The Exclusive Champagnes Airlines Are Serving in First and Business Class

What’s more pleasurable and satisfying than sipping a delicious, perfectly chilled glass of high-end Champagne? We would argue that it might just be enjoying that same bubbly on a plane or before you depart as a kick-off to your trip.

Some of the finest and most collectible champagnes worldwide—many of them vintages—can be had in the business and first class cabins of numerous domestic and international airlines. They’re also served in airport lounges worldwide.

Louis Roederer’s Cristal: A Rare Treat

Take Louis Roederer’s highly sought-after Cristal. You’ll find it on a rotating basis onboard Singapore Airlines, which bills itself as the world’s first and only airline to serve that label.

Photo: Courtesy of Singapore Airlines

Cristal’s latest vintage, from 2016, features pinot noir and chardonnay grapes and has a deep, intense taste with notes of citrus and ripe peaches. The finish is silky yet crisp.

Krug Grand Cuvée: A Symphony of Flavors

Singapore also serves Krug Grand Cuvée in its First Class cabins. This non-vintage Champagne features a complex array of flavors, including almonds and toasted brioche.

Photo: Courtesy of Krug

This label returned as a regular option in the airline’s premium cabins in January 2024, marking the first time in several years that this exceptional Champagne has been offered in First Class and Suites. Krug Grand Cuvée was initially introduced in late 2017 to celebrate the launch of the airline’s latest Suites product and continued to be served until late 2019, when the non-vintage Krug Grande Cuvée replaced it.

Dom Pérignon: A Timeless Favorite

Every champagne lover is familiar with Dom Pérignon. Enjoying a glass—perhaps more—has been a highlight for passengers flying Emirates First Class for over 30 years.

Photo: Courtesy of Emirates

The airline serves Dom Pérignon’s Vintage, Rosé, and Plenitude 2. The latter is the least known and the most expensive of the three. The latest release, a soft and subtle wine from 2006, is ideal for aging. We recommend drinking it on its own or pairing it with sushi.

Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck

Then there’s Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck, which are owned by the same family but separately run. Piper is more readily available and approachable—it’s the kind of Champagne you can drink every day and pairs with just about any cuisine, including Thai, Indian, and French. In the airline world, it’s in American Airlines lounges, and in the skies, Singapore serves Piper’s higher-end Vintage Brut 2018 in business class cabins.

Photo: Charles Heidsieck, Singapore Airlines. Courtesy of Enrique Perrella

Charles Heidsieck, in contrast, is an under-the-radar bubbly with a more complex, full-bodied flavor. The expressions are also considered premium, which is why Singapore offers the Blanc de Blancs in first class, and Air France pours its signature expression, the Brut Réserve, for business class passengers. Elegant and full-bodied, we think this is a sparkling wine to pair with any seafood.

The Unsung Gem: Palmer Champagne

Palmer is another unsung but worth-knowing champagne house. It also stands out for its sustainable wine-growing practices and how it cares for its vineyards. 

Photo: Courtesy of Singapore Airlines

The Brut Réserve is reminiscent of apricots and pears and unmistakably fresh. Fliers can look forward to trying this effervescent sparkling in Air France’s business class cabins and its lounges at Charles de Gaulle Airport or if they fly business class with Qatar Airways or Asiana Airlines.

Laurent-Perrier: A Creamy Delight

We also think Laurent-Perrier is a winner in the champagne realm. The prestigious brand’s La Cuvée is a feature in United Polaris lounges and onboard United’s Polaris class.

Photo: Qatar Airways Business Class, Laurent-Perrier Alexandra Rosé 2006 champagne / Photo: Courtesy of Andy Luten

Creamy on the palate, it has notes of honeysuckle and white fruits. This is one to drink with anything, but we recommend it with spicy foods.

The Exclusive Rare Champagne Experience

Our list caps off with Rare Champagne. Queen Marie Antoinette tasted the house’s first cuvée in 1785; it has been the Champagne of choice for the cognoscenti ever since. Rare has only debuted 14 vintages since 1976, and its production is limited, making each bottle a true find. As of this year, Rare Millésime Brut vintage 2013 is served on the Paris to New York route on Air France’s La Première first class.

Photo: Courtesy of RARE

The head of Rare in the U.S., Jonathan Boulangeat, says the wine has a minerality and is “very fresh with flavors of exotic fruits and pineapples.” “You appreciate the taste best as you cross the Atlantic while you’re high in the skies,“ he says. “In my opinion, there is no better way to fly than with a glass of Rare in hand.”