Many of us enjoy a drink onboard a flight. As long as it's not the worst quality (some airlines will try this, of course), we are usually happy. When traveling in top business and first class cabins, though, things can be different. Many airlines have selected premium, expensive drinks as part of their offering. Products can often change, but there are some examples that stand out.

This article takes a look at a few of the best champagnes on offer in first class. We have included retail prices for some of the champagnes. Of course, airlines would likely get discounts will bulk orders, so we don’t know what these drinks actually cost the carriers!

Differentiation through better cabins

With plenty of competition on most routes, airlines are constantly trying to find ways to differentiate themselves and stand out. Whilst ticket price leads the way in economy cabins, in business and first class, the product offering is vital.

This, of course, includes the hard product. Airlines will often update this to offer a better experience and keep up with the competition. As just one good example, we have finally seen British Airways update its dated Club World seating with the excellent new Club Suite.

But the soft product matters too. This can be difficult (and expensive) as different customers appreciate different things. Some will enjoy premium amenities, top-quality food, or a wide range of dining choices. And some will enjoy top-shelf beverages – including champagne.

Champagne and wine choice is a big deal for airlines. Many spend significant amounts on selecting and supplying the best, often in collaboration with big names. Singapore Airlines apparently even built a pressurized tasting room to replicate how drinks would taste at altitude.

Japan Airlines – Champagne Salon

Japan Airlines is regularly cited as having some of the best champagne in the air. For many years, it has served top-rated Champagne Salon in its first class cabins. As of September 2022, it is serving Salon 2007. This retails in the UK for around a cool £725 ($775).

Salon is an exclusive small champagne producer. According to the wine merchant Berry Bros and Rudd, Salon produces small numbers of bottles only around every three years, from 40 years old vines.

Salon is only served on routes with first class (of course) and only on flights departing from Japan. Inbound flights to Japan offer Louis Roederer Cristal 2014 or Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Grands Crus Blanc de Blancs 2007. The latter of these retails in the UK for a more realistic £245 ($271).

Cathay Pacific - Piper-Heidsieck 2002

Cathay Pacific is a great airline, with excellent business and first class service and drinks to match. It serves Champagne Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002 in its first class cabins. This is from a much larger champagne house than Japan Airlines’ Salon Champagne but is a small production, well-aged product.

It may not be as expensive as some of the other top choices – retailing in the UK at around £195 ($216) a bottle – but it is popular. The airline won gold for first class sparkling in the 2020 Business Traveler Cellar in the Sky awards.

Qatar Airways – Krug 2004

Several of the Middle Eastern airlines serve top-quality alcohol. This may go somewhat against the alcohol policies and tolerance of the countries, but it shows well their desire to attract premium passengers.

Qatar Airways currently serves Krug 2004 champagne in first class. How much longer it will have first class cabins is unclear. The A380s are flying again (with first class) but are not popular. It is likely there will be some sort of first class on the upcoming Boeing 777X aircraft, but with the excellent QSuite business product, it has less of a place.

This champagne is a vintage offering, aged for 12 years, from the large and well-known Krug Champagne house. Qatar Airways took silver for this in the 2020 Business Traveler Cellar in the Sky awards (for first class sparkling wine/champagne). It is a pricey bottle too – in the UK, it retails for around £340 ($376).

Etihad Airways –Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Blanc des Millénaires 2004

Just slightly behind Qatar Airways comes Etihad Airways. In first class, it serves Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Blanc des Millénaires 2004. This won bronze in the Business Traveler awards. It retails in the UK for a “mere” £185 ($205).

Emirates – Dom Perignon 2012

Emirates' first class champagne is not as awarded or as expensive as the other Middle Eastern airlines. But we include it for completeness and as Emirates places such a focus on its premium cabins and suites.

In first class, it serves Dom Perignon 2012. Pricing in the UK starts at around £175 ($193) a bottle. For anyone wanting to try first class at home, it is an easier wine to find – it is stocked in the UK by Harrods and Majestic Wine (and likely similar elsewhere).

British Airways

It is certainly not at the top for best food and drink overall, but to be fair to British Airways, it has a good first class offering. This comes alongside criticism for its very low-end choices in other cabins (take a look at this report by a former BA wine buyer, explaining how budgets for wine onboard have been significantly reduced post-2001).

British Airways has changed its offerings frequently, but it currently serves Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Brut in first class. This is a more mainstream option than the best airline offerings but still commands a UK retail price of around £180 ($199).

Air France

As the home airline of the Champagne region, you're guaranteed a glass when you step on board a long-haul flight with Air France. Even economy class passengers will be welcomed with bubbly, and you know that Champagne straight from France is going to be good.

In La Premier, Air France serves the Piper-Heidsieck 2006 Rare Millésime​​​​​​​ Champagne, a sun-drenched cuvée composed of 70% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir. It retails in the UK for around £190 ($215).

In business, you'll be treated to the Fleur de Champagne Brut 1er Cru, the signature cuvée of this family-owned and independent wine producer since 1859. Retail in the UK today is around £180 ($205).

Have you ever tried any of these top first class wine offerings? You must let us know in the comments if you have! Feel free as well to discuss any other great business or first class food and drink experiences you have had.