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REALITY CHECK FLIGHT AMERICAN AIRLINES, BUSINESS CLASS
THE FLIGHT: AA79 from Heathrow to Dallas, seat 4A on a 777-300 in business class. The 9h45m flight departed at 1.30pm. THE CHECK-IN: Very smart, small Flagship dedicated check-in area facing the outside of Terminal 3 so you don’t even have to face the throngs inside. There is a first floor departure lounge but time was not on my side as boarding had already been announced at 12.40. It offers free food, wifi, showers, kids area, business centre etc. THE SEAT: I was seated in the smaller, eight- seat business class cabin, forward of the galley. It was in 1-2-1 configuration, with a clever design so that each seat has aisle access. Seat 4A was the last row at the window and privacy is afforded by the cocoon styling which angles the seat towards the window. It’s a very comfortable fully lie-flat seat, with foot stool, pull-out TV, useful shelf for bags, a triangular-shaped table, easy controls (embedded in the wall) together with a light, seat controls and power socket. Bizarrely, the socket for the BOSE headphones is inside a cupboard. There were teething problems with the TV and it needed re-booting to work. Seat controls worked well, and the footstool was useful if you didn’t use the full seat recline.
THE SERVICE: There was no greeting on entering the cabin, nor anyone to take coats and it took a while for drinks to come round. Just prior to take-off there was a rushed offering of newspapers. Once airborne, landing cards were handed out and I queried which one I needed for my business visa and a crew member set off to find out for me, but didn’t return. The first smile came with the delivery of the menu cards but the food didn’t arrive until 3.20pm, although we did get AA's customary hot nuts at 2.50pm. The food was worth waiting for: tandoori
shrimp, a salad of pears, beets and blue cheese, an entrée of chicken, mash and fava beans and AA's signature ice cream dessert. THE VERDICT: Unimpressed by the service. One crew member suggested “it was easy to forget the eight seats forward of the galley". But full marks for seat comfort and food. THE DETAILS: Business class rates start from £2,246 including taxes. The new business class is currently on LHR-Dallas and NY. LA will be added mid-June. Tel: 0844 499 7300;
www.americanairlines.co.uk. GILLIAN UPTON
CAR RENTAL ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR
THE PICK-UP: Arriving at Edinburgh Airport on an early flight from Gatwick, I made my way to the clearly sign-posted car rental centre a few minutes', covered, walk from arrivals. The smart circular building had a ring of all the usual rental companies, with the Enterprise desk manned by three staff. With only one other customer being dealt with, they located my keys and paperwork in a flash – I didn't even need to supply the reservation number – and escorted me outside to parking bay number one. THE CAR: Waiting there was a nearly new black Ford Mondeo with just a couple of thousand miles on the clock. The two litre diesel vehicle was a joy to drive and had plenty of poke all the way through the six gears. The interior of the car was clean and sleek, with plenty of neat touches such as a sunglasses holder incorporated into the rear view mirror. My single suitcase looked lonely in the enormous boot! Dark, tinted rear wind- screen and windows added to the executive feel, while the built-in sat nav and parking sensors were well employed. Cruise control – and other features too, I suspect – went unused on the winding roads of Perthshire. THE DROP-OFF: Finding the way back to the car rental centre was pretty straight-
forward, and a member of Enterprise staff quickly greeted me and checked the car over before I was on my way. Warning – there's nowhere at the airport itself to fill up with fuel before returning vehicles. Or at least not that I could find! THE VERDICT: Can't fault the customer service which was speedy and came with a smile at both ends of the rental procedure. A quick talk-through of the vehicle's features was welcomed and the lack of form-filling and signatures made a pleasant change. The Mondeo was a smooth, comfortable and
classy ride and, despite being used to smaller vehicles, I found it no challenge to drive. THE DETAILS: Enterprise operates 370 outlets in the UK and over 7,000 worldwide. The Enterprise branch at Edinburgh Airport is on Jubilee Road, EH12 9FT. Rates for a Class F vehicle (such as the Mondeo, and featuring four/five doors, power steering, A/C, electric windows and CD player) start from £63.77 per day including VAT. Class A vehicles start from £34.65 per day. Tel: 0131 3484000. See:
www.enterprise.co.uk. ANDY HOSKINS
THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE 105
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