For champagne aficionados, it has never been a better time to take to the skies–at least on international first and business class flights, where airlines are fiercely competing to provide customers with the finest libations.
So which airlines serve the best bubbly? That might be left up to personal preference, but the following airlines certainly are raising the bar across the board.
Emirates
Emirates has an exclusive contract with Moet & Chandon, which means first class travelers sip on rare vintages such as the Dom Perignon 2004 and 2005. For business class, there are various other Moet & Chandon offerings, although if nothing on board is particularly to your liking, the Emirates Lounge at Dubai International Airport also offers complimentary champagne tastings.
Air France
As the flag carrier of the home country of champagne, Air France certainly can’t–and doesn’t–disappoint. Currently, Air France serves bubbly à la coupe, or by the glass. The selection ranges from Bollinger 2004 – La Grande Année, which retails at around $200 per bottle to Laurent Perrier Cuvée Rosé, which runs a mere $80 per bottle.
Lufthansa
Aboard Lufthansa, champagnes are selected by the world champion sommelier Markus Del Monego, and paired alongside Michelin-starred dishes. While new wines are available every month, for their sparkling selection, Lufthansa has been known to serve Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame and Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle, which both have strong fruity notes that maintain their character even at 35,000 feet.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines’ wine experts taste over a thousand different wines annually to determine which to serve aboard Singapore flights. The selection is sourced from France, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and America. For their selection of champagnes, though, they tend to stick to the iconic: Dom Pérignon 2006 and Krug Grande Cuvée are served in first class, and Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve is served in business class.
British Airways
BA has recently invested 4.5 billion in its customer service sector, and a portion of this has gone to improving the food and drink onboard. For first class passengers, this means a choice between Gusbourne English Sparkling Wine and Lanson Rosé Champagne, and in business class, travelers can choose between Canard-Duchêne Cuvee Léonie Brut Champagne and Champagne Besserat de Bellefon inflight. Although unlike Emirates, BA doesn’t have a champagne tasting bar, the First Class BA lounge at Heathrow does carry a larger selection of bubbly should passengers like to have a glass before take off.
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