other, each on a window -like your own private sky room, on Virgin, Singapore and Etihad. Don't need to hold hands and chat while flying, see enough of each other anyway!

 

[Denali]

For less than 5hr flights, we sit together in the middle (because we've seen whats outside the window before)

For long haul, 2 x window seats. We don't talk to each other much when flying, usually him asking, "Have you finished your meal?", meaning did you leave half of it for me to taste/try.

 

[Mattg]

If you're going to want to chat, then 2 middle seats are probably best. The window seats are on an angle so that you're basically looking out the window. If you had one person on the aisle and one on the window, then you'd be facing opposite directions the whole flight.

 

[Major]

love the private pods in business. As a couple we sit one behind the other, each on a window -like your own private sky room, on Virgin, Singapore and Etihad. Don't need to hold hands and chat while flying, see enough of each other anyway!

We both enjoy a window seat and do exactly that. A meal and IFE usually keep us both busy. If we need to chat one of us will just stand up or lean over

 

[Deleted member 62084]

I imagine that OP has no alternative than to fly in the A330.

Missus and I have recently booked business class flight to Fiji. I cannot answer the original question, but once I found out very recently that the cabin layout had changed to the pods instead of what is still depicted on SeatGuru I made sure that I would not fly there and back on a Saturday when the A330's are utilised instead of the 73H's! To me, it's not ideal at all if you are separated from the person that you actually want to fly with purely due to cabin design. May as well both fly saver fare and be separated by 20 rows.

 

[straitman]

I imagine that OP has no alternative than to fly in the A330.

Missus and I have recently booked business class flight to Fiji. I cannot answer the original question, but once I found out very recently that the cabin layout had changed to the pods instead of what is still depicted on SeatGuru I made sure that I would not fly there and back on a Saturday when the A330's are utilised instead of the 73H's! To me, it's not ideal at all if you are separated from the person that you actually want to fly with purely due to cabin design. May as well both fly saver fare and be separated by 20 rows.

Conversely many people don't have an issue being separated for a few hours.

 

[Deleted member 62084]

Conversely many people don't have an issue being separated for a few hours.

Yep, each to their own.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Anyone have experience in how easy it is to actually have a conversation if you and your companion are seated in one of the pairs of middle seats? From the photos, it looks like the purple divider even when open is still a fair narrow opening, and you're seated kind of far away.

I'm basically thinking... if it's too hard anyway, we'll just stick to a window seat each.

 

[MH_fan]

I can't tell you from my experience but I was seated in the middle aisle seat and another passenger was in the other. That little window/divider was open at the start of the flight but not for long as it did feel a little uncomfortably close, as you're not too far away from the divider and you're also angled inwards. The middle seats are definitely suited for couples. The other possible combinations of seating for a couple don't work at all, especially if you want to talk to each other.

 

[Denali]

Anyone have experience in how easy it is to actually have a conversation if you and your companion are seated in one of the pairs of middle seats? From the photos, it looks like the purple divider even when open is still a fair narrow opening, and you're seated kind of far away.

I'm basically thinking... if it's too hard anyway, we'll just stick to a window seat each.

Check out this video at approx 20 seconds, Note: 777: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FvlNSFiF2I

This video at approx 1min 40 for A330: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6SJAIPRMDg

I wont sit in these seats until Dec, we have 2 middle seats booked for SYD>PER but we have 2 x windows for our LAX flights early next year.

 

[PDog]

Anyone have experience in how easy it is to actually have a conversation if you and your companion are seated in one of the pairs of middle seats? From the photos, it looks like the purple divider even when open is still a fair narrow opening, and you're seated kind of far away.

I'm basically thinking... if it's too hard anyway, we'll just stick to a window seat each.

yeah, it's not super easy, and definitely harder than the old seats. In depth conversation would be annoying cause you both need to lean in/over, but certainly fine for the 'how's your wine' / 'what are you eating' discussion. We did it, and I would again (but I always choose an aisle seat), but my husband probably not as he loves a view!

 

[clipped_wings]

Here is me in all my glory. Not sure how many champagnes I'd had at this point but the more I drank, the further away my husband got. The 777 suites are perfect if you want to see each other from time to time. They are not ideal for intimate chit chat, but hey - that's what the bar is for!

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, it's a matter of choice as to what you need more. Physical contact (window seats) or long, lusty gazes with no touchy (centre suites).

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Thanks for the advice MH_fan, Denali, PDog and clipped_wings!

We're connecting from AUH-PER (EY J) in a pair of centre seats, at the end of a 3-week holiday, so close without being too close might not be a bad idea! But I will report these findings to the better half, and seek guidance as to desired level of interaction. Perhaps on opposite sides of the plane...

 

[Denali]

.... at the end of a 3-week holiday, so close without being too close might not be a bad idea! .....

My thoughts exactly and we do the same thing.

FA: Oh. Youre together. Do you want me to ask...
My: No thank you. We've been together 24/7 for [insert length of times]. We need alone time.