Cheers again to oneworld, as best alliance for in-flight wine

Judges at a leading international wine-tasting competition have once again raised their glasses to the oneworld^® alliance and many of its member airlines.

They have for the fourth year running selected oneworld as the Best Alliance for the wines served in-flight by its member airlines in the latest Cellars in the Sky Awards, run by Business Traveller magazine, in association with the International Wine Challenge.

In December, oneworld retained for the second year running the equivalent title presented in the USA, as Best Airline Alliance in Global Traveler magazine's Wines on the Wing awards.

oneworld is also current holder of three of the leading awards presented to airline alliances overall - from Global Traveler, World Travel Awards and Australian Business Traveller.

oneworld's members flew high in the Cellars in the Sky airline award categories, taking first prizes in seven of the 13 categories, along with 12 runners-up placings, with a further two taken by member elect Qatar Airways.  Airlines in the Star alliance achieved five first prizes and four runners-up placings, while SkyTeam members achieved one first position and two runners-up.

It is the 28^th year that Cellars in the Sky Awards have been presented.  A panel of four leading experts blind-tasted hundreds of wines served on longhaul flights by a 33 airlines from around the world.

oneworld's Australian partner Qantas collected all four top prizes - Best Overall Wine Cellar, Best First Class Sparkling, Best Business Class Sparkling and Best First Class Wine List Presentation.  It was runner-up for both Best First Class Cellar and Best Business Class Cellar and in the class for Best First Class Fortified and Sweet.  

Malaysia Airlines, which joined the alliance on Friday last week, walked away with the trophy for Best First Class Cellar along with the prize for Best First Class Red.  It took also runner-up placing for Best First Class Sparkling

British Airways took top honours for Best First Class White.

Cathay Pacific collected four runners-up certificates, Finnair two and American Airlines and LAN Airlines one each.

The awards were presented last night by television wine presenter and Co-Chairman of the International Wine Challenge Charles Metcalfe at a ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel.

The judges comprised: Charles Metcalfe; Master of Wine and wine-making consultant Sam Harrop, Master of Wine Tim Atkin, Master of Wine and top restaurant wine consultant Peter McCrombie.

For the results in full, see www.businesstraveller.com/cellars-2012

About Business Traveller

Business Traveller describes itself as the world's leading business travel publication, publishing some four million copies a year globally, in the UK, USA, Germany, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, China, Hungary, Denmark, Poland and Africa. See www.businesstraveller.com

About oneworld

oneworld is an alliance of the world's leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience to frequent international travellers.   oneworld airlines include airberlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines, and around 30 affiliates.  SriLankan Airlines and Qatar Airways are on track to join soon. 

Between them, these airlines:

• Serve some 860 airports in almost 160 countries, with more than 9,300 daily departures.
• Carry almost a million passengers a day on a combined fleet of more than 2,500 aircraft.
• Generate nearly US$ 120 billion annual revenues in total.

oneworld member airlines work together to deliver consistently a superior, seamless travel experience, with special privileges and rewards for frequent flyers, including earning and redeeming miles and points across the entire alliance network. Top tier cardholders (Emerald and Sapphire) enjoy access to some 550 airport lounges. The most regular travellers (Emerald) can also use fast track security lanes at select airports and extra baggage allowances.

oneworld is currently the holder of three leading international awards for airline alliances - named the Best Airline Alliance by Global Traveler in its GT Tested Reader Survey 2012 Awards for the third year running, the World's Leading Airline Alliance in the 2012 World Travel Awards for the 10th year running, and Australian Business Traveller Best Airline Alliance in 2012 for the second year running.