The idea came to Curt Larson earlier this month when he read The history of TPG about Airbus auctioning off parts of an A380 that once graced the skies.
Sure, the aircraft manufacturer had plenty of items on sale worthy of an AvGeek’s admiration, but that was it. bar in an Emirates business class cabinhe thought, would be something to exhibit.
“It’s just sort of the provenance and history of this bar,” he said. After all, he had already had the chance to see a similar bar on a previous trip on board Emirates — a highlight of the Dubai-based carrier’s premium service. Combine that with what appears to be a finite future for the superjumbo, and owning a piece of the iconic aircraft seemed like a worthwhile investment.
Larson thought he would have no chance of winning, however. After all, Airbus planned to open the auction at 20,000 euros, or around $20,000.
“I felt like it was going to go a lot,” he said.
Fast forward a few weeks, and Larson’s shock that he’s actually won has given way to extensive planning: how to get him to the United States and how it will figure into an eventual home rental that’s sure to be at the top. from an AvGeek’s listing once available.
A winning bid
While Larson little expected to compete for the premium cabin relic, he began to sense a glimmer of hope when the tender for the Emirates Bar opened with little of marching band. Then the auctioneer lowered the entry bid by 5,000 euros (about $5,000), Larson said.
“Yet no one was making an offer,” he said.
So he went down to 10,000 euros (about $10,000), which was enough for him.
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“I had started to bid a little,” he explained. Bids started to climb… but quickly slowed as the number approached 15,000 – which Larson decided was his cap.
“I was like, just let me try €15,100,” he said. “I already had total buyer’s remorse.”
A gavel banged and the auctioneer shouted something in French – which Larson didn’t understand, speaking no French. But then he heard his name.
“What did I do?!” he was thinking. “How am I even going to get this thing to the United States?” »
Future plans for the bar
As Larson’s winning bid has sunk in recent weeks, so has the realization that his costs may well double by the time he has the bar shipped to the United States; a process he says could take months.
As personal as his application may seem, you may also be able to benefit from it one day.
Larson plans to purchase a property in Palm Springs, California, which he will lease on a short-term basis. “My plan is that it will be a big part of the marketing appeal,” he said. “It will help us rent our accommodation.”
Yeah, one day you might be able to surf Airbnband find a rental property where you can enjoy a drink (or as much as you like) at a bar that once served customers at 30,000 feet.
“It’s a chance to hang out at this bar for as long as you want,” Larson said.
If Emirates Business Class travel is a aspirational, future redemption or if you want to relive a highlight of a past trip, it will certainly be an unforgettable stay.
Buyer’s remorse fades
As he negotiates the convoluted shipping process for his expensive purchase, it’s clear that Larson’s buyer’s remorse is beginning to wear off. “This bar was actually on a plane that flew all over the world,” he marveled. “I find that really cool.”
He promised to share photos once he arrives, and we’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for that future home rental listing.
After all, he said, “There are definitely bigger aviation geeks than me.”
We may even know a few of them.
Just enough bling: a glimpse of Emirates’ new premium economy on the A380 from Dubai to London
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