I've flown on the world's only 2 all-business-class airlines. It's like flying on a private jet but less expensive.

Taylor RainsAug 15, 2024, 03:25 IST

I think people with a little extra spending money should splurge on Beond and La Compagnie's unique business model.Taylor Rains/Business Insider<ul class="summary-list"><li>French airline La Compagnie and Maldives-based Beond fly Airbus planes with only business class.</li><li>The model is historically unsuccessful but the airlines are banking on high-demand niche markets.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/all-business-class-airline-beond-maldives-2023-10">All-business-class carriers</a> are among the rarest airline strategies in operation — and that's because they historically don't work.British Airways, newcomer BermudAir, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/british-airways-airbus-a318-baby-bus-london-city-tour-2020-3">all previously tried these premium-focused planes</a>, only to later ditch the layout. They cited challenges like high costs, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-went-on-board-all-business-class-airline-beond-and-was-unconvinced-2023-12">inadaptability</a> to fluctuating demand, and tough competition.But they<a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/onboard-la-compagnie-airbus-a321neo-flying-between-us-and-france-2021-8"> haven't died out yet</a>. Two all-business-class airlines are in operation: France's La Compagnie and <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beond-all-business-class-airline-beond-airbus-a319-review-8">Maldives-based Beond</a>.I've flown on both bougie carriers, starting with <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-worlds-only-all-business-airline-paris-newark-la-compagnie-2023-3">La Compagnie from Paris to New Jersey</a> in 2022 and, more recently, on Beond from Milan to Male in July 2023. There are a few key differences, but I found both to be great alternatives to mainline competitors and about as close as you can get to <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flew-korean-air-boeing-747-business-felt-like-private-jet-2023-9">flying private</a> with a commercial ticket.

Beond and La Compagnie are largely the same concepts flying in different markets.

A selfie of the author with the Beond plane after flying in the new all-business-class airline from Milan to Male.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Both market their brands as 'premium leisure' with affordable fares.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Each operates a tiny fleet of planes. La Compagnie's is more efficient.

A La Compagnie Airbus A321neo.Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

Beond can't fly every route nonstop.

Pictured is the crew van in Dubai. Airlines like Qatar and Emirates fly between Europe and the Maldives but the travel time is longer due to the layovers.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Each jet is branded in the airline's respective colors and equipped with lie-flat seats.

Beond (left) and La Compagnie (right) configure their planes similarly, but are defined by key product and branding differences.Taylor Rains, Pete Syme, Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

Seats have all the business-class basics, including a bed, storage, and power outlets.

The storage was minimal on both airlines.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Beond's footwell issue can be rectified by booking an ottoman seat.

The footwells on Beond's regular and ottoman seats (left) compared to La Compagnie (right).Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The airlines provide good linens and amenity kits.

The linens and amenity kits on Beond (left) and La Compagnie (right).Taylor Rains/Business Insider

La Compagnie offers a key perk Beond doesn't: a seatback screen.

La Compagnie (top left) has 15.6" seatback screens. Beond (top right and bottom) provides an iPad in lieu of a television. I liked Beond's noise-cancelling headphones better.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Unpopular opinion: I prefer Beond's version.

The author's Kindle Fire 10 fit in the tablet holder.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Other differences include Beond lacking a middle divider, a headrest, and WiFi.

The seatback screen on La Compagnie provided WiFi instructions.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Beond's technology is behind.

I could get my boarding pass online with La Compagnie (bottom right).Taylor Rains/Business Insider

La Compagnie has a gastronomy focus.

The scallop truffles, salmon, cheese, and pastries on La Compagnie.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Beond's dining was delicious, too. There's was a lot to enjoy because of the long flights.

Pictured are some of the return trip meals on Beond, including gooseliver, beef brisket, and lobster tail.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

After flying on both airlines, I find its almost like sharing a private jet.

The seats were cream-colored with peach-colored linens.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

I'm not convinced this business model can survive.

La Compagnie's success is thanks to more than just its commercial flying. Beond will need to find similarly lucrative revenue streams.La Compagnie

You also don't get the same protections offered by a mainline.

We boarded and deplaned the Beond plane via the tarmac in Male but used a jetbridge in Milan. La Compagnie's flights used jetbridges in Newark and Paris.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The new Airbus A321XLR could open new opportunities for both carriers.

An Airbus A321XLR at the Farnborough Airshow in July 2024.Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images

I spent $1,000 to have a room to myself on a 30-hour Amtrak ride. It was the best experience I've had on an overnight train in the US.

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