News Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines removing Dom Pérignon from First Class and Suites

One of the world's most recognised Champagne labels will no longer feature on board Singapore Airlines flights from next month, with vintage Dom Pérignon being discontinued in the carrier's top cabins.

Singapore Airlines is making changes to the Champagne offering in its First Class and Suites cabins from next month, which will see its longstanding vintage 2008 and 2009 Dom Pérignon option discontinued, with flights then offering a choice of Krug Grande Cuvée or 2008-vintage Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.

ADVERTISEMENT

While this certainly isn’t the worst news in the world, it does represent the loss of what’s probably the most recognisable brand name from the current Champagne selection in these cabins.

Toasting the first ever Vaccinated Travel Lane flight from Germany to Singapore in September 2021 with a glass of 2008 Dom Pérignon in First Class. (Photo: MainlyMiles)

Dom Pérignon is being withdrawn

From 1st November 2022, SIA will slim down its Champagne offering in the First Class and Suites cabin by removing the option of vintage Dom Pérignon for the first time in many years.

First revealed yesterday by View from The Wing via a forum post, we have since confirmed the new policy directly with the airline.

“With effect from 1 Nov 2022, Dom Pérignon champagne will no longer be available on board Singapore Airlines flights.

“Our customers enjoy a wide range of range of world-class champagnes and fine wines on board our flights, including Krug Grande Cuvée and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne for all Suites and First Class customers.”

SIA spokesperson

In the past, SIA offered Dom Pérignon or Krug in First Class and Suites, but the airline introduced a third Champagne option for its most prestige cabins back in October 2019.

This came in the form of the vintage Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, but in reality only two of the three Champagnes were loaded on each flight, with the selection rotating by season on each route.

  • Dom Pérignon Brut Champagne 2008/9 – 4.6 stars
  • Krug Grande Cuvée Champagne N.V. – 4.6 stars
  • Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2008 – 4.6 stars

As you can see, all three of these options come highly rated on Vivino (out of 5), typically retailing at around the S$300-350 per bottle mark in Singapore.

Purely on the basis of personal preference, we always rated the 2008 or 2009 vintage Dom Pérignon above the 2008 vintage Tattinger Comtes, the latter being a little on the sweet side for our palettes, though there will still be the option of a non-vintage Krug Grande Cuvée (which we personally prefer over both of the others!).

However, our all-out favourite when flying SIA at ‘the pointy end’ in recent years was the vintage Krug 2004, previously served in both First Class and Suites cabins from the introduction of the latest A380 Suites products in October 2017.

Our favourite SIA First Class Champagne over recent years was the 2004 vintage Krug, already dropped from the menu in early 2020. (Photo: MainlyMiles)

Typically retailing at S$500 per bottle, sadly this exceptional Champagne was quietly downgraded to the regular (though still excellent) non-vintage Krug Grande Cuvée in early 2020.

Current First Class and Suites Champagnes

Between now and 31st October 2022, Singapore Airlines continues to offer three different Champagne options in its First Class and Suites cabins, however as we mentioned above only two of those are ever loaded on each flight.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Champagnes tend to rotate by season on the network, and based on the latest inflight menus, which can be viewed online up to eight days prior to departure, here’s what you can expect on board by route for the rest of October 2022.

SIA First Class Champagnes by Route
October 2022

Route
Comtes

Dom
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Krug-Grande-Cuvee.png
Krug
Delhi
SQ406/403
 
Frankfurt
SQ26/25
 
Hong Kong
SQ894/896
 
Jakarta
SQ950/953
SQ964/965
SQ968/951
 
London
SQ306/305
SQ308/319
SQ317/322
 
Los Angeles
SQ12/11
 
Melbourne
SQ237/228
 
Mumbai
SQ423/424
 
New York
SQ26/25
 
Paris
SQ333/334
SQ336/335
 
Shanghai
SQ830/833
 
Sydney
SQ211/212
SQ231/222
 
Tokyo
SQ11/12
   
Zurich
SQ345/346
 

As you can see, Dom Pérignon is currently served on all SIA flights in First Class and Suites, with the exception of Jakarta, so this is quite a major change for regular First Class flyers.

Going forward, we expect Singapore Airlines will offer both Tattinger Comtes and Krug Champagnes on all flights in First Class from 1st November 2022, though we are awaiting official confirmation of that from the airline.

Before COVID-19, the carrier offered only a single Champagne in this cabin on shorter routes like Jakarta, but has not returned to this policy at the time of writing, currently maintaining two options on all routes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Over in The Private Room at Changi T3, meanwhile, Singapore Airlines is currently pouring the Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2008.

Where are SIA’s First Class and Suites flying?

Singapore Airlines’ First Class and Suites products were temporarily suspended during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but happily they both made a return last year:

  • 2013 First Class: From 1st June 2021 to Jakarta, Sydney and Hong Kong
  • 2017 Suites Class: From 18th November 2021 to London
The 2013 First Class product on Singapore Airlines made a comeback in mid-2021. (Photo: MainlyMiles)

Since those initial introductions, additional cities have been added to the roster for these flagship cabins, with the network now comprising:

  • Auckland (from 30th October 2022)
  • Delhi
  • Frankfurt
  • Hong Kong
  • Jakarta
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Melbourne
  • Mumbai
  • New York
  • Paris
  • Shanghai
  • Sydney
  • Tokyo
  • Zurich

In terms of the all important (and quite different) ‘hard product’ on board, don’t forget you can see which of the flights on routes listed above have the latest Suites cabin and which have the older First Class seats at our continually updated reference page.

  First Class Seat Types by Route

Charles Heidsieck is back in Business Class

In case you missed the news, earlier this year Singapore Airlines brought back Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve on the majority of its routes in the Business Class cabin.

Singapore Airlines is once again serving Charles Heidsieck Champagne on most of its routes in Business Class. (Photo: MainlyMiles)

This is a personal favourite of ours, and rates highly among Business Class Champagnes picking up 4.6 stars on Vivino, so we’re thrilled to see it back.

Stocks of the vintage Piper Heidsieck Brut haven’t disappeared just yet though, with this option still making an appearance in the Business Class cabin on selected flights.



 


 

Summary

Singapore Airlines will remove Dom Pérignon Champagne from the First Class and Suites menu from 1st November 2022, affecting almost every route it currently operates with these flagship cabin products.

However, Krug and Taittinger Comtes will continue to provide two contrasting options between lighter and more full-bodied Champagne for these passengers, and we expect both of these to be offered on all routes with these cabins going forward.

It would be fantastic if the airline were to bring back vintage Krug again to sit alongside the Tattinger Comtes, now that vintage Dom will be dropping off the list, though that’s almost certainly wishful thinking on our part!

(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)

ADVERTISEMENT

2 comments

  1. I know first world problem… but really Taittinger Comtes – world class against Dom… doubt it.. and when the 2 or 3 bottles of Krug are used its Tattinger, really, wouldnt even serve Tattinger in Business class..

Leave a Reply