<!-- wp:html --><p>The lie-flat seat on Beond's A319, and the author onboard.</p>
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
<p>Beond is an airline where every seat is like business class, with lie-flat beds.Although most of the seats have small footrests which felt cramped.It's mostly cheaper than competitors' business class, but future routes look to be closer in price.</p>
<p>Beond bills itself as "the world's first premium leisure airline," and first took to the skies in November.</p>
<p>Before it began flying its first three routes — which all go the Maldives, from Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Switzerland — it was on display at the Dubai Air Show.</p>
<p>Max Nilov, the chief strategy officer and cofounder, told Business Insider it was the result of "20 years of dreaming."</p>
<p>"We're not afraid to compete with anyone," he said, explaining how the first three routes were chosen due to demand.</p>
<p>After having a look onboard, I don't think Beond feels quite as luxurious as business class on other airlines. It lacks privacy dividers, and you can lose that sense of exclusivity when everyone's in the same cabin.</p>
<p>And with its current network, I'd be more likely to fly with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-worlds-only-all-business-airline-paris-newark-la-compagnie-2023-3" rel="noopener">La Compagnie — an all-business class airline</a> which flies between Europe and New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport .</p>
<p>On current routes, Beond is cheaper than competitors' business class cabins so it's proably worth it — but this could change as the airline expands to other routes where there's a smaller price gap.</p>
<div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Beond's Airbus A319 was on display at the Dubai Air Show last month, where I got to look inside.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Its black livery with gold details was the first sign that it's different to a normal airline.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">The 44 seats are all arranged in a 2-2 configuration, more like business class than economy.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">The leather seats are designed by an Italian company, although I was surprised by the lack of a privacy divider.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Instead of using screens for in-flight entertainment, Beond has iPads for every seat.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
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<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
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<div class="slide-title">It includes movies, games, details about your destination, and a menu.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">But I also found it could be a bit laggy, and felt small compared to the screens you'd expect flying business class.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">The wireless Beats headphones were a nice touch, and certainly a step above the typical ones you get on a flight.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Every seat has plenty of legroom and a footrest at the end. </div>
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<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
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<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">It means the seat can turn into a lie-flat bed — which isn't always available even in business class.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Buttons on the armrest allow for a variety of other seat positions, like changing the pitch or moving it backwards.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">But most of the seats only have a small foot rest positioned in the corner.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">At 5'9", the lie-flat seat was long enough for me but the footrest was uncomfortable, and those over 6-foot found the bed to be a tight fit.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">I was also a bit surprised that Beond used the overhead lights and air conditioning units of an economy cabin, rather than something closer to the seat.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Beond's aim to provide a premium experience also extends to dining, with proper crockery and cutlery.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
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<div class="slide-content"></div>
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<div class="slide-title">The china is custom-made for the airline by the English firm William Edwards — who also designed British Airways' first class china.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/british-airways-first-class-learned-how-to-be-cabin-crew-2023-4" rel="noopener"><em>I spent a day learning how to be a flight attendant for British Airways' first-class cabin. From afternoon tea to the turndown service, there's a lot to know.</em></a></p>
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</div>
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<div class="slide-title">And there's a different menu depending on what route you're flying, with such meals as lobster tail from the Maldives and slow-cooked Wagyu Beef.</div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p>This sample menu also appeared to have a typo, missing the "g" and an "l" in "capellini aglio oglio."</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Beond currently operates three routes to the Maldives from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Munich, Germany; and Zurich, Switzerland.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Beond route map showing scheduled and future routes.
<p class="copyright">Beond</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Cofounder Max Nilov told BI that Beond is "two-to-three times cheaper than competitors" on these routes, such as Edelweiss Air.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images</p>
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<p>Flying between Zurich and Malé, the Maldives' capital, with Beond costs around $2,600 for a one-way ticket in January.</p>
<p>With Edelweiss, economy costs $1,250, while business class is around $5,000.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Come July 2024, Beond will also fly to the Maldives from Milan and Bangkok. A one-way ticket from Milan costs around $1,800.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Milan Piazza Del Duomo.
<p class="copyright">Comezora/Getty Images</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
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<div class="slide-title">Milan to Malé with Qatar Airways, including a 1 hour 45-minute layover, is $550 in economy or around $2,500 in business class.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Insider</p>
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<div class="slide-content">
<p>With a smaller gap in price compared to the Zurich route, I'm not sure that Beond's offering matches up to the likes of Qatar Airways with its famed QSuite.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/toured-qatar-airways-airbus-a350-worlds-best-business-class-2023-6" rel="noopener"><em>I toured Qatar Airways' luxurious Airbus A350 complete with the 'world's best business class' and was impressed by its comfort and attention to detail</em></a></p>
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<div class="slide-title">Beond flights from Europe also have a refueling stop in Dubai, because the A319 doesn't have a long-enough range.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
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<div class="slide-title">No narrowbody jet currently in service can go that far, but the Airbus A321XLR set to fly next year should be able to.</div>
<div class="slide-image">An Airbus A321XLR.
