Originally Posted by
badoc
You have hit the nail on the head - and this is why they should do a champers/water/juice run pre-departure in CE. It is good marketing and as they'd probably only open a single bottle (75cl) of bubbles, it would not cost the earth.
On NZ they do the water/orange juice offerings, and on the ground they offer a sparkling wine which is usually a New Zealand produced Deutz. Once airborne, then the real French champagne comes out. Must be a tax issue to not serve champagne while boarding.
For the long haul flights they put a bottle of water at your seat along with the amenity kit in J, I quite like having that if I get thirsty in the night.