Back in November 2022, Singapore Airlines removed vintage Dom Pérignon Champagne from its menus in First Class and Suites cabins, as Middle East rival Emirates struck up an exclusivity deal for the popular pour, and since then SIA has offered an eclectic rotating selection of three Champagnes in its top cabins.
Emirates’ exclusivity deal for Dom Pérignon appears to have ended – you’ll currently be poured a very nice 2013 vintage on board a Lufthansa flight from Singapore to Frankfurt in First Class for example – but Singapore Airlines has not reintroduced the variety yet.
Instead the carrier has agreed an exclusivity arrangement of its own with champagne house Louis Roederer, starting in December 2024, which will see it pouring Cristal 2015 on selected routes.
Long associated with luxury and exclusivity, it’s a favourite among the elite – often enjoyed in nightclubs and consumed straight from the bottle – something we doubt SIA will be encouraging in its Suites and First Class cabins!
Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne 2015
Cristal is the prestigious Cuvée Prestige from the renowned champagne house Louis Roederer.
First launched in April 2023, the 2015 vintage of Louis Roederer Cristal is highly acclaimed, receiving stellar reviews from top wine critics.
It scored 98 points from both Wine Enthusiast and Wine & Spirits, and 95 points from Decanter, highlighting its excellent quality.
Wine critics have praised its balance, minerality, and aging potential. The profile features notes of ripe yellow fruit and toasted almonds, elegantly complemented by a distinctive chalky texture.
These sentiments are echoed by SIA wine consultant Jeannie Cho Lee.
“Cristal 2015 is an exceptional experience, which is highly sought-after by the most demanding wine connoisseurs worldwide.
Jeannie Cho Lee, SIA Wine Consultant
“Its depth and impressive quality from the meticulous ageing process results in a champagne with intricate and intense flavours of toasted pine nuts, crushed stones, and white flowers, coupled with a crescendo of refined flavours and a lingering, persistent finish.
“The quality of this wine remains prominent even at 36,000 feet, making it the perfect addition for SIA’s Suites and First Class customers.”
Cristal is uniquely bottled in colourless glass with no ‘punt’ at the base of the bottle – challenging the theory among many that the deeper the ‘punt’, the better the quality of the wine (a myth, as it turns out).
Cristal is an “Estate Champagne”, meaning that the grapes come solely from vineyards owned and managed by the champagne house itself, ensuring complete control over cultivation and quality.
The champagne is crafted from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, with Pinot Noir dominating, accounting for 60% of the composition.
Champagne quality is certainly a subjective topic, subject to individual taste and preference, but Cristal 2015 picks up an impressive 4.4 star rating out of 5 on Vivino.
For the Champagne aficionados, full tasting notes can be read here.
You can pick up a bottle in Singapore for around S$460.
Japan Airlines also poured Cristal
Singapore Airlines is not the first airline to have poured Cristal on board its flights, as our readers have kindly reminded us.
Back in 2018, Japan Airlines served 2009 vintage Cristal in First Class on selected flights between Japan and the both the USA and Europe.
The Oneworld carrier now pours Salon 2013 in First Class, which hugely eclipses Cristal on the value front, retailing at around S$2,000 per bottle.
Which routes?
Three Champagnes in total are loaded in the Suites and First Class cabins on Singapore Airlines flights.
Cristal will replace the non-vintage Krug Grande Cuvée on selected routes in these cabins from December 2024 through to at least May 2025.
