Hi Flyertalkers... I thought you might be interested in my comments to Delta about the Delta policy on Champagne... following my flight in BE last week from BOS-LHR

"Dear Delta Management

I would like to raise the issue of "Champagne". Clearly when a passenger is paying for a premium ticket and premium service in Business Elite, Champagne should be on offer. For some years Delta have been playing the hide the Champagne game.

I understand that to save costs.. Sparkling wine is served with Mimosas and "champagne" prior to takeoff. In the case of the last two flights, Veuve du Vernay. However, when the plane takes off and drinks are offered with warm nuts it has always been that the "proper" champagne is opened and while it should be that this is a Grande Marque like other quality airlines, the Jaquart would have done.

On the way out in DL271 LHR-BOS I asked for a glass of Champagne and was given a glass of Veuve du Vernay which i tasted and left. I asked the stewardess what the champagne was and she proudly showed me the bottle of VV. I explained to her that this was not in fact Champagne and asked her if she had the proper Champagne. She said no! and I therefore asked for a glass of red wine.

On the return trip exactly the same thing happened except that I asked what Champagne was being served and again the Stewardess proudly showed me the bottle of VV! I said that I was not happy and would register an official complaint. Once I had said this, she had a word with the senior stewardess and lo and behold the Jaquart was "found".

What is clear to me after flying on perhaps a dozen BE segments is that it is a battle to be served Champagne and that Champagne is invisible and not served unless requested as a matter of policy.

Another point that I would like to make is that the use of the term Champagne has a very restricted meaning in law. It may only be used to describe actual real French champagne made in Epernay. Spanish Methode Champenoise is not Champagne, American "Champagne" is not Champagne, Cava is not Champagne and when Delta Stewardesses offer "Champagne" it should actually be Champagne and not sparkling wine that is very different.

A few years ago wine seemed much more important to Delta. Staff were trained in choices of wine, the BE menus had detailed tasting notes and this appears to have been lost somewhere.

Please can you look into this and let me know the outcome.

Regards"


Has anyone else experienced this? Is it just me?