Some will argue this isn’t a big deal, while others will probably argue it’s just another sign of cost cutting at American Airlines. Regardless, I think it’s an interesting topic to discuss.
In this post:
American’s new business class sparkling wine
Reader Jerry passes on that American has recently changed its wine list, and no longer serves champagne in Flagship Business (the carrier’s long haul business class product). Rather the company’s new standard option is Ferrari Brut TrentoDOC, an Italian sparkling wine.
For what it’s worth, American tends to rotate its wine list over time. It would appear that the current sparkling wine has been the standard offering in business class since July 2023, so it remains to be seen for how long the current list sticks around. Perhaps we’ll see an adjustment at the end of the quarter, though it’s anyone’s guess if we see American transition back to champagne, a different sparkling wine, or what.
For what it’s worth, through June 2023, American was serving Champagne Ernest Rapeneau Brut NV in business class.
You can find American’s full current wine list here. Among the four red and white wine options, three retail for under $15 per bottle, while one retails for just under $20 per bottle.
Is sparkling wine vs. champagne a big deal?
Discussions about champagne and wine on airplanes tend to be pretty polarizing. People are generally in one of three camps, in terms of what they’d say to others on this topic:
- “You couldn’t taste the difference between these options in a blind taste test anyway”
- “This isn’t the end of the world either way, but a good drink selection is part of an elevated premium experience”
- “There’s a huge difference between these options, and one is delicious, while the other is cat piss”
Where do I stand?
- I mean, Ferrari Brut is not exactly the world’s greatest sparkling wine, but I also haven’t had the champagne that was served before that, so I’m not sure if that’s a material difference in quality
- I think it’s cute when airlines serve sparkling wine if they have a valid reason to do so (aside from cost cutting); for example, we’ve seen British Airways and Virgin Atlantic serving English sparkling wine, as a way to showcase local products
- While I think that most passengers wouldn’t notice the difference between various wine options, I do think a not-insignificant number of people pay close attention to this, and in part judge a premium experience by how much the airline invests in its drink experience
- Whether right or wrong, branding does matter; if people are told that a wine is expensive or premium or rare, they’re more likely to think it’s better than a similar wine where they don’t believe that
- I do also agree that an investment in good drinks is generally pretty indicative of how much the airline otherwise invests in its premium experience
- My bigger concern is that American has an “award-winning” master sommelier; if you’re a sommelier and your recommendation is to order Ferrari Brut, then, well, maybe you’re in the wrong line if work… 😉
Bottom line
At the moment, American Airlines is serving an Italian sparkling wine in business class, rather than champagne. American tends to rotate its wine selection over time, so I wouldn’t assume that this change is permanent. However, for the time being, you can expect to be served Ferrari Brut TrentoDOC in business class.
What do you make of American’s sparkling wine changes?
American Airlines has definitely reversed course, I recently flew LHR-JFK in First and the purser, without prompting, stated that champagne is back at American Airlines. I was served a 2013 Champagne Vollereaux Cuvee Marguerite.
Considering the premium price of a business class seat to Europe which can be anything from $6,000 to $12,000 I do think the removal of Champagne from the menu is a really big deal.
For those of us who don’t have the travel luxury of experiencing business class with much frequency it’s becoming apparent that, in this case American is really taking the taking wow factor out of something that should be a jewel...
Considering the premium price of a business class seat to Europe which can be anything from $6,000 to $12,000 I do think the removal of Champagne from the menu is a really big deal.
For those of us who don’t have the travel luxury of experiencing business class with much frequency it’s becoming apparent that, in this case American is really taking the taking wow factor out of something that should be a jewel in AA’s traveling crown, so to speak. Everything is getting more expensive, and we continue to pay it but their services are in constant decline. Do we Watch as the Flagship restaurants loose the magic that they once had. Come on AA, make a statement and bring back quality and luxury, after all it’s us, your customers, who are paying for it.
Not sure why this is even a big deal, definitely not worth a negative spin. The new offering, Ferrari Brut Trento Doc, is comparable in retail price to the previous champagne that was offered (Ernest Rapeneau Brut). Without having tried the new Ferrari Brut yet, in this price range it honestly wouldn't surprise me if it were of better quality than the champagne. However, I do agree with the other comments that an opportunity was...
Not sure why this is even a big deal, definitely not worth a negative spin. The new offering, Ferrari Brut Trento Doc, is comparable in retail price to the previous champagne that was offered (Ernest Rapeneau Brut). Without having tried the new Ferrari Brut yet, in this price range it honestly wouldn't surprise me if it were of better quality than the champagne. However, I do agree with the other comments that an opportunity was missed by not offering an AMERICAN sparkling wine considering it is American Airlines.
Not serving an excellent American sparkling wine seems like the real faux pas here. But In principle, changing out a perfectly boring bulk champagne for a very nice Prosecco DOCG is an upgrade.
Champagne is a sparkling wine. Only Sparkling wine made in Champagne, France can be called Champagne. So what's the big deal. Why are you whining.
I wished they would serve a German wine flying to and from Germany. I also wish their food options were more along what that country served. The chef is not the greatest. Food really dry. Butter rock hard and the oil for the salads frozen. The Champagne is not the best tried it once it was nasty. Had a grind of mine that normally flies Delta said AAs champagne was disgusting. She and her husband fly to and from FRA.
Together with that downgrade they have significantly cheapened the rest of the wine list. It is now on par with BA from a quality perspective. Champagne aside.
Spend thousands on business to get 10 bucks per bottle retail wine. Fab.
American Airlines should be serving American sparkling wine!!
We all love champagne, and if you understand wine tradition Ferrari is also a fine método Classico from TRENTO …for many generations …
BUT
there is great quality sparkling with history in Napa , Sonoma, New Mexico and Washington of bubbly wines…..the wineries list is long ….
When it comes to cheap sparkling wine, you're better off drinking something Italian or Spanish over Champagne anyway.
Champagne and Prosecco are quite different, made from different grape varieties in different regions using different processes. Although both are sparkling wines, they are not comparable but differently good, if they are good (there's much indifferent Prosecco made and even some indifferent Champagne, a shame in the latter case given the complex and labour-intensive process). Much excellent champagne can be bought for $40-50 USD at retail in the US. To remove Champagne from long-haul business...
Champagne and Prosecco are quite different, made from different grape varieties in different regions using different processes. Although both are sparkling wines, they are not comparable but differently good, if they are good (there's much indifferent Prosecco made and even some indifferent Champagne, a shame in the latter case given the complex and labour-intensive process). Much excellent champagne can be bought for $40-50 USD at retail in the US. To remove Champagne from long-haul business class, where tickets cost thousands, seems penny-pinching embarrassing to the airline.
Didn't notice that the new sparkling wine on offer was Ferrari Trento DOC, not a Prosecco and made of different grape varieties, although near the Prosecco production region. But it isn't Champagne, and replacing Champagne with it is not good optics for the airline.
On April 2023 I was served Champagne Ernest Rapeneau Brut NV
I have been an American airlines frequent flyer for over 35 years. This doesn't surprise me. Their support, services and benefits have gotten slimmer and slimmer for years. You must remember that it's all about the money. C-level people get paid fourtunes while the American people have to bail out the airlines and then they keep reducing and eliminating benefits like a bottle of champagne, come on, get real. How big of a deal could...
I have been an American airlines frequent flyer for over 35 years. This doesn't surprise me. Their support, services and benefits have gotten slimmer and slimmer for years. You must remember that it's all about the money. C-level people get paid fourtunes while the American people have to bail out the airlines and then they keep reducing and eliminating benefits like a bottle of champagne, come on, get real. How big of a deal could that be to the bottom line. Let the C-level people pay for it. Hold back on a few raises. They won't miss it.
“Champagne” is a symbol that American Americans Airlines values your business. Cutting it says American Airlines cares less than it did. It should be a choice. I might prefer the Italian or I might feel the need to be wanted and take the “Champagne.”
Every thing at American is already in such a poor level.
The food is so bad anyway and getting worse…..but still better then the dog food they serve at United
The quality of a wine list is a strong indicator of the quality of the invisible components of the experience.
Qatar a few years ago was offering an Australian Shiraz called "Jump the Stump" in their 5 Star Business Class menu. The street value was about $7. Everything else was on par price wise. At least now they offer a better brut champagne and decent rose champagne (which I prefer). The rest of the list...
The quality of a wine list is a strong indicator of the quality of the invisible components of the experience.
Qatar a few years ago was offering an Australian Shiraz called "Jump the Stump" in their 5 Star Business Class menu. The street value was about $7. Everything else was on par price wise. At least now they offer a better brut champagne and decent rose champagne (which I prefer). The rest of the list is meh.
So I think it is a bit unfair to highlight American's list when your "class leader" is really no better.
Who cares!
Airline hasn't been the same since Bob Crandall eliminated the olive on the salads years ago. Let's not forget how he laid off the security guard at the AS San Juan freight facility and replaced it with a barking dog.
Robert Crandall only cared about himself! Not the employees of American!
Anyone that says a tete de cuvée or grower champagne tastes the same as Prosecco or cava has zero palate. It is like trying to say choice and prime beef taste the same.
Your content is garbage. What a misleading headline since all AA is doing is switching to Prosecco.
Champagne is over rated. In this day and age, I see less and less of it.
AA Champagne was never a hit, always tasted cheap and was only good for mimosas. This "new" USAIR/ISAirlines/American in name only line is always looking to cut cost and be cheap. Comparing this to Emirates is just plain stupid...like comparing top of the line to Dollar store. Get a good whiskey on board and decent Napa wines and then they might make a dent in the market.