<p class="copyright">AXEL HEIMKEN/AFP via Getty Images</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content">
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-a321xlr-will-be-a-game-changer-2023-7" rel="noopener"><em>I saw the Airbus A321XLR make its air show debut and I'm convinced it'll be a game changer for the airline industry</em></a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Beond's CEO told Airways Magazine: "The ultimate plan for the long term is the A321XLR." It currently only has the one A319 in its fleet, having initially planned to launch with the A321neo. </div>
<div class="slide-image">
<p class="copyright">Pete Syme/Business Insider</p>
</div>
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<p><em>Source: </em><a target="_blank" href="https://airwaysmag.com/luxury-airline-beond-maldives/" rel="noopener"><em>Airways Magazine</em></a></p>
</div>
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<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Within five years, Beond is aiming to have a fleet of 32 aircraft serving 60 destinations.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Beond is a new all-business-class airline.
<p class="copyright">Beond</p>
</div>
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<p><em>Source: </em><a target="_blank" href="https://gulfbusiness.com/all-business-beond-airline-to-commence-operations-in-november/" rel="noopener"><em>Gulf Business</em></a></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-went-on-board-all-business-class-airline-beond-and-was-unconvinced-2023-12">Business Insider</a></div><!-- /wp:html -->
The lie-flat seat on Beond’s A319, and the author onboard.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
Beond is an airline where every seat is like business class, with lie-flat beds.Although most of the seats have small footrests which felt cramped.It’s mostly cheaper than competitors’ business class, but future routes look to be closer in price.
Beond bills itself as “the world’s first premium leisure airline,” and first took to the skies in November.
Before it began flying its first three routes — which all go the Maldives, from Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Switzerland — it was on display at the Dubai Air Show.
Max Nilov, the chief strategy officer and cofounder, told Business Insider it was the result of “20 years of dreaming.”
“We’re not afraid to compete with anyone,” he said, explaining how the first three routes were chosen due to demand.
After having a look onboard, I don’t think Beond feels quite as luxurious as business class on other airlines. It lacks privacy dividers, and you can lose that sense of exclusivity when everyone’s in the same cabin.
And with its current network, I’d be more likely to fly with La Compagnie — an all-business class airline which flies between Europe and New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport .
On current routes, Beond is cheaper than competitors’ business class cabins so it’s proably worth it — but this could change as the airline expands to other routes where there’s a smaller price gap.
Beond’s Airbus A319 was on display at the Dubai Air Show last month, where I got to look inside.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
Its black livery with gold details was the first sign that it’s different to a normal airline.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
The 44 seats are all arranged in a 2-2 configuration, more like business class than economy.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
The leather seats are designed by an Italian company, although I was surprised by the lack of a privacy divider.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
Instead of using screens for in-flight entertainment, Beond has iPads for every seat.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
It includes movies, games, details about your destination, and a menu.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
But I also found it could be a bit laggy, and felt small compared to the screens you’d expect flying business class.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
The wireless Beats headphones were a nice touch, and certainly a step above the typical ones you get on a flight.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
Every seat has plenty of legroom and a footrest at the end.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
It means the seat can turn into a lie-flat bed — which isn’t always available even in business class.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
Buttons on the armrest allow for a variety of other seat positions, like changing the pitch or moving it backwards.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
But most of the seats only have a small foot rest positioned in the corner.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
At 5’9″, the lie-flat seat was long enough for me but the footrest was uncomfortable, and those over 6-foot found the bed to be a tight fit.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
I was also a bit surprised that Beond used the overhead lights and air conditioning units of an economy cabin, rather than something closer to the seat.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
Beond’s aim to provide a premium experience also extends to dining, with proper crockery and cutlery.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
The china is custom-made for the airline by the English firm William Edwards — who also designed British Airways’ first class china.
And there’s a different menu depending on what route you’re flying, with such meals as lobster tail from the Maldives and slow-cooked Wagyu Beef.
Pete Syme/Business Insider
This sample menu also appeared to have a typo, missing the “g” and an “l” in “capellini aglio oglio.”
Beond currently operates three routes to the Maldives from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Munich, Germany; and Zurich, Switzerland.
Beond route map showing scheduled and future routes.
Beond
Cofounder Max Nilov told BI that Beond is “two-to-three times cheaper than competitors” on these routes, such as Edelweiss Air.
Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Flying between Zurich and Malé, the Maldives’ capital, with Beond costs around $2,600 for a one-way ticket in January.
With Edelweiss, economy costs $1,250, while business class is around $5,000.
Come July 2024, Beond will also fly to the Maldives from Milan and Bangkok. A one-way ticket from Milan costs around $1,800.
Milan Piazza Del Duomo.
Comezora/Getty Images
Milan to Malé with Qatar Airways, including a 1 hour 45-minute layover, is $550 in economy or around $2,500 in business class.
Pete Syme/Insider
With a smaller gap in price compared to the Zurich route, I’m not sure that Beond’s offering matches up to the likes of Qatar Airways with its famed QSuite.
Beond’s CEO told Airways Magazine: “The ultimate plan for the long term is the A321XLR.” It currently only has the one A319 in its fleet, having initially planned to launch with the A321neo.
