Which Airlines Serve The Best Champagne?

Which Airlines Serve The Best Champagne?

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For many people, champagne and premium cabin travel go hand in hand. If you’re heading on a special holiday in style, there’s something just plain special about hearing a bottle of champagne pop, and enjoying that first glass after boarding (or after takeoff, depending on a carrier’s policy).

In this post I wanted to provide an updated list of the airlines serving the world’s best champagne. I’ll cover the airlines serving the best champagne in first & business class in the air, and the airlines serving the best champagne in first class on the ground (there’s just too much variability when it comes to business class lounge champagne to make a useful list).

How I’m defining the “best” champagne

Like virtually anything you might eat or drink, “best” is highly subjective. So I’m taking a very simple approach here, and am ranking airlines’ champagne offerings based on the retail cost of the champagne they serve. Specifically, I’ll use the pricing from K&L Wines, since it’s a wine distributor that I find has fair pricing.

Let me emphasize that I’m not intending to suggest that something is better simply because it’s more expensive. It’s not.

However, there is generally a correlation between the quality of an airline product and the price of the champagne they’re serving, since it represents a significant investment (even at the discounted prices that airlines are paying). Case in point, Japan Airlines has expensive champagne in first class, while American Airlines doesn’t. 😉

Furthermore, any metric other than price is simply too subjective. Virtually all of these champagnes are highly rated, and reasonable people can disagree about which is slightly better.

There’s something about a good glass of champagne in first class!

Airlines with most expensive first class champagne (inflight)

Which of the world’s top first class airlines serve the best champagne onboard flights? Here’s the list I’ve put together, though please let me know if I’m missing anything:

  1. Japan Airlines serves Salon 2007 (~$600/bottle) for flights from Japan and Louis Roederer Cristal 2014 (~$350/bottle) for flights to Japan in first class
  2. Qatar Airways serves Krug 2004 (~$330/bottle) in first class
  3. Singapore Airlines serves Dom Perignon 2008 (~$300/bottle), Krug Grand Cuvee Brut (~$200/bottle), and/or Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2007 (~$130/bottle) in first class; the airline typically has two of the three kinds of champagne on a given flight, with Dom Perignon being the one consistent option
  4. Lufthansa serves Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Alexandra Brut Rose 2004 (~$300/bottle) and Pommery Cuvee Louise 2004 (~$111/bottle) in first class; Lufthansa regularly rotates its champagne selection
  5. Emirates serves Dom Perignon 2012 (~$260/bottle) in first class
  6. All Nippon Airways serves Krug Grand Cuvee Brut (~$200/bottle) in first class
  7. Cathay Pacific serves Krug Grand Cuvee Brut (~$200/bottle) in first class
  8. Air France serves Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2007 (~$130/bottle) in first class; Air France regularly rotates its champagne selection
  9. British Airways serves Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Brut (~$110/bottle) in first class
  10. SWISS serves Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Brut (~$110/bottle) in first class
Japan Airlines serves phenomenal champagne in first class

As you can see, there are lots of great options here. I think you can’t beat Japan Airlines for the variety of offering two exceptional champagnes in first class (one in each direction of travel). The catch is that Japan Airlines loads fewer of these bottles than other airlines, typically two or three per flight, so expect it to run out.

After that, Qatar Airways wins for offering the most consistently expensive champagne in first class (and in fairness, Krug 2004 is very, very good). Singapore Airlines also deserves credit for frequently offering the choice of Dom Perignon or Krug, which is quite a nice choice to have. Lastly, Lufthansa also has a surprisingly exceptional rose at the moment, but that’s only temporary.

Qatar Airways serves Krug 2004 in first class

Airlines with most expensive first class champagne (lounges)

I thought it would also be interesting to briefly discuss some of the best champagne that you’ll find in the world’s top first class airline lounges. I think it’s noteworthy that a lot of the world’s best first class airlines serve phenomenal champagne in the air, but only mediocre champagne on the ground.

To me that seems pretty backwards. Ultimately great wine (including champagne) can best be enjoyed on the ground, where your taste buds are most able to appreciate taste. Furthermore, many people may prefer to enjoy a nice glass of champagne on the ground and maximize rest in the air.

Take Emirates, for example — in Emirates first class you can enjoy Dom Perignon, while in the Emirates first class lounge you can enjoy Moët, which retails for “just ~$40/bottle.