Flown Emirates twice, it's nothing to bragg about.
I am well aware of the difference between champagne and all the others being sparkling wine. That being said, my tastes in wine have changed as I've grown older (a Senior), and I would take a nice, chilled prosecco any day over champagne! All in all, this is totally a "first world problem," pertaining to wealthy, mostly "entitled" travelers.
you are an ignorant fool with a bad palate
All champagne tastes like piss. What airlines need is someone who knows anything about whiskey! Jack Daniels and Johnnie Walker are not worth drinking. At least Delta first class is trying with (somewhat) with Woodford and Whistlepig.
MJS: I recommend you try JW Blue...
Ugh! CHAMPAGNE for USD 3000 - USD 10000 we will Champagne!!
United actually serves Heidsieck Monopole NV Blue Top Brut Champagne in Polaris. The other is for pre-departure.
this is a cheap champagne that isnt great for champagne but a lot better than trentodoc
It is obvious - AA is cutting the costs. In general quality of champagne in business class ( most airlines ) is very poor and I don't even bother to drink it. Personally I would prefer better wine selection than cheap champagne/sparkling wine.
Given the rowdy behavior in all cabin classes, I'd love to see a completely dry airline. Alcohol on a flight is a want, not a need.
There are lots to try. Saudia, Egypt Air, PIA, Brunei among others will cater to your request. The first three will certainly give you an experience not to forget.
I dread traveling on US-based carriers. Service and comfort have become afterthoughts with airline management.
The passengers have as much to do with the lack of comfort as the airlines...its not comfortable to be seated next to slobs in yoga shorts and flip flops cross legged with their gross toes in your space, alcoholics downing drink after drink, self absorbed idiots blaring tik tok videos on their phones, Women tossing their hair over the back of seats, oblivious parents who refuse to discipline their brats..:the list goes on and on....
The passengers have as much to do with the lack of comfort as the airlines...its not comfortable to be seated next to slobs in yoga shorts and flip flops cross legged with their gross toes in your space, alcoholics downing drink after drink, self absorbed idiots blaring tik tok videos on their phones, Women tossing their hair over the back of seats, oblivious parents who refuse to discipline their brats..:the list goes on and on. Every cabin should have an official disciplinarian armed with an electronic cattle prod....
Well said!
Ridiculous! There is a difference. There's even a difference with quality of champagne. I would be livid. Done the flagship once from Heathrow to LA a while ago. Glad you shares, won't be flying AA anyhow.
With all due respect we should be more concerned about children disrupting the passenger experience in business (any cabin class, actually) by running up and down the aisles unchecked. I got hot coffee spilled onto me as I was waiting for the toilet, by an attendant who was bumped by a brat runnig through the galley. The galley has hot liquids and heavy items a plenty. The aisles and galley are not a play space...
With all due respect we should be more concerned about children disrupting the passenger experience in business (any cabin class, actually) by running up and down the aisles unchecked. I got hot coffee spilled onto me as I was waiting for the toilet, by an attendant who was bumped by a brat runnig through the galley. The galley has hot liquids and heavy items a plenty. The aisles and galley are not a play space for children. The parents need to do a better job and the cabin crew needds to be empowered to discipline children when the parents refuse to do so.
Ernest Rapeneau Brut NV is sold at Trader Joe’s for about $15.
you are incorrect. a half bottle is about $20 bucks a full size bottle is about 30. And that is way better than ferrari…
I think this shows that you do not know the difference. Champaign is called Champaign because it comes from a certain part of France and a certain type of grape. All others are sparkling wine. The title of this article is also misleading because AA will have a substitute and not cancel it entirely. I do agree that it shows cost cutting and their prices do not reflect that though. Given your other articles they...
I think this shows that you do not know the difference. Champaign is called Champaign because it comes from a certain part of France and a certain type of grape. All others are sparkling wine. The title of this article is also misleading because AA will have a substitute and not cancel it entirely. I do agree that it shows cost cutting and their prices do not reflect that though. Given your other articles they should consider where they should still have Champaign - perhaps the DOH flight for example...
First, unless they've been serving Champagne from the Champagne region of France, then it's all been Sparkling White Wine. Second, if they rotate, do they ever rotate sparkling wines from USA vineyards? I'm not just talking about California. There are some splendid vineyards in New York, Wisconsin, and while not in the USA, Quebec.
AA has been on a fast track down hill. Their mergers have just made them worse. You can"t swap out...
First, unless they've been serving Champagne from the Champagne region of France, then it's all been Sparkling White Wine. Second, if they rotate, do they ever rotate sparkling wines from USA vineyards? I'm not just talking about California. There are some splendid vineyards in New York, Wisconsin, and while not in the USA, Quebec.
AA has been on a fast track down hill. Their mergers have just made them worse. You can"t swap out their miles outside of their alliance. It"s hard to even use or sell their miles.
