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DEPARTURES<br />
FLIGHT: BRITISH AIRWAYS, FIRST CLASS<br />
THE FLIGHT<br />
BA016 from Sydney to<br />
open storage area. <strong>The</strong> seat’s side wall<br />
Singapore operated by a B777-300 and<br />
included a wardrobe with hangers and<br />
departing at 16.30 local time.<br />
net racks for storage. <strong>The</strong>re was also an<br />
PRE-BOARDING<br />
Check-in was handled<br />
additional coat hook and magazine<br />
by Qantas staff who were friendly and<br />
rack. Seat recline to fully flat was easily<br />
efficient for me but were suitably<br />
adjusted with a swivel switch rather<br />
assertive with an obnoxious passenger<br />
than buttons and worked smoothly.<br />
on the next desk along. Boarding was<br />
<strong>The</strong> IFE screen was huge and the<br />
on time and all was on schedule until<br />
controller, headphone socket, two USB<br />
two passengers failed to board and<br />
ports and three audiovisual sockets<br />
caused a delay while their bags were<br />
were all easily accessible.<br />
offloaded. Sydney is now a ‘quiet’<br />
THE SERVICE<br />
<strong>The</strong> crew were smart<br />
airport with no announcements. Perhaps<br />
and business-like, offered a cheery<br />
improving the environment has<br />
welcome and then personally introduced<br />
increased such no-shows.<br />
themselves. Welcome drinks came<br />
THE SEAT I was in seat F1 –<br />
quickly and on hearing of a delay a<br />
THE VERDICT<br />
This was a daytime<br />
one of the two centre seats with an<br />
second round of Champagne muted<br />
flight so lights weren’t dimmed and no<br />
optional seat divider for privacy. A<br />
any moaning. Dining was impressive,<br />
mattress liner was added but the seat<br />
cushion and large pillow were on the<br />
seat, plus blanket and headphones.<br />
Pyjamas and a Liberty amenity kit were<br />
personally offered by the crew. <strong>The</strong><br />
roomy seat was wide enough to curl<br />
with my choices including a prosciutto<br />
appetiser, Tasmanian salmon as my<br />
starter and pan-seared fillet of beef for<br />
my main. Desserts included coconut<br />
panna cotta, sticky toffee pudding or an<br />
THE DINING WAS<br />
EXCELLENT AND<br />
THE SERVICE WAS<br />
ATTENTIVE<br />
was roomy and I felt nicely cocooned by<br />
the wrap-around walls. <strong>The</strong> dining was<br />
excellent and the service was attentive.<br />
THE DETAILS British Airways flies<br />
daily between Sydney and Singapore.<br />
your legs up into, with plenty of elbow<br />
impressive cheeseboard. A second<br />
One-way fares are from around £2,500<br />
room to the right where a wide shelf<br />
doubled as a small drinks table and<br />
service of cake and sandwiches was<br />
offered two hours before landing.<br />
in First Class. britishairways.com<br />
Julie Baxter<br />
HOTEL: POINT A, LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET<br />
THE HOTEL<br />
<strong>The</strong> Point A hotel group<br />
the main feature of note. Space was at<br />
promises "everything you need and<br />
a premium in the seriously compact<br />
nothing you don't" and targets both<br />
bathroom but the shower was good.<br />
business and leisure travellers at the<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was a safe (which unfortunately<br />
budget end of the spectrum. It has six<br />
was locked shut) by the bed and a<br />
hotels across London and one in<br />
hairdryer was located in a storage space<br />
Glasgow, with additional properties<br />
that cleverly converted into a small desk<br />
opening in Edinburgh and London<br />
area with power points. <strong>The</strong>re was a<br />
Kensington this summer.<br />
wall-mounted TV, a large mirror and<br />
THE CHECK-IN<br />
<strong>The</strong> hotel is a short<br />
hangers on the wall. Room temperature<br />
walk from both Shoreditch High Street<br />
and lighting – including a mood lighting<br />
and Liverpool Street stations. I<br />
option – were controlled from a smart<br />
approached from the latter and found<br />
panel by the door that illuminated upon<br />
the hotel hidden away on a quiet<br />
close contact. Wifi access was free.<br />
cobbled street that could easily be<br />
THE FACILITIES<br />
<strong>The</strong>re's a large cafe<br />
passed by without notice. I had a short<br />
and dining area on the ground floor<br />
Tucked away on a quiet street, it is a<br />
wait at check-in while two members of<br />
where breakfast (a good self-service<br />
good budget refuge with fairly basic but<br />
staff dealt with other guests.<br />
continental offering) and coffee is<br />
attractive guestrooms – and some great<br />
THE ROOM Some rooms do not<br />
have windows – a guest in front of me<br />
at check-in had booked such a room –<br />
but mine was a slightly larger, standard<br />
double room on the third floor with<br />
served, plus a verdant garden area is<br />
open from 8am to 9.30pm. <strong>The</strong>re's<br />
no dining menu but basic snacks are<br />
available around the clock. <strong>The</strong>re's<br />
also an ironing room.<br />
IT IS A GOOD<br />
BUDGET REFUGE WITH<br />
BASIC BUT ATTRACTIVE<br />
GUESTROOMS<br />
rates for advance bookings.<br />
THE DETAILS Point A London<br />
Liverpool Street, 13-15 Folgate Street,<br />
London E1 6BX. Rates start from £69 per<br />
night. '<strong>The</strong> Brekkie' is an additional £9<br />
views east towards Brick Lane. Decor<br />
THE VERDICT<br />
<strong>The</strong> hotel is in a good<br />
and early check-in (11am rather than<br />
was smart and stylish with a huge grey<br />
headboard with colourful studs being<br />
location for business in the City and<br />
connections elsewhere in the capital.<br />
3pm) costs £20. pointahotels.com<br />
Andy Hoskins<br />
THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.COM<br />
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