What explains this disconnect? I imagine it’s partly a matter of controlling costs. I suppose it also comes down to some airlines letting select elite members into lounges, rather than just first class passengers, so it’s potentially a lot more passengers.

Therefore I think it’s worth highlighting the airlines that invest in good champagne on the ground, because it’s largely a different list than you’ll find in the air. Here’s the list I’ve put together, though please let me know if I’m missing anything remarkable:

  1. Qatar Airways serves Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006 (~$150/bottle) in the Al Safwa Lounge Doha
  2. Air France serves Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006 (~$150/bottle) in the La Premiere Lounge Paris
  3. Singapore Airlines serves Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2007 (~$130/bottle) in the Private Room Singapore
  4. British Airways serves Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Brut (~$110/bottle) in the Concorde Room in both London and New York
  5. American Airlines serves Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Brut (~$110/bottle) in Flagship First Dining in Dallas, Miami, and New York
The Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge has great champagne

I think two airlines deserve a special shout out here:

  • British Airways has been serving the same champagne in lounges as onboard for years now, and I appreciate that consistency
  • American is the only airline I know of that serves better champagne in lounges than in the air; I’m not sure if the airline should get credit for that, though, since it largely reflects how bad American’s inflight champagne is

While it’s absolutely not a first class lounge, I do think Delta deserves a special mention for selling some amazing champagne in its Sky Clubs, and allowing guests to redeem SkyMiles for it at a reasonable cost. A bottle of Dom Perignon 2010 for under 14,000 SkyMiles is a pretty awesome value.

Redeeming Delta SkyMiles for Dom Perignon can be a great value

Airlines with most expensive business class champagne (inflight)

While you’ll definitely find the best champagne in first class, you’ll also find some pretty good champagne in business class. At the request of readers I’ll add a list of the best business class champagnes. Before I do so, a couple of things to note:

  • I’m keeping this list to airlines offering champagne that costs more than $40 per bottle in business class (which isn’t to say that champagne over $40 is good, and champagne under $40 is bad, but I have to draw the line somewhere); that excludes what you’ll see offered on many airlines, like Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve, Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut, Laurent-Perrier Brut, etc.
  • I’ll very much need reader feedback here, as there are hundreds of airlines with business class and many have changed their onboard service since the start of the pandemic, so please let me know if I’m missing anything that meets the above criteria, or that you find to be particularly exceptional

So what airlines serve the best champagne onboard flights in business class?

  1. Qatar Airways serves Charles Heidsieck Rose Millsesime 2005 (~$160/bottle) and Laurent-Perrier Brut (~$30/bottle)
  2. EVA Air serves Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2006 (~$150/bottle) in business class
  3. Singapore Airlines serves Piper-Heidsieck Brut 2005 (~$70/bottle) in business class
  4. Emirates serves Veuve Clicquot Brut (~$65/bottle) in business class
  5. Japan Airlines serves Delamotte Blanc de Blancs (~$65/bottle) in business class
I love that Qatar Airways serves white & rose champagne

As you can tell, Qatar Airways is consistently excellent for offering both a white and rose champagne, and the rose at the moment is exceptional. Then EVA Air is known for consistently offering the best champagne, as Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame is phenomenal.

EVA Air has phenomenal champagne in business class

Bottom line

For many premium cabin airline enthusiasts, a great drink selection is part of the overall experience. The above are the airlines serving the most expensive champagne in first class and business class.

Let me once again emphasize that the most expensive doesn’t necessarily mean the best, as taste is highly subjective. I don’t claim to be a sommelier or wine expert, though I certainly do have my preferences. And I know many are also curious about what they can expect to be served onboard, so hopefully the above is a useful rundown.

Let me also note that airlines sometimes switch around their selections and vintages, so if I missed any options or airlines made changes that I didn’t get right, please let me know.

What’s your favorite champagne served by any airline?

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  1. Nick Guest

    After I tried Salon on JAL I’m definitely spoiled

  2. Matt Guest

    Salon is truly an exceptional champagne. The rest of these bottles are nice, but none are exceptional. Salon is on another level.

  3. Ben Guest

    Recently flew qsuites Mel - doh and they had Laurent Perrier Alexandra Cuvée Rose 2006 which must be a $200/$300 bottle.

  4. Graham Guest

    British Airways uses Premium Lounge for business class passengers in Miami and they serve Taittinger. My vivid memory is of my wife calling out to me on the other side of the lounge is “More Taittinger over here!”
    Happy Days
    About to fly Swiss to Dubai so keen to taste their offering

  5. LEo Diamond

    Also, I believe the WY J Champagne aren't cheap either

  6. LEo Diamond

    Doesn't the CZ Tattinger that you reviewed back in 2018 also make it in the J list?