Here a full list of the eight routes (and specific flight numbers) Cristal will be available on for the first three months of this new partnership, from December 2024 to February 2025.
| Singapore Airlines Cristal Champagne Routes First Class & Suites 1 Dec 2024 – 28 Feb 2025 |
|
| Route | Flights |
| Delhi | SQ406/403 |
| Hong Kong | SQ892/893 |
| London | SQ306/305 SQ308/319 SQ318/321 SQ322/317 |
| Los Angeles | SQ12/11 |
| Paris | SQ336/335 |
| Shanghai | SQ830/833 |
| Sydney | SQ211/212 SQ221/232 SQ231/222 SQ261/262 |
| Tokyo | SQ636/631 SQ12/11 |
The route list then switches to SIA’s other eight cities that also feature a Suites or First Class cabin, between March 2025 and May 2025, as outlined below.
| Singapore Airlines Cristal Champagne Routes First Class & Suites 1 Mar 2025 – 31 May 2025 |
|
| Route | Flights |
| Auckland (till 29 Mar) |
SQ285/286 |
| Beijing | SQ802/807 |
| Frankfurt | SQ26/25 SQ326/325 |
| Jakarta | SQ950/953 SQ960/961* SQ964/965 SQ968/951* |
| Melbourne | SQ227/238 SQ237/228 |
| Mumbai | SQ424/423 |
| New York | SQ26/25 |
| Zurich | SQ346/345 |
* Till 29 Mar only
Auckland is a bit hard done by here – picking up Cristal for only 29 days between 1st to 29th March 2025.
The route does not offer a First Class or Suites cabin in the northern summer season, which starts on 30th March 2025, so it’s odd the airline decided to include it only in the second half of Cristal’s showing.
Similarly two of the airline’s daily Jakarta flights with a First Class cabin lose out having featured Cristal for less than a month – SQ960/961 and SQ968/951 revert to Airbus A350 operation from 30th March 2025.
Other champagnes in First Class
Singapore Airlines will continue to offer “up to three premium [champagne] labels” in Suites and First Class cabins, one of which will be Cristal 2015 on the specific routes and dates outlined above.
As for the other selections, the airline has already revealed what will be on offer for the month of December 2024, as shown below.
| Singapore Airlines Champagne Selection First Class & Suites 1 Dec 2024 – 31 Dec 2024 |
|
| Champagne | Rating |
 2015 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut or |
4.5 / 5 Reviews |
 N.V. Krug Grande Cuvée |
4.6 / 5 Reviews |
 2007 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires |
4.4 / 5 Reviews |
 2009 Tattinger Comtes de Champagne Brut Rose |
4.4 / 5 Reviews |
From January 2025 onwards, the two ‘floating’ selections on both Cristal and non-Cristal (i.e. Krug) routes will vary between the following champagnes:
- 2013 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne
4.5 / 5 on Vivino - 2007 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires
4.4 / 5 on Vivino - 2015 Bollinger Grande Année
4.4 / 5 on Vivino - 2016 Pol Roger Blanc De Blancs
4.3 / 5 on Vivino
What about The Private Room?
Since its reopening in 2022, The Private Room – Singapore Airlines’ exclusive lounge for First Class and Suites passengers at Changi Airport Terminal 3 – has featured vintage Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, initially the 2008 and more recently the 2012 label.
However, based on a recent reader report from October 2024 there is now also a 2016 Geoffroy Empreinte Millesime Extra Brut vintage Champagne being poured in the lounge.
(Photo: MainlyMiles via reader, October 2024)
This one is a well-rated and rare 100% Pinot Noir.
In addition to Tattinger Comtes and Geoffroy Empreinte Millesime, guests in The Private Room can also order non-vintage champagne from the First Class and Business Class SilverKris lounges, which are currently:
- First Class: Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs (4.2 on Vivino)
- Business Class: Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve (4.2 on Vivino)
Summary
Two years after it lost vintage Dom Perignon due to an exclusivity deal, Singapore Airlines is now upping its game in the First Class Champagne stakes with one of its own exclusive arrangements.
This will see Louis Roederer Cristal 2015 poured on selected flights in Suites and First Class over the next six months, in place of the regular non-vintage Krug, but still alongside two other vintage fizz options.
This is great news for the premium onboard experience in SIA’s top cabins – long may it continue.
(Cover Photo: Singapore Airlines)
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