Japan Airlines Is Downgrading Their First Class Champagne… To Cristal

Japan Airlines Is Downgrading Their First Class Champagne… To Cristal

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There are plenty of airlines serving outrageously expensive champagne in first class. The airline offering the single most expensive champagne in first class is Japan Airlines, as they serve Salon Champagne. Over the years they’ve switched between vintages (given that Salon doesn’t produce that many bottles). When I flew them in 2016 they were serving the 2002 vintage, while it’s my understanding that in 2017 they were serving the 2006 vintage, before it was available to the general public. Both of those retail for $400+ per bottle. Crazy, eh?

Now I should of course say that just because a champagne is expensive doesn’t mean that it’s great. For example, personally I prefer the taste of Krug to the taste of Salon, even though it’s often “only” a third the price. Still, there’s something really cool about having a $400 champagne on a plane. 😉

JAL has just revealed their first & business class wine selection for 2018, and it looks like they’re downgrading their champagne. Starting in 2018, Japan Airlines will be serving Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne 2009 in first class. Yes, I realize that when you’re being “downgraded” to Cristal then it’s most definitely a first world problem. 😉

Specifically, Cristal will be offered on routes to New York and London as of January 1, 2018, and on all other routes featuring first class as of January 6, 2018.

Cristal is still a very expensive champagne, and retails for $200+ per bottle. I’ve only once had Cristal, and am excited to try it again on Japan Airlines. I appreciate JAL’s uniqueness here, and that they’re not going with Dom or Krug, like many other carriers (as great as both of those are).

But worry not, Japan Airlines won’t just have one champagne in first class. While Cristal will be their new “flagship champagne,” they’ll offer a backup “prestige champagne” (as they call it), given that they typically only load a couple of bottles of the “flagship” one. The backup champagne will rotate by month, and according to JAL’s wine list for 2018 they’ll be offering:

That’s a heck of a “backup” champagne selection!

Even with this change, JAL will still be the airline consistently serving the most expensive champagne in the world. Occasionally Emirates serves special vintages of Dom Perignon that retail for more, but that’s not a consistent thing.

For the full wine list for first & business class for 2018, see here.

What do you make of JAL’s switch from Salon to Cristal?

Conversations (22)
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  1. jordan Guest

    yes, I know I am late to the party. Churchill blows away Cristal. I'd be happy to drink all on board while people fawn over Cristal

  2. Mak Guest

    @Falco Very interesting. Thanks. So 10%-30% from normal wholesale, which is actually less of a discount than I would have thought.

  3. Dslsmk New Member

    David will need banned to a "Elite Snobs Only Blog", he jus cant hang with any common folk.... or so he says..

    A lot worse than no manners, it relates to a lack of humanity to fellow readers

  4. Falco Peregrinus Guest

    @ Mak, if you can read french or find someone to translate it for you, here's a very good article on the subject : http://www.larvf.com/champagne-avion-buisness-affaires,4563002.asp

  5. David Guest

    @Jason. The "French champagne" club. You must be a founding member.

    Lol

  6. Jason Guest

    @David. Your manners said it all.

  7. glenn t Diamond

    I'm surprised that the 2018 wine lineup doesn't include many more Australian red wines, which are superior to Spanish and American reds.

  8. John Guest

    Cristal is my favorite Prestige Champagne, not a downgrade imo.

  9. David Guest

    "I've only had Cristal once"

    Haha. Peasant.

    You probably referred to champagne as "FRENCH champagne" at some point.

    Lol SO middle class.

  10. Ella Guest

    Sounds great to me! And I think I have enough AS miles to make this work.

  11. jacky Guest

    Pretty sad. First time flying JAL first class in January and I was looking forward to the salon :(

  12. tina Guest

    Hoorah! Cristal is my favorite--I like it much more than Salon.

  13. BrooklynBoy Gold

    Cristal 2009 is a splendid Champagne. I think you'll like it Ben. Similar to Krug Grande Cuvée, it has a high portion of Pinot Noir which is what gives it richness.

  14. Sidid Guest

    Champagne is headache in a bottle

  15. Mr robot Guest

    I think it's actually an upgrade

  16. JP Guest

    What a disaster....lets all commit seppuku!!!

  17. Justin Guest

    I am flying JAL first in February and don't mind the change whatsoever. Then again this will be my first time flying anything other than coach. Glad to be aware of the change though.

  18. Mak Guest

    I've always wondered about the economics of Champagne served in First and Business. Its difficult for me to believe that the airlines are paying more than a fraction of regular retail (or even regular wholesale). Given the much smaller costs which are being cut, it seems to fly in the face of airline economics that these costs are nearly what we would assume them to be. Its very advantageous and prestigious from a marketing perspective...

    I've always wondered about the economics of Champagne served in First and Business. Its difficult for me to believe that the airlines are paying more than a fraction of regular retail (or even regular wholesale). Given the much smaller costs which are being cut, it seems to fly in the face of airline economics that these costs are nearly what we would assume them to be. Its very advantageous and prestigious from a marketing perspective for a Maison to have their brand carried by a prestigious airline, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that very special concessions are made for airlines in countries with very brand conscious consumers (i.e., Japan) to showcase the brand and give it the aura of being "the F brand" for JAL or ANA). It also would not surprise me if the bottling was not quite the same as the bottlings sold in stores and restaurants, but were special unofficial cuvees just for the airlines. I don't know that any of this is the case, but it wouldn't surprise e.

  19. George Member

    Gone are the days when you would drink coke with lime :-)
    Happy holidays Ben!

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jordan Guest

yes, I know I am late to the party. Churchill blows away Cristal. I'd be happy to drink all on board while people fawn over Cristal

0
Mak Guest

@Falco Very interesting. Thanks. So 10%-30% from normal wholesale, which is actually less of a discount than I would have thought.

0
Dslsmk New Member

David will need banned to a "Elite Snobs Only Blog", he jus cant hang with any common folk.... or so he says.. A lot worse than no manners, it relates to a lack of humanity to fellow readers

0
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