  7. rji Guest

    while it has not launched, I was just with the director of international exports for Duval Leroy Champagne, and their Grand Cru, Blanc de Blancs will actually be featured in AA Biz later this year. Looking forward to a HUGE champagne upgrade.

  8. Brennan Flanigan Guest

    I think you have to give some credit for airlines offering rose champagne as an addition to a blanc champagne. Rose’s are often much rarer and harder to come by, and can often be more oenophile wines. It shows an attention to detail that most would overlook.

  9. David Guest

    My dude these champagne prices are not right at all…you cannot quite prices that have a “waiting list.” That means they sold out and the true price is much higher. Try using wine searcher and quote the lowest US price that isn’t an auction

    1. rji Guest

      Agreed. K&L is notorious for putting low prices even though they don't have it so they get the views, clicks, and SEO favorability.

  10. Abraham Guest

    Nice.
    Can you do scotch now?

  11. tommy777 Guest

    SAS pours Charles Heidsieck in Business

  12. John Guest

    I would be interested to know which airlines serve complimentary Champagne in economy apart from Air France.

    1. rji Guest

      economy complimentary? thats only AF.

  13. Cedric Guest

    @ Luls: Champagne should not be served ice cold. You already taste less in the air, serving it super cold wouldn't help that at all.

    1. Luis Guest

      I never said it should be served ice cold

  14. flying_foxy Guest

    FWIW:

    Qantas F on the A380 is currently serving Piper Heidsieck Rare Milledime 2002

    Comment above on SQ F currently rotating 2 out of 3 (Dom, TCdC and Krug) is correct, so Krug should be included on their list.

    1. rji Guest

      damn!!! thats incredible!!! 02 rare is out of this world amazing

  15. Daniel Guest

    Great article. It would be great to see a comparison of business class champagnes as well, though I assume these may be rotated more frequently depending on cost. I remember checking the champagne name on a LH business flight recently. It was a run-of-the-mill $30 bottle.

    AF also serves champagne on request in economy, which might make it the best airline for champagne overall.

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Daniel -- Let me see what I can do about a business class champagne list, thanks for the idea.

  16. Emily Guest

    Salon '07 and Dom '08 are my poisons.

    1. D3kingg Guest

      @Emily

      Bollinger ‘98 ? How about some Colt 45 ?

  17. Erik Guest

    Please, do the same but this time with business class!

  18. SMK77 Guest

    SQ is still offering Krug. They offer two out of Krug, Dom Perignon and Taittinger CdC.

    SIN-FRA-JFK has Dom and CdC.

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ SMK77 -- Thanks, updated the post to reflect that.

  19. Velvet Elvis Guest

    Don't forget to tip the server at least 20% of these values.

  20. John Christensen Guest

    Hi Lucky - enjoyed the intel and the post. Can you do something similar with a caviar service? Cheers John

  21. Alonzo Diamond

    I'm happy redeeming Skymiles for a bottle of Dom P. Best value imo.

  22. Luis Guest

    My gripe with champagne on airplanes in general is that they're served way too warm. I like my champagne chilled COLD but it seems to always be served way too warm. Every champagne picture you've posted on all your reviews, you never see condensation on the glass or the bottle.

    1. Jeff Guest

      Even if it is super cold, I wonder if there is enough moisture in the in-flight cabin air to result in any condensation on the glass.

    2. Luis Guest

      100% if it's cold enough, there will be condensation. Just order any drink with ice and you'll get condensation on the glass. I'm not suggesting champagne should be served ice cold, but it needs to be chilled cold (like below 50 degrees) but it's usually served ~60 degrees from what I've experienced.

  23. Flightpunk Guest

    Emirates serves Moët Vintage Champagnes in lounge as well which are prized higher than 40$.

  24. Motion to Dismiss Gold

    Is Oman Air still serving Cristal?

    Also cut Ben slack on not mentioning Qantas, if you read the post he asked for others he may have missed. Ben is a human not an all-knowing computer (although he comes close).

    1. platy Guest

      @ Motion to Dismiss

      "...he asked for others he may have missed..."

