American Airlines to Serve Champagne Bollinger in Lounges and Flagship Cabins
The prestige Champagne house debuts in American’s Flagship lounges and cabins as the airline readies for its centennial.
Photo: Andy Kennedy / Unsplash
American Airlines is adding Champagne Bollinger to its premium offering, marking the first time the carrier has aligned with a prestige Champagne house across both lounges and flights. The move brings one of France’s last great independent maisons into the airline environment, beginning with Special Cuvée poured in Flagship lounges and aboard long-haul services.
The partnership launches as American approaches its centennial in 2026, and during a moment when airlines are scrambling to sharpen the edge of premium service. Rivals have made similar plays—Delta began pouring Taittinger earlier this year in its Delta One cabins—but American’s tie with Bollinger carries a distinctive cachet. Known for its pinot noir-driven style and its nearly 200-year history, Bollinger remains family-owned, a rarity in Champagne today.
Heather Garboden, the chief customer officer at American, called the collaboration “a perfect fit on the eve of our centennial year,” while Bollinger’s managing director Charles-Armand de Belenet highlighted the chance to extend the house’s heritage “to an inspiring new setting.”
The roll-out starts with a Champagne welcome at Flagship lounges in Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, and Chicago O’Hare, with Los Angeles and Philadelphia to follow. Guests at Admirals Club locations will also be able to purchase bottles. Onboard, Bollinger will debut in Flagship First and Business cabins on Paris-U.S. routes next month, before a broader international rollout in early 2026.
The introduction comes as American invests heavily in its premium footprint. New Flagship lounges are planned in Charlotte and Miami, while aircraft retrofits are designed to bring more consistency across the international fleet. Aligning with a Champagne name recognized by connoisseurs bolsters that effort, positioning American alongside competitors that have already turned in-flight wine programs into hallmarks of their brand.
For Bollinger, the exposure is equally significant. Airline partnerships offer Champagne houses a platform measured in millions of annual pours and a chance to shape perceptions of luxury at altitude—where flavor profiles can be muted and the distinction of a robust pinot noir base is especially welcome. With Special Cuvée now greeting American’s long-haul flyers and premium lounge guests, the collaboration is a reminder that even in the competitive skies, the smallest details, like the pop of a cork, can signal the ambitions of an airline’s luxury program.
