The Most Expensive Airline Ticket in the World

Airbus A380 – $100,380

Some people just have a thing for owning bragging rights, and those rights can be quite pricey.  Australian Julian Hayward was such a fan of the Airbus A380 that he dropped a sky-high $100,380.00 USD (note the 380 in the price) to be the first passenger to purchase an Airbus ticket back in 2007.  This is a lofty price even for most expensive airline ticket.  To get a feel for just how ginormous this plane is, see video of  Airbus A380 hits Comair commercial flight.

A380

Hayward unloaded enough cash to buy an exotic car or about 40 luxury car rentals in order to be the first to purchase a ticket for the very first Airbus A380 flight from Singapore to Sydney.  A typical seat on the Airbus would sell for $3,400.00-ish at that time, but Mr. Moneybags masterfully outbid all others on eBay for the bragging rights of the world’s first commercial passenger of the innovative Airbus.

A380 airbus

While the world’s most expensive airline tickets are being auctioned off in 2007, the plane’s first flight was actually in 2005. During its test flight from Toulouse, France, the plane was flown by only six people. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft toured Southeast Asia and Australia for additional testing and promotional purposes.

VIP Airbus A380

Boeing has its own superjumbo offering in the works—the 787 Dreamliner. Unfortunately for them, while both companies have been dogged with delays to their superjumbo craft, the Dreamliner won’t be entering service until 2008.