      ...and requested feedback was duly rendered...;)

    2. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Motion to Dismiss -- Was wondering the same thing about Oman Air. The airline used to serve Cristal, but haven't seen any reports of that in the past year, so if anyone can confirm, I'd appreciate it. If Oman Air has Cristal, it deserves to be on the list.

  25. Beachfan Guest

    Vintage is very important in champagne and not always reflected in price.

    Based on the comments above, I think very few actually collect champagne.

    Lucky, do you know which are the good vintages? Your writing in the subject rould be a little more credible if you learn a big more about it, rather than just the bling.

    1. Beachfan Guest

      By the way, Tattinger Comte’s 08 blows away Dom 09, and Dom 04 is better that Comte 05

    2. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Beachfan -- I hear you, and vintages are of course very important and can greatly impact taste. The intent of this post is to be a general resource of what champagne you can expect airlines to be serving. Airlines are constantly changing their vintages, so a deep dive into vintages would complicate this a bit further.

  26. Kt1 Guest

    Ben did you forget that Eva air with the Krug 2004 vintage or Veuve La grande dame in its long haul flights?

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Kt1 -- I'm working on adding a section about business class, so stay tuned, as this post was specific to first class. Thanks for the idea. :-)

    2. platy Guest

      @ Ben

      Makes sense to provide the resource, but all of a bit of moving target as airlines seem to be mixing it up?

  27. AyL Guest

    just flew Singapore 777-300ER First Class CGK-SIN 2 weeks ago and was served Krug on thr short 90 minute flight

  28. Moindardt Guest

    I was lucky enough to get the mistake fare of JAL First Class from ICN to JFK for $2800 in 2016 (flew 2017). The flight from NRT to JFK had Salon and I think Dom, which I tried a glass of each. The Salon was way better. There was only one other passenger in First (who wasn't drinking champagne) so I had the pleasure of both bottles on the way there. On the return flight,...

    I was lucky enough to get the mistake fare of JAL First Class from ICN to JFK for $2800 in 2016 (flew 2017). The flight from NRT to JFK had Salon and I think Dom, which I tried a glass of each. The Salon was way better. There was only one other passenger in First (who wasn't drinking champagne) so I had the pleasure of both bottles on the way there. On the return flight, the other passengers weren't drinking champange so, once again, both bottles were mine to consume. The champange alone almost covered the costs of my flights. Still the best champagne I have tasted.

  29. Alec Guest

    Can we get the worst Champagne rankings next? I remember a review of a Chinese airline a couple years ago that had like a $10 bottle

  30. Crosscourt Guest

    Agree with Platy. Calling you out for not mentioning Qantas. Your article should be revised. If you mention Comtes for one airline why didn't you mention QF with the same champagne?

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Crosscourt -- It wasn't intentional on my part. Like I said, some products may have slipped my mind. Keep in mind Qantas just reintroduced first class recently.

      And that's where I need some help from OMAAT readers. You're suggesting that Qantas is serving Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2007, while another reader suggests that Qantas is serving Piper Heidsieck Rare Milledime 2002.

      So does anyone know definitively/can they point me to a recent report that...

      @ Crosscourt -- It wasn't intentional on my part. Like I said, some products may have slipped my mind. Keep in mind Qantas just reintroduced first class recently.

      And that's where I need some help from OMAAT readers. You're suggesting that Qantas is serving Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2007, while another reader suggests that Qantas is serving Piper Heidsieck Rare Milledime 2002.

      So does anyone know definitively/can they point me to a recent report that shows this?

    2. platy Guest

      @ Ben

      To quote my original post:

      "...Readers who have travelled on their A380 first flights can confirm their post-COVID bubbles..."

      FWIW QF advertised the Taittinger on recently published menus.

      If you want the list only reflect currently flying first class offerings, then perhaps set that as criterion up front?

      Not many will be flying JAL first at the moment etc., etc...(gotta love the Salon, drank much of the stuff on a NRT-SYD one night...)

      ...

      @ Ben

      To quote my original post:

      "...Readers who have travelled on their A380 first flights can confirm their post-COVID bubbles..."

      FWIW QF advertised the Taittinger on recently published menus.

      If you want the list only reflect currently flying first class offerings, then perhaps set that as criterion up front?

      Not many will be flying JAL first at the moment etc., etc...(gotta love the Salon, drank much of the stuff on a NRT-SYD one night...)

      Love your work and this website. And these articles on bubbles are just some fun.

