There’s a certain allure to champagne at altitude. The clink of a flute. The glitter of bubbles. That whispered “yes, please” when the trolley rolls by.

But here’s a well kept secret, the most seasoned luxury travellers politely decline champagne mid flight.

It’s not about snobbery. It’s about science. And about arriving in Milan, Mykonos or Mayfair looking and feeling like the best version of yourself, not puffy, parched, and sleep deprived.

The cabin conditions are working against you

Airplane cabins are pressurised at altitudes equivalent to 6,000–8,000 feet. This environment:

• Reduces your sense of taste and smell
• Lowers your blood oxygen levels
• Dehydrates you rapidly (about 2 glasses of water per hour lost)
• Enhances alcohol’s effects

So while that glass of champagne may feel chic, it hits harder, faster, and dries you out twice as quickly.

Why champagne in the sky is a bad idea

Let’s break it down:

1. You can’t taste it properly

Your tastebuds flatten at altitude. That beautiful Blanc de Blancs? Flat. Floral notes? Gone. You’re paying (or being served) a luxury experience your body literally can’t register. Which to the discerning traveller is completely pointless.

2. It’s incredibly dehydrating

Carbonation + alcohol + low humidity = a cocktail for fatigue, headaches, and dry, creased skin.

3. It disrupts your sleep

Alcohol can make you drowsy, but it prevents deep sleep, the kind you need to actually rest and recover on long haul flights. It will leave you feeling fatigued stepping off at your destination.

4. It slows your circulation

At altitude, alcohol can worsen jet lag and increase the risk of swelling in your feet and ankles, especially on long haul or overnight flights.

What stylish travellers sip instead

Luxury isn’t about denial…it’s about discernment.

Here’s what the Elle Blonde woman drinks when she flies:

1. Still mineral water

Refill a glass bottle post security and sip every 20 minutes. Add a slice of lemon or a drop of chlorophyll if you’re feeling extra.

2. Herbal tea

Chamomile, peppermint or rooibos, calming, soothing, and much easier on your system than caffeine or alcohol.

3. Electrolytes or Collagen

Pop a sachet into your water mid flight to combat dehydration and support skin plumpness (ideal before landing).

4. A glass of Red (if anything)

If you must indulge, a single glass of good red wine mid flight is less dehydrating, less fizzy, and metabolises more gently than bubbles.

What to do instead of sipping bubbles

• Apply your in-flight skincare and slip into your cashmere wrap
• Journal, read or listen to a guided meditation
• Sip herbal tea and wear a silk eye mask
• Arrive glowing, not groggy

Because nothing is more luxurious than feeling rested and radiant on arrival, especially when everyone else is reaching for concealer and coffee.

Why it’s a power move

Elegance isn’t reactive. It’s intentional.

Skipping champagne in the sky may feel like a small thing, but it’s a signal. It says…I know my body. I know my beauty. I’m not here to perform. I’m here to arrive.

Let everyone else toast their tired skin and red eyes. You? You’ll land looking impossibly fresh. As always.