The pandemic has taken a lot from us. Time with loved ones, social interaction, economic stability and … drinking luxury wine on airplanes? Airlines do much less business than usual, CNN reports, and the majority have banned booze onboard to reduce the time flight attendants have to spend interacting with customers. (I suspect this is also to reduce in-flight debauchery.) That means there is a lot of designated airplane wine that has nowhere to go – which is why American Airlines tries to sell and ship the surplus directly to people’s homes.
The new program, called American Airlines Flagship Cellars, will allow customers to purchase wine by the bottle, in custom “curated” cases, or through a $ 99 monthly plan with a monthly shipment of three bottles. CNN reports that the wine would otherwise be served to customers with American Airlines’ Flagship tickets – in fact, the fanciest seat option money can buy on international and transcontinental flights.
American Airlines told CNN it estimates the new program will generate up to $ 50,000 in revenue in the first three months of 2021. And that’s totally fine – I can understand why a large-scale operation in times of crisis would want to protect profits. . It’s just that the rest of the American posts are a bit weird. “While revenue is important, Flagship Cellars is more of a way to connect with customers, even if they aren’t traveling with us,” a spokesperson told CNN. “It also gives them a taste of what you can enjoy in Flagship First or Flagship Business.” Sure, I guess. I may not be able to go to work, see my friends, make plans for the future, or spend time sunbathing at my favorite local businesses, but at least I can taste expensive airplane wine. What I’d really like, however, is a load of lukewarm ginger ale and some speculoos waffles. Now that is luxury.