  31. Stuart Guest

    Surprisingly the Taittinger on AF is my favorite thus far. While I am anything but a champagne snob and usually might just have one glass on a flight, I found it to be incredibly drinkable and not as acidic as, say, Krug. I actually had two glasses I liked it so much!

  32. Omar Guest

    It's worth noting that JL and LH often run out and only stock 1 or 2 bottles of the premier champagne and then switch to the less expensive one.

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Omar -- This is a great point, thanks. I've updated the post to reflect that. Indeed, the good champagne does tend to run out on Japan Airlines, unlike on other airlines.

  33. Patrick Longerstaey Guest

    Would also be interesting to know which airlines serve the "cheapest" champagnes

    1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT

      @ Sel_D -- Totally forgot that AA serves LPGS in FFD, so updated the post to reflect that. Thanks!

  34. Ella Guest

    My very first international F flight was on AA. We got very cheap cava. Even the dinner wine was almost undrinkable. Service was a bad joke but the seat was great!

  35. DrewT Member

    Is Singapore serving Taittinger in the private room a post-covid thing? When I was there in November 2019, it was 2009 Dom Perignon.

    And it's too bad AA stopped serving Krug in FFD post-covid, they could have made the list for lounges!

    Agree about the JAL Salon, it was very, very good.

    I'd suggest an article on the airlines with the best caviar, but that would be much harder to judge, since I don't think many are actually branded

    1. Suning Guest

      Yes, they now serve Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2007.

  36. Christian Guest

    My wife and I flew JAL first class the weekend before last. We got one glass each of Salon before departure. After that we didn’t get any more because every other person in the cabin was downing the stuff in a hurry and it went quick. Maybe everyone wanted to get their money’s worth.

  37. Pierre Guest

    Dom Perignon is not a good Champagne, just an expensive one, a mixture of grapes which go well together one year and not so well others. These are marketing tricks just like Chivas Regal is not a Pure Malt.

    This is not important as nowadays, people mostly do not know what they eat and drink. They live on images which are only more or less true.

    1. D3kingg Guest

      @Pierre

      Dom Perignon is the best known brand in the world and only champagne that will rise in value. People that know nothing about Champagne want Dom Perignon. Over commercialized.

    2. MurrayF Member

      I have a small collection of Champagne and I have to agree that Dom, although a fine champagne is eclipsed by almost all other prestige Champagnes. My personal preference for prestige Champagnes would be Salon by a wide margin then the comptes and anything by Louse Roederer.
      Salon’s Champagnes are exceptional wine. I have alas a single bottle of 1982 brought around 1990 which shows as $3k+ USD so I cannot afford to drink...

      I have a small collection of Champagne and I have to agree that Dom, although a fine champagne is eclipsed by almost all other prestige Champagnes. My personal preference for prestige Champagnes would be Salon by a wide margin then the comptes and anything by Louse Roederer.
      Salon’s Champagnes are exceptional wine. I have alas a single bottle of 1982 brought around 1990 which shows as $3k+ USD so I cannot afford to drink it. I have various vintages in the 70, 80, 90’s and none is close to the Salon for price. Those who do not drink Champagne regularly will often not like the complexity and aged notes of older vintages and so prefer the lighter and sweeter champagnes. Just like Red wine drinker’s your palette has to be developed to appreciate the complex depth the fine champagne shows.
      It’s a shame that Rose Champagnes are not better represented, one of the best Champagnes I have has was a 1990 Dom Runiart rose of which I still have several

    3. Pierre Guest

      Exactly, you make my point.

    4. platy Guest

      @ Pierre

      I've enjoyed the P2 on some Emirates First Class flights and it was most delicious.

      That said, there are, of course, many champagnes offering far greater value than the well known brands.

      Luckily, we have a local champagne expert here in Australia (Bernadette O'Shea) with an association with Brisbane liquor shop, Wine Emporium, which thereby stocks some delicious bubbles at a fraction of the price of the big names! Bernadette has published a...

      @ Pierre

      I've enjoyed the P2 on some Emirates First Class flights and it was most delicious.

      That said, there are, of course, many champagnes offering far greater value than the well known brands.

      Luckily, we have a local champagne expert here in Australia (Bernadette O'Shea) with an association with Brisbane liquor shop, Wine Emporium, which thereby stocks some delicious bubbles at a fraction of the price of the big names! Bernadette has published a very informative book "Champagne and Chandeliers" in which various labels are explored with reference to historical events.

