If you are promised "Champagne service" can you expect Champagne?

A Canadian man has launched a lawsuit against an airline that promised "Champagne service", but instead poured him sparkling wine in a plastic cup. 

Daniel Macduff from Quebec opted for return flights to Cuba as part of a holiday package last year that included “Champagne service”. In return, he expected to be served a glass of the French fizz.

While he did receive a glass of wine on the outbound Sunwing trip in February this year, it was “only sparkling wine” and it was not offered on the return flight. Macduff said that he had received a “couple of ounces” of the sparkling wine in a plastic cup.

He has now filed against Sunwing for misleading business practices and false representation and is seeking both compensation for the difference in the cost of the sparkling wines, as well as punitive damages.

Sebastien Paquette, a lawyer from Montreal representing Macduff, said the issue is more about untruthful advertising rather than the difference between the two wines.

“You have to go beyond the pettiness of the [wine cost] per head,” he said in a statement. “What’s important is you’re trying to lure consumers by marketing something, and you’re not giving them that something. It’s a dishonest practice”.

Sunwing, however, has dismissed the lawsuit as “petty” and “frivolous” despite some of their ads (like the one to Paris below) clearly offering "a glass of Champagne". 

I'm with Macduff. Why should airlines be allowed to get away with false advertising? They even spelt Champagne with a capital C. That is either stupid or deceptive. Either way, they should pay up. 

In a statement, the airline said: “Sunwing has always been proud to invest in experience-enhancing features for our customers”.

“We consider any legal action relating to the marketing of this service to be frivolous and without merit.”

The airline has also added that it has used the terms “Champagne service” and “Champagne vacations” to denote the level of service, rather than the type of drink that will be served.

After the lawsuit was filed, Sunwing’s website has been updated and now states that passengers will receive a “welcome glass of sparkling wine”.

In effect, they've held up their hands and declared themselves guilty. 

Sunwing Airlines offers scheduled and charter services from Canada and the US to several different destinations.