I'd rather walk to my next destination.
learn how to spell champagne. you are ignorant.
Well Ferrari Brut is quite good TBH
when spending 15 dollars at bevmo….not 5k on a biz class flight to europe….
Wine snob here. Honestly I like Ferrari Brut. It’s not the best think I’ve ever had but I’ll happily drink it
you truly would be content to drink that over a champagne in a long haul business class product?
Champagne is perceived as a premium offering and it is precisely that perception which AA is ignoring. It may well be that most passengers will not notice or care about the Italian switch but it is simply the perception of a downgrade which is an appalling miscalculation; particularly whilst so many other international airlines understand that to create a sense of occasion, champagne remains the bubble of choice.
The new wines look like they are all coming from Taub Family Selections under the ownership of Marc Taub - Wine Enthusiast person of the year. Seems like a different tactic. I noticed the economy wines were also from Taub Family Selections brands.
if they all are, then choose boizel champagne for fizz sakes….dont fizzing choose a sparkling for international business class! OFFENSIVE!
Most of the previous American Airline wines were private labeled so customers didn’t know what kind of low quality run-off wines they were drinking. The change to brand name wines show an obvious change to higher quality. Many of the new wines on the menu are highly rated by Wine Spectator, even if they aren’t outrageously priced. I guess from a customer standpoint, if you don’t know anything about wine, it’s better to assume that...
Most of the previous American Airline wines were private labeled so customers didn’t know what kind of low quality run-off wines they were drinking. The change to brand name wines show an obvious change to higher quality. Many of the new wines on the menu are highly rated by Wine Spectator, even if they aren’t outrageously priced. I guess from a customer standpoint, if you don’t know anything about wine, it’s better to assume that private label is better than a brand you can buy from the store.
what are you smoking? Every time i have flown aa biz the last 5 years, none of it is a private label champagne. all of it labels and names ive heard of, collet, cattier, duval-leroy, etc.
Champagne and sparkling wine are VERY different in price. “Sommelier” was given his price limits….
Labels matter only to the uneducated customer. Most American flyers are probably uneducated on quality traditional method sparkling wines so a big name label would be safe. It would be nice for American to showcase an American producer, however. Gruet is every bit as good as many lower priced big name champagnes but at a better price and it has an interesting story—including coming from New Mexico.
You Matt, are smoking crack; It must be that uneducated new mexican kind as well. To say Gruet, which is disgusting swill to anyone who has taste buds, can be compared to a true champagne is pure utter ignorance.
Get it together.
Your taste seems to be as foul as your commentary. I'll trust my own experience over the musings of a Philistine.
ALDI, LIDL etc have excellent French champagne for under $25 per bottle. As it was said - they do not care about their high paying customers!
LCC
I'd probably be OK if this were only on the Italy flights, but all of them just smacks of "cheap".
I flew business class MIA to MEX last month. They had exactly 3 splits of sparkling wine. My wife and I asked for a split each and were served cheap prosecco and the flight attendant said that those were the last ones available.
To me is a big deal. Flying Air France, I get champagne even in Economy.
Just to add my 2 cents, knowing it is difficult to argue taste :D
I actually did find the Ferrari ok. I know worse champaign.
And let's not forget, the guy who invented Champagne was not allowed to call it that, when he went back to Germany.
A German invented Champagne? In what Netflix documentary did that occur? Dom P was a French monk; he's credited with "inventing" Champagne. But it was Veuve, specifically Madame Clicquot, who figured out rotating each bottle exactly a quarter turn, every day in the cellar, would make the sediment disappear, hence La Grande Dame.
you are both ignorant fools…. dom perignon isnt credited with inventing champagne unless you ask LVMH. He didnt. no records of such. There is more records of slaves owning slaves than dom perignon inventing champagne. And yes, Barbe Clicquot created the riddling process. what the fizz is your point?
And DEFINITELY under NO UNCERTAIN TERMS did a german in Germany invent champagne. absolutely ridiculous.
Read a book.
Gosh CCO, someone rolled out of bed on the wrong side... You are correct DP didn't invent Champagne--that might be why I used quotation marks. Familiar with that usage? He's falsely credited with devising a tied down cork. He didn't. But he still made a most significant contribution to its evolution which was the art of blending wines from different parts of the district to achieve best possible flavor.
Oh, since it seems comments here...
Gosh CCO, someone rolled out of bed on the wrong side... You are correct DP didn't invent Champagne--that might be why I used quotation marks. Familiar with that usage? He's falsely credited with devising a tied down cork. He didn't. But he still made a most significant contribution to its evolution which was the art of blending wines from different parts of the district to achieve best possible flavor.
Oh, since it seems comments here require a citation now:
Johnson, Hugh. The World Atlas of Wine. Simon & Schuster, NYC, 1994.
As a dedicated champaigne drinker, yet another reason to leave the Grandma airline! Have switched to AF for european flights and RAM for my moroccan flights
Not saying Dom doesn't taste good, but having had many expensive chanpagnes, to me personally Champagne is still just 90% marketing/mental effects, than it really being better (than a decent cava/prsecco) in terms of taste.
"I think it’s cute when airlines serve sparkling wine ..."; legitimate question, what's "cute" about it? A puppy, a baby, or the like would be cute, not sparkling wine.
It's just low class service that continues to be provided by US carriers. Never mind passengers maybe not knowing the difference between sparkling wine and champagne, the US crews have no clue about wines. And they need to stop trying to offer champagne when they know its not, but essentially sparkling fizzy junk..
It's not the crews job to know what wines are about. It's their job to get your behind off that metal if needed in 90 seconds@
Ferrari at least is not a Prosecco & is — along with some Sussex sparkling wines — considered to be in a category nearly on par with Champagne. This according to wine critics. Serving a cheap Spumante, Sekt or Cava, or — horror of horrors - a Prosecco would be a different thing. British Nyetimber, Ferrari and some Italian Franciacorta are also price-wise at — or almost — at the level of Champagne, perhaps higher...
Ferrari at least is not a Prosecco & is — along with some Sussex sparkling wines — considered to be in a category nearly on par with Champagne. This according to wine critics. Serving a cheap Spumante, Sekt or Cava, or — horror of horrors - a Prosecco would be a different thing. British Nyetimber, Ferrari and some Italian Franciacorta are also price-wise at — or almost — at the level of Champagne, perhaps higher than some real shampoo served by airlines such as Ethiopian (Lallier), Air India (H.Blin at a time) or even Lufthansa’s temporary disappointing foray into a non-descript Heidsieck-Monopole Blue Top.
You are absolutely right
you are absolutely an idiot.
you are 100% completely without question a fool.
Ignorance.
You probably love guzzling veuve clicquot yellow label, you hippo.
Champagne retails for $11 per bottle in French supermarkets (starting price). American probably gets even cheaper wholesale. So it is probably a little cheapo to replace it with sparkling wine, especially when the fares have climbed to current levels. And yes, there is a world of difference in taste between the two.
United serves Nicolas Feuillatte champagne on Polaris, which is similarly priced as Ferrari Brut Trento DOC.
It's definitely a downgrade from Duval-Leroy Brut Reserve, but they could have switched to a cheaper Champagne like United.
I don't think Ferrari is any worse than Nicolas Feuillatte. Disappointing, but not a huge deal for me.
It would have been better if AA chose a Californian sparkling wine though. They are American, and it makes...
United serves Nicolas Feuillatte champagne on Polaris, which is similarly priced as Ferrari Brut Trento DOC.
It's definitely a downgrade from Duval-Leroy Brut Reserve, but they could have switched to a cheaper Champagne like United.
I don't think Ferrari is any worse than Nicolas Feuillatte. Disappointing, but not a huge deal for me.
It would have been better if AA chose a Californian sparkling wine though. They are American, and it makes more sense to serve American sparkling wine rather than Italian.
if you do not think feuillatte is worlds superior to ferrari, you dont drink champagne and sparkling wine often. your palate is flawed.
My general view is either have champagne or something from your own country. It seems silly to me that an airline called American would choose Italian sparkling wine. Surely they could find some California vineyard that would give a good price for the publicity.
Agreed. There are some affordable, yet decent sparkling wines from California.
You know, Schramsberg is not materially different in price from Ferrari, and is superior to many expensive champagne (including the always overrated Dom and Krug). Domaine Carneros and Mumm Napa are also excellent, and are even a bit cheaper. Why not buy their wine, instead of this garbage?
Feature great California wine, while also saving money.
you dont know champagne if you think that schramsberg is better than dom or krug. Mumm napa is swill and carneros is good for cali sparkling but thats it.
I know wine is subjective but you think Schramsberg is superior to Krug?
he is a fool.
Totally agree with the choice of Mumm's Napa. As good as the original and half the price here in Canada.
Ferrari Trento is the "official toast" of Formula 1. They paid more than the competition to replace the previous product (an actual champagne).
I wonder if they just made a generous offer to AA that AA couldn't pass up. They're clearly trying to expand a lot.
That said, AA and most non-ME, non-EA airlines are not very premium, so this sparkling wine is in line with the quality of the other alcohol choices they offer. Not surprising and not a big deal.
Also, AA doesnt have a sommelier. They just buy whatever best prices they can get on anything.
Give it another year and AA will start serving Boones "due to customer feedback"
This is extremely upsetting. If you just line bubbles in your mouth then that’s fine but at the end of the day, champagne has a lot more requirements than other sparkling and the bedrock of chalk will always make even the cheaper champagne taste infinitely better than other sparkling. Ferrari is a great sparkling, for the price, but for fizz sakes. If I’m flying an 8 hour flight I should have real champagne. How can...