    5. Dr Kim Guest

      I liked your last paragraph as this is so true'.
      Food in general has lost most of its taste.
      So I still do remember the good tomatoes I bought 10 years ago in Miami. But they should be avaiable everywhere. I have to fly Emirates First quite often and seldom find meals edible but other passengers just gobble it down.

  38. Jared^ Guest

    I was lucky enough recently to redeem for First Class JAL TYO to NYC and they served the Salon. I think I had most of the bottle myself. My wife and I were two of 3 people in first so was not much competition for it. Memories.....

  39. platy Guest

    If you are calling out airlines which serve the Taittinger Comtes De Champagne then why is Qantas left off the list (although the scan also serve others such as the Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill and Veuve Cliquot La range Dame).

    Readers who have travelled on their A380 first flights can confirm their post-COVID bubbles.

    Per some other airlines as cited in the article, QF first lounge bubbles are less pricey (such as Taittinger Brut...

    If you are calling out airlines which serve the Taittinger Comtes De Champagne then why is Qantas left off the list (although the scan also serve others such as the Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill and Veuve Cliquot La range Dame).

    Readers who have travelled on their A380 first flights can confirm their post-COVID bubbles.

    Per some other airlines as cited in the article, QF first lounge bubbles are less pricey (such as Taittinger Brut Reserve and Piper Heidsieck Cuvee).

    1. platy Guest

      Edit - Grande not Grange (the spellchecker wanted a glass of red)...

  40. Jumpseatflyer Guest

    JAL serving Salon on flights from Japan is absolutely astonishing. Salon is an exceptional champagne and I would say that it is actually something for enthusiasts. Unfortunately, I doubt that many pax truly appreciate or even know what they are drinking. From that perspective, it's probably not really cost effective to cater it as a premium cuvee of half the price would still cut it.
    At the same time, obviously it's fantastic to see...

    JAL serving Salon on flights from Japan is absolutely astonishing. Salon is an exceptional champagne and I would say that it is actually something for enthusiasts. Unfortunately, I doubt that many pax truly appreciate or even know what they are drinking. From that perspective, it's probably not really cost effective to cater it as a premium cuvee of half the price would still cut it.
    At the same time, obviously it's fantastic to see such a product that is truly first class in every possible aspect.

    1. Suning Guest

      Singapore Airlines currently serve Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Millesime 2007 in their newly renovated first class lounge at SIN (~$180/bottle). Rating 4.6 on vivino.com (better proxy for quality than price IMHO).

    2. Matt Guest

      Piper Rare is like a soft drink compared to Salon...

    3. Brennan Flanigan Guest

      I couldn’t agree more. Salon is truly rare , truly delicious, and highly allocated. I assume jal has had a relationship with Laurent Perrier over the many years that they can have whatever they want. I have to admit I find it kind of sad that that much Salon is being imbibed at altitude, while it’s hard to come by at sea level.

  41. Never In Doubt Guest

    Best = most expensive, is very on brand for OMAAT.

    1. eponymous coward Guest

      “ expensive champagne isn’t cheap”

      One would hope expensive champagne isn’t cheap, rather, that it’s expensive.

    2. LarryInNYC Diamond

      I dunno. There was a recent review here that stated that a meal was "tasty but bland" so "cheap but expensive" isn't out of the question.

    3. Smic8881 Member

      What I assume Ben meant is that airlines buy champagne and other spirits in bulk. And while buying in bulk may reduce the unit price significantly, the end price can still be considered relatively high when compared to other spirits.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

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platy Guest

Edit - Grande not Grange (the spellchecker wanted a glass of red)...

2
platy Guest

If you are calling out airlines which serve the Taittinger Comtes De Champagne then why is Qantas left off the list (although the scan also serve others such as the Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill and Veuve Cliquot La range Dame). Readers who have travelled on their A380 first flights can confirm their post-COVID bubbles. Per some other airlines as cited in the article, QF first lounge bubbles are less pricey (such as Taittinger Brut Reserve and Piper Heidsieck Cuvee).

2
Jumpseatflyer Guest

JAL serving Salon on flights from Japan is absolutely astonishing. Salon is an exceptional champagne and I would say that it is actually something for enthusiasts. Unfortunately, I doubt that many pax truly appreciate or even know what they are drinking. From that perspective, it's probably not really cost effective to cater it as a premium cuvee of half the price would still cut it. At the same time, obviously it's fantastic to see such a product that is truly first class in every possible aspect.

2
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