Reality Check ➔ FLIGHT BRITISH AIRWAYS CLUBWORLD
THE FLIGHT: BA 289 from London Heathrow to Phoenix, Arizona. Seat 20J, an aisle seat, in a 2x4x2 configuration. I was separated from the passenger in the window seat, who was sitting facing me, by a perplex partition which is pulled up at passengers’ discretion. THE CHECK-IN: Terminal Five should be the blueprint for all airports. I arrived three hours before my flight and with six check-in zones to choose from it was always going to be speedy. I checked in one bag and was then directed to the ‘excess desk’ to pay £40 (one way) for my set of golf clubs. THE LOUNGE: The Galleries Lounge used by Club World passengers is large and unfussy. There are several food and drink stations, 25 computer terminals and plenty of lounge areas with sofas. The food selection included soups, salads, curry, chilli con carne and much more. Newspaper stands were topped up the moment they came close to running out. THE SEAT: With a sliding table and electric socket at your feet – albeit requiring a two-pin US style plug – it’s easy to work on a laptop. The Club World seat moved smoothly through a range of positions – from fully upright to fully flat. There’s a shoulder-high sliding light and a foot-level ‘locker’ to store your shoes or laptop.
THE SERVICE: Attentive before take-off and non-obtrusive after. We were offered a choice of drinks while still on the ground and amenity kits came soon after take-off. BA’s new Height Cuisine menu is deigned to ‘maximise taste at altitude’, serving dishes that work at 30,000 feet. Starters included pheasant, duck and pistachio terrine. I was in one of the 'back' seats in Club and was disappointed that the Severn and Wye smoked salmon was ‘unavailable’ by the time the dinner trolley got to me. The AVOD in-flight entertainment system is based around a touch screen with films, TV, and
➔ HOTEL CAPITAL HOTEL, LONDON
THE HOTEL: One of London’s hidden treasures just steps away from Knightsbridge with its Harrods and Harvey Nichols stores but a contrasting haven of tranquillity. It opened in 1971 with the aim of creating ‘a grand hotel in miniature’. It has 49 guestrooms and suites. THE CHECK-IN: Warm, friendly and efficient in a small country house-style lobby with an open gas-fired ‘coal’ fire. THE ROOM: My third floor Junior Suite was spacious, comfortable and well furnished with a plethora of table lamps. A short entrance hall – with a small bathroom and luggage storage/ wardrobe off to the side – opened into a living area with sofa, easy chair, table, TV and minibar. A wide archway led into the large bedroom with a king size Savoir bed, easy chair, dressing table, chest of draws and TV. Beyond the bedroom was a large marble-clad bathroom with a further wardrobe and safe, plus Kiehl’s and Bvlgari toiletries. THE BUSINESS: Free wifi access is available throughout the hotel – each guest is given a code – and there is also a free to use desktop computer in a small room beyond the lobby. For meetings, the Capital has two private rooms on the first floor with a day delegate rate of £85pp which includes coffee, lunch, mineral water, tea, biscuits and all equipment.
games options. The headphones set was an excellent noise-reducing model. THE VERDICT: A very comfortable experience looked over by smiling staff who were mature, efficient and approachable. The AVOD system could have done with more ‘current’ movies and the screen seemed a little on the small side. (New IFE systems on the carrier's B777- 300s are widescreen versions). THE DETAILS: British Airways flies daily direct to Phoenix, leaving Heathrow at 15.05. Return fares start from around £700 return for flights in April 2012.
www.ba.com. STEVE HARTRIDGE
THE FACILITIES: Guests have access to the Peak Health Club on the ninth floor of the nearby Carlton Tower. Amenities here include a gym and a 20-metre pool for £10 per day. Within the hotel there is the renowned and spacious Capital Restaurant which has large windows overlooking Basil Street, and the stylish Capital Bar where light meals and afternoon tea are also available. Immediately adjacent to the hotel is its Le Metro Wine Bar and Bistro. There is also 24-hour room service. THE VERDICT: For those many business travellers who don’t want the formulaic rooms
of chain hotels the Capital is a perfect choice. The hotel describes itself as ‘one of the calmest, most civilised places to stay in London’ and no one could dispute this. It offers the advantages of a larger establishment yet exudes the warmth, intimacy and attention to detail of a privately-owned hotel. THE DETAILS: Standard room rates start from £255 (plus VAT) including breakfast. A Junior Suite is from £505 (plus VAT). The Capital Hotel, 22 Basil Street, London, SW3 1AT. Tel: 020 7591 1200;
www.capitalhotel.co.uk. ALAN ORBELL
FIND MORE REALITY CHECKS AT
WWW.THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.COM I 85
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88