This is extremely upsetting. If you just line bubbles in your mouth then that’s fine but at the end of the day, champagne has a lot more requirements than other sparkling and the bedrock of chalk will always make even the cheaper champagne taste infinitely better than other sparkling. Ferrari is a great sparkling, for the price, but for fizz sakes. If I’m flying an 8 hour flight I should have real champagne. How can you sell flagship for as much as you do without real champagne?! Definitely will be writing in. I suggest you all do as well. Nothing changes unless you write in.
TBH both the wine list and the menu in AA J are shocking. I did a Transcon last month and was astounded by what passed as a wine list. Most bottles retailing around £10 or less (under $13) and they were serving the same pink prosecco which you can pick up at any cheap convenience store here in the UK and don't get me started on the plastic glasses for pre departure drinks to lower...
TBH both the wine list and the menu in AA J are shocking. I did a Transcon last month and was astounded by what passed as a wine list. Most bottles retailing around £10 or less (under $13) and they were serving the same pink prosecco which you can pick up at any cheap convenience store here in the UK and don't get me started on the plastic glasses for pre departure drinks to lower the tone even further... It is the same under investment in product that explains why people weren't buying revenue F on AA to sustain it. I have the good fortune to be a BA GGL which means I can bookend my JFK-LAX runs in the Chelsea Lounge and Qantas First Lounge to avoid F&B onboard and then stick to crossing the pond in the Club Suite on BA metal.
I think any sommerlier's response would depend on the budget. If you tell them you want sparkling wine but won't pay more than 10 bucks a bottle, the Ferrari might actually be the best option! :)
Agree. To tell Bobby Stucky, a legend in the wine and restaurant business, to find another line of work, is a cheap shot. I’m a wine broker, my clients are investors, restaurants and hotels and all have a budget. You have constraints, money being the biggest.
I thought they replaced Bobby Stucky with Julia Coney last year. Still, the client sets the parameters as far as cost and scale and the somm finds the best options that fit. If AA needs sparkling wine they can source in all of their hubs in what I would guess is probably pallet buys, there are going to be a few hundred options. I would bet the price limit is probably $20 per bottle. That's going to be prosecco or midrange California.
I'm all about the lounge experience and champagne when traveling in premium cabins. I never order wine when flying in biz, almost all airlines serve cheap red/white wines in biz cabin. I think the change here with AA is really insignificant, i.e. cheap champagne vs. cheap sparkling wine. EVA serves the best champa,gne in biz class bar none.
I stopped flying QANTAS after they served a nasty French sparkling wine instead of the champagne listed in the wine list flying BKK to SYD in business. It's Cathay for me now.
American was a proud airline. Great service, known for the best maintenance. Said to see they have dropped off, from their formal level
...'cept for that time when their unauthorized maintenance procedures resulted in the highest fatality single-aircraft disaster in US history.
But sure, best maintenance.
I wonder if they're going to cut the Piper-Heidsieck in Flagship Lounges? Seems like the obvious next step, but it's possible there's a marketing relationship involved such that AA wouldn't have the same incentives to cut that offering.
Ferrari arguably better duval leroy, cazeneuve and some of the other tragic champagnes served by us carriers.Don’t see where is the problem
Try it blindly, you’ll love it
you are smoking some intense crack if you for a second think ferrari is better than duval. the quality of Duval is exceptional compared. you're ignorance precedes you, you fool.
Picking up on your point about how Virgin and BA served English sparkling wine to showcase their country's products, it is interesting that if American Airlines is choosing to have a product other than champagne that they didn't choose a California sparkling wine.
I have read that the United States is the 4th biggest wine producer in the world. Why not showcase a Napa or Sonoma county product?
I hate champagne.
If American Airlines is simply rotating their wine menu than this may change too. If it tastes good, enjoy. Price is a silly way to judge a wine. Also, why judge all other Airlines by what the State sponsored one's can do? It is two different leagues.
UNITED rising with its upgraded wines this year
This nickel and diming won't go unnoticed, what a small ball move by AA
You do realize that American generated larger profits than United in the most recent quarter? In fact, both took second and third fiddle to Delta which not only generated the most profits but recorded the most passenger revenue of any airline in the world (even before Delta's regular industry leading non-transportation revenues).
That means that United actually came in third in what matters for real for-profit companies.
And Delta actually grew its international...
You do realize that American generated larger profits than United in the most recent quarter? In fact, both took second and third fiddle to Delta which not only generated the most profits but recorded the most passenger revenue of any airline in the world (even before Delta's regular industry leading non-transportation revenues).
That means that United actually came in third in what matters for real for-profit companies.
And Delta actually grew its international network at a faster rate than United and generated better revenue metrics in every global region plus domestic than United
They should serve French Champagne, because that is what Champagne is, or if not, switch to an American sparkling on the basis that it is American and it is American Airlines. Maybe it is a reasonable wine, but part of the point of it is prestige and something special, to most consumers that is French Champagne, not Italian knockoff no matter how good.
In Australia the Ferrari seems to sell at a similar price to...
They should serve French Champagne, because that is what Champagne is, or if not, switch to an American sparkling on the basis that it is American and it is American Airlines. Maybe it is a reasonable wine, but part of the point of it is prestige and something special, to most consumers that is French Champagne, not Italian knockoff no matter how good.
In Australia the Ferrari seems to sell at a similar price to a bottle of NV Piper Heidsieck, which is on the cheaper end of the spectrum.
Bobby Stuckey - the Somm in question - has forgotten more about wine than you could ever aspire to know, Ben. He’s an absolute legend in the wine industry.
HAHAHAHA
Is this really all that surprising to anybody? It’s AA we’re talking about; they’re not exactly known for their quality of service nor giving a damn about the customer experience. They are cost-cutters because they have terrible leadership that is never held accountable for their shortcomings. Moreover, they dominate the long-haul market to Latin America, which to many is viewed as the least important premium market and thus, few investments made to provide quality hard/soft...
Is this really all that surprising to anybody? It’s AA we’re talking about; they’re not exactly known for their quality of service nor giving a damn about the customer experience. They are cost-cutters because they have terrible leadership that is never held accountable for their shortcomings. Moreover, they dominate the long-haul market to Latin America, which to many is viewed as the least important premium market and thus, few investments made to provide quality hard/soft products. It’s a shame, really, but we all know exactly how those leadership meetings go at this point. Maximizing profits for shareholders, that’s the goal at all cost.
Champagne is overrated. There are some good Champagnes, but at many price points there are better "generic" sparkling wines. FWIW the Ferrari Trento Brut is rated marginally better than the Ernest Rapeneau Champagne on Vivino.
A. Champagne is not overrated. If anything, it’s underrated by consumers who believe that red wines are by default “more serious.” The quality of wine you can get for under $100 in Champagne is perhaps better than any major wine region in the world.
B. Vivino ratings are a joke. People buy wine they like and not wine they don’t like, so it’s all selection bias. Caymus is rated 4.6 (picked because I knew...
A. Champagne is not overrated. If anything, it’s underrated by consumers who believe that red wines are by default “more serious.” The quality of wine you can get for under $100 in Champagne is perhaps better than any major wine region in the world.
B. Vivino ratings are a joke. People buy wine they like and not wine they don’t like, so it’s all selection bias. Caymus is rated 4.6 (picked because I knew it would be an easy target). Its trash can punch masquerading as wine. People who like Olive Garden eat at OG and would rate it highly — does that make OG good food?
This is pathetic, I am in the second camp of the three groups Ben laid out. At least this isn’t Prosecco but it is pretty telling about AA’s attitude toward premium service.
Also, I find the timing ironic. A few days ago I took Acela First Class from NY to DC, which I hadn’t done in a few months. And I was floored to say they had upgraded from Prosecco to Champagne! They served Pommery, and it was delightful.
Oh wow thanks for flagging. I take Acela First all the time (perks of having so many upgrade certificates) and never realized about the champagne. Will have to give it a try next time.
So I have had this on my recent flights and I think it is on par if not slightly better than what I have had on AA in the past. The key thing about this Italian sparking is that it is not Prosecco. It is made using the same method as Champagne and it has similar characteristics. Oddly enough, my wife was talking about the region in Italy where this style is made so we...
So I have had this on my recent flights and I think it is on par if not slightly better than what I have had on AA in the past. The key thing about this Italian sparking is that it is not Prosecco. It is made using the same method as Champagne and it has similar characteristics. Oddly enough, my wife was talking about the region in Italy where this style is made so we picked up a bottle from TW and really enjoyed it. While there are certainly better Champagnes, this is a much better value.
BTW, one other change they made was to swap the Port with Sherry. I am not a big Sherry drinker and prefer Port over Sherry in general, but the Sherry they had on my flight was enjoyable. It would have been great if they paired it with some Spanish cheese, olives, almonds, etc. but it was just fine after my icecream Sunday.
It’s pretty good. I had this on LH Y a couple years ago.
Don’t put all champagne on a pedal stool just because it comes from France.
Especially when Americans are happy to label some of their sparkling wines “champagne”…
What kind of stool?
One with pedals, apparently…
LOL. Thank you, Pedro and Tom, for brightening my day.
Good old days with Ken Chase....
"My bigger concern is that American has an “award-winning” master sommelier;"
They dropped Bobby Stuckey during the pandemic, and simply outsourced selection to their supplier Intervine.
@Gary
Quotation marks within a quotation along with a semi colon ? Can you do that ?
