American Airlines is taking the next step in its efforts to become a more premium airline with the introduction of Bollinger Champagne in Business Class.
American Partners With Bollinger on the Ground and in the Air
American Airlines is rolling out Bollinger Champagne, officially known as Champagne Bollinger, onboard its Flagship Business Class flights and in its Flagship Lounges across the country. The carrier has served Piper-Heidsieck champagne prior to this announcement.
According to the airline, Champagne Bollinger will be served exclusively in Flagship First and Flagship Business on all flights to and from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) beginning next month. This will be followed by a broader rollout across international Flagship flights in the months ahead.
Heather Garboden, American’s Chief Customer Officer, said this about the switch:
“At American, our focus is on elevating the experience for our customers and we’re excited to announce this partnership with Champagne Bollinger. A House as storied as Bollinger is the perfect fit for American on the eve of our centennial year.”
Charles-Armand de Belenet, Managing Director of Champagne Bollinger, added:
“We are proud to introduce Champagne Bollinger to American’s discerning travelers. Special Cuvée represents the culmination of generations of craftsmanship and our unwavering dedication to quality. Sharing it in American’s premium lounges and Flagship cabins allows us to extend the Bollinger vision of hospitality and bring our spirit of excellence to an inspiring new setting.”
For those who don’t want to wait, Champagne Bollinger is currently being poured in the Flagship Lounges at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Miami International Airport (MIA) and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
Bollinger will also be available in Flagship Lounges at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in the coming weeks. Admirals Club guests will also have the option to purchase the champagne across the network.
My Thoughts
While I don’t really care what champagne a carrier is pouring (I’m not going to go out of my way to fly on a specific carrier due to the champagne alone), I am excited to see American continue its premium shift.
I was a longtime American flyer pre-pandemic as I was DFW based for the first five years of my career. Over time, the carrier’s move towards more of a low-cost carrier caused me to shift my flying to Delta, United, and even Southwest in recent years.
American still doesn’t have seatback IFE on the vast majority of its narrowbody jets but, on widebody aircraft, the Fort Worth based carrier is clearly investing in the customer experience.
Summary
American Airlines is rolling out Bollinger Champagne in its Flagship Lounges and onboard flights featuring Flagship First and Flagship Business. While I’m not going to fly an airline just for the champagne, this does show American’s commitment to becoming more premium in an effort to catch up with Delta and United.