REVIEWS
British Airways Club World
BRITISH AIRWAYS A380 Club World London Heathrow-Los Angeles International
British Airways Airbus A380
BRITISH AIRWAYS flies 280 routes across 200 countries and has 12 Airbus A380s as well as 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. A new business class is coming, but meanwhile.... By Anthea Gerrie
CHECK-IN Club World passengers benefit from Fast Track check-in and access to lounges, although on my visit, the food selection on offer at the South Lounge in Terminal Five was disappointingly limited. Note that A380 flights go from Satellites B and C, so it is normally better to use the lounge in Satellite B (there isn’t one in Satellite C). BOARDING The flight boarded efficiently 45 minutes before departure. THE SEAT The business class seat is in a distinctive – and unique – “yin-yang” configuration. It reclines into a fully-flat bed and provides some privacy with
a screen that can be operated after take-off, but those new to Club World may find it slightly disconcerting facing backwards. A mattress pad, duvet, luxe pillow and blanket – all White Company- branded – made for a comfortable bed, and there was a decent sleep mask, reusable flight socks and toiletries in the amenity kit. However, a side pocket to hold personal items would have been easier to reach than the foot-level, pull-out drawer provided. The fold-out video monitor has to be stowed before landing, preventing viewing in the 20 minutes before touchdown.
DE VERE DEVONPORT HOUSE
FEW OF US IN LIFE get to boast of a good night’s sleep within a UNESCO World Heritage site, but check in to the Grade II-listed Devonport House and that’s exactly what you get. This is a good find for London. Steeped in maritime history, it works well for meetings and events; at the same time it’s accessible to the City. By Nick Easen
BEST SEATS Backward-facing window seats are probably best, though in most of these you have to step over the feet of the passenger on the aisle. THE FLIGHT Champagne and water were offered before take-off. Within half-an-hour of departure drinks arrived accompanied by a selection of roasted nuts. Dinner was served on real china atop linen-laid trays; my cream of onion soup was delicious, but my fish was dry. Olive oil is available as an alternative to butter, but salt and pepper came in packets rather than tiny cruets provided in business class on other airlines. In place of BA’s signature cream tea,
there was a second light meal featuring delicious gravadlax and prawns and, given the six-hour gap between meals,
a kitchen stocked with crisps and chocolate biscuits was welcome. The film and audio selection, however, were poor compared with other airlines – a shame given that high-quality headphones were provided. ARRIVAL We arrived slightly ahead of schedule, and Club World passengers disembarked ahead of Economy, with faster access to immigration – valuable when other international flights were arriving and causing long queues. VERDICT The flat bed option makes the 11-hour flight as comfortable as it could possibly be. Being able to order food when it suits you allows for maximum rest, which is especially good if avoiding jetlag is the prime consideration. FLIGHT TIME 10 hours 35 minutes.
De Vere Devonport House: comfortable but functional
Greenwich, London
WHERE IS IT? It’s at a real nexus point in London’s south-east. The River Thames, Cutty Sark DLR station and Greenwich Pier are a brisk walk away, while you couldn’t be closer to the leafy Royal Park, Observatory and the National Maritime Museum. If you need to meet in Canary Wharf, Bank or the O2 Arena for business, this is an excellent spot to base yourself. You’re in Zone 2, yet it feels a world away from the West End. You are also cheek-by-jowl to a lot of Greenwich’s funky bars, restaurants and boutique shops. WHAT’S IT LIKE? What is there not to like about a good slice of English history? The four-storey, red-brick, Georgian mansion is, in fact, a converted naval hospital. The gardens are attractive and there’s even a small cemetery where Admiral Thomas Hardy – of “Kiss Me, Hardy” fame – is buried. Originally designed by Sir Edwin Cooper, the hotel is currently managed
124 MARCH/APRIL 2019
by De Vere Group. The property is comfortable but quite sedate – think lemon-coloured walls, nondescript carpets and beige furniture. One nice touch is the framed photo-prints reflecting Greenwich’s nautical heritage. ROOMS The 100-bed hotel was restored eight years ago. It’s more functional than frills, staid rather than on-trend. Some rooms are on the small side, but hey, this is central London, yet all rooms have a wardrobe, laptop safe, a desk to work on, as well as tea and coffee- making facilities and free wifi. There’s no restaurant, but the hotel offers continental breakfast. BUSINESS There’s a lot here that would work for buyers, including 23 different meeting and event spaces for up to 120 people. There are historic, oak-panelled rooms with distinctive nautical themes
and views over manicured lawns. These spaces are ideal for meetings and often used for teambuilding workshops. The hotel also offers free parking on-site, which is useful if you’re coming from outside London, particularly the south- east. The 24-hour snack-bar in reception is a nice touch if you get in late. VERDICT Three words sum this up: location, location, location. Where it is outweighs what it is. A lot of reviews reflect this. The rooms are a tad tired and bland, but the staff are super friendly, from the front desk to the breakfast room to the cleaners, which is a major plus in my book.
buyingbusinesstravel.com
HOTEL
FLIGHT
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 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136