I hope this is not a trend that we see with Delta and United. I also wonder if they will cut Champagne from their Flagship Lounges.
Ferrari is the same sparkling wine Formula 1 and support race of Formula 1 use during its podium celebration because of that I actually bought some before I felt this is definitely on par or even better than lower end champagne
What I find terrible is the AA codeshares with Qatar airlines which is offering a premium product. Imagine that you bought your ticket on Qatar's website, are at the airport and due to an unforseen circumstances, you have to fly on an AA flight. The experience between the two is sub-par. You would hope airlines that share mileage groups would have somewhat similar products across brands (Delta, KLM, Air France).
I seriously doubt AA...
What I find terrible is the AA codeshares with Qatar airlines which is offering a premium product. Imagine that you bought your ticket on Qatar's website, are at the airport and due to an unforseen circumstances, you have to fly on an AA flight. The experience between the two is sub-par. You would hope airlines that share mileage groups would have somewhat similar products across brands (Delta, KLM, Air France).
I seriously doubt AA is creating that big of a cost savings by switching their sparkling wines.
hahaha DL & AF do not share similar products at least not the European flights. One time I flew outbound DL ATL-AMS, I purposefully booked an open jaw itinerary so I would transit through CDG on the way back on an AF flight. Since I was a grad student at the time the school would only pay for economy. The AF flight was what the DL business class got...
AA also is cutting Doha, a route that seemed to benefit at best just from the World Cup but never would likely compete against QR.
B6 undoubtedly fed some traffic to AA's DOH flight but couldn't move the needle in terms of profitability
When is this happening? The AA Doha flight is loaded through almost all of 2024.
When is this happening? The AA Doha flight is loaded through almost all of 2024.
A lot of reputable people/sites are Tweeting that the Doha flight is being shifted to Philadelphia, but not axed outright.
I'm guessing we'll see something official soon enough, if true.
When are they cutting the DOH route?
October 29.
Ben just did an article, so looks like it's credible after all.
https://onemileatatime.com/news/american-airlines-philadelphia-doha-flight/
Wrong - moving it to PHL.
Get your facts straight, American is switch service from JFK to PHL. PHL is easier to connect passengers, as JFK is not a hub! If you know so much about the airline industry then support your statement with facts!
For the most part, AA's wine list is mediocre. In the lounge (JFK/LAX) they offer excellent high quality champagne and on board it's barely drinkable. Most likely it was a cost cutting decision to go with a sparkling wine instead of champagne. We all know, AA is cost cutting driven full service carrier.
I would almost be willing to bet that AA's Sommelier did not recommend sparkling wine but was more likely over ruled by the bean counters the final decision makers who decided to go with the cheapest wines they could find. Any one looking for a premium experience should not be traveling on AA
Flew American business class last weekend and did not notice…..since they forgot to load menus and I’m not a wine girlie.
I *kind of* understood their decision to do this on SH flights since the per-seat revenue is lower however on long haul (Flagship) business class, I can't imagine the average customer gets through more than a bottle (and I would imagine significantly less when you consider the short East Coast transatlantic red-eye flights), so for the difference in cost of what can't be more than 15-20USD per bottle on tickets which must average in the...
I *kind of* understood their decision to do this on SH flights since the per-seat revenue is lower however on long haul (Flagship) business class, I can't imagine the average customer gets through more than a bottle (and I would imagine significantly less when you consider the short East Coast transatlantic red-eye flights), so for the difference in cost of what can't be more than 15-20USD per bottle on tickets which must average in the 2-5,000 USD range, it seems to me to be a poor trade off of cost saving vs reputation, and this article is proof in point of that.
CB
AA: it’s good enough to be the sparking wine to drink in Flagship Business
F1: it’s good enough to be the sparkling wine they spray on each other on the podium
Wonder if the “sommelier” thought it has a connection to Ferrari cars/racing (it doesn’t) and that pax would think higher of it?
What makes no sense is they have much better champagne in the Flagship lounges. Unless that's going to change too.
This is what I don’t get. Was in the DFW FL Tuesday, and they had bottomless self serve Piper Heidsieck, a very acceptable champagne. And folks were guzzling it down, many of whom were plats, plat pros, and exec plats in Y and PE I’m assuming. If AA wants to control the drinks budget, wouldn’t it be prudent to cut it on the ground (where they have less control over how much is served), rather than in the air?
was there tuesday as well….i only go there for the champagne then go to captital 1 for the food.
Not defending AA, but anyone choosing AA business for a 'premier' experience should really try a different airline lol.
How can you pay for a premium experience and not get premium treatment? Hopefully, this is temporary. Maybe they’re switching the champagne to the lounges for their “elevated offerings” there. Come on, AA!
What makes you say that Ferrari Brut is not a good sparkling wine? I’d rather drunk some Trento Doc than a subpar champagne.
Spot on!
you are ignorant
Lol :D