DEPARTURES REALITY CHECK
FLIGHTS / HOTELS / APARTMENTS / CAR HIRE / TRAIN JOURNEYS / CHAUFFEUR DRIVE / AIRPORT PARKING
HOTEL THE HOTEL The very first Virgin
Hotel opened earlier this year in Chicago’s historic Old Dearborn Bank Building. Its location in the city’s Loop district will appeal to business travellers in particular. It has 210 guestrooms, 38 suites and two penthouse suites. THE CHECK-IN I was travelling in a
large group but we were all checked in soon enough by several iPad- toting staff in a lobby that features a sweeping staircase adorned, of course, with bright red carpet. THE ROOM My chamber, as the
hotel likes to call its guestrooms, could be divided in two by sliding doors, with the bedroom area on one side and a dressing area and separate toilet and large walk-in shower in the other. Décor combined hardwood floors with white and grey walls – one of which had a felt covering – and flashes of red. There were numerous lighting options, a large graphic rug of the London Bridge station roundel, his and hers wardrobes, dressing table and large,
FLIGHT THE FLIGHT The airline’s first-ever
service between London Heathrow and Philadelphia is a codeshare with joint venture partner, Virgin Atlantic. It was operated by a B757-200. THE CHECK-IN Check-in, a couple of hours before departure, was a solitary experience. There were 14 SkyTeam check-in desks (three staffed) but this was obviously not a full flight. My US ESTA authorisation had expired and I had to reapply online but was still through and in the SkyTeam lounge within 25 minutes. The lounge, with its ‘living jungles’ botancial garden, was virtually empty. It served a good cooked breakfast and massages and facials were available. THE SEAT The B757-200 is perhaps the smallest aircraft crossing the Atlantic, with a compact business class – or ‘Delta One’ – section of 16 seats in a 2-2 configuration. It felt a bit like flying on a private jet. I was in 1D and I liked the way it was angled away from the flight deck and towards the window, which, in a small cabin, provided added privacy. Seat
VIRGIN HOTEL, CHICAGO
well-lit vanity mirror, plus swivelling desk and chair with a multimedia charger/speaker. Room amenities included an iron, large safe, yoga mat, sensibly priced minibar and wall-mounted TV. Ear plugs are placed on pillows, just in case guests don’t get “one ‘L’ of a sleep”, in reference to the Elevated railway that rattles by outside the hotel. THE FACILITIES The Commons
Club, with its double-height ceiling, is the hotel’s central hub and will be a fixture at further Virgin Hotels. Its various spaces included an open kitchen, table seating, lounge area, a long oval bar and the cosy ‘Shag Room’. On the ground floor are Miss Ricky's, a classic American diner, and Two Zero Three, a café and wine bar. There’s a function room for events and gigs, and a spectacular rooftop terrace and spa were due to officially open shortly after my stay. High-speed wifi access is free throughout the hotel. THE VERDICT The hotel makes a refreshing change from many of its
“High street minibar prices were a genuine novelty”
DELTA AIR LINES, DELTA ONE
width is a generous 20.2 inches and there was ample storage. The AC in seat-power and USB ports were located over my right shoulder. IFE featured over 350 films, 130 hours of TV and 5,000 music tracks. The seat reclined 180 degrees into a flat bed. THE SERVICE Service in our small
cabin was very attentive. A glass of Champagne arrived quickly, along with a choice of newspapers and a hot towel. Shortly after take off, the meal service kicked off with a rather basic prawn and salmon starter but was followed by a five-cheese ravioli dish, which was extremely tasty. The wine list was limited to two per ‘colour’, but the Bordeaux Chateau Cantemerle 2011 was superb. THE VERDICT Our 16-strong business class cabin was half full and economy (Delta Comfort) was very sparsely occupied. However, that made for superb service. Delta’s enhanced product – for example, fast inflight wifi access – means the airline is well-positioned to win business on this competitive route.
rivals, with smart design, quirky features, plenty of witty touches and a dash of Virgin glamour. The service was impressive too, while 'high street' minibar prices were a genuine novelty. THE DETAILS Virgin Hotels Chicago, 203 N. Wabash, Chicago, Illinois 60601, USA. Rooms start from £129 per night. Tel 00 1 855 946 6600; see
virginhotels.com. ANDY HOSKINS
THE DETAILS Delta operates a
“The airline is well-positioned to win business on this competitive route”
92 THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
daily Heathrow-Philadelphia service departing London at 10.30. The flight duration is seven hours and 15 minutes. The return flight leaves ‘Philly’ at 18.10, arriving into Heathrow at 06.40. Return fares in economy are from £718.66 and in business class from £2,942.66 (including taxes) departing in May-June.
delta.com. STEVE HARTRIDGE
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