Perhaps more accurately, I should say that I booked a ticket on Beond Airlines. Whether or not the flight that I booked actually operates remains to be seen…
In this post:
I booked a Beond Airlines business class ticket!
In late 2023, we saw the launch of Beond Airlines, an unusual all-business class airline startup based in the Maldives. The airline has very ambitious goals, and hopes to eventually operate dozens of planes to dozens of destinations from the Maldives.
So far, the airline operates a single 20-year-old former EasyJet Airbus A319, featuring just 44 business class seats. As I’ve written about, the airline has struggled with reliability, and can’t seem to operate anything other than its Riyadh (RUH) service reliably.
The airline “suspended” its Munich (MUC) service weeks after launch, and suspended its Zurich (ZRH) service for the past several weeks. Even the flights that do operate are frequently rescheduled at the last minute. The reviews I have seen of the airline basically show nearly empty planes.
Suffice it to say that I’m fascinated, and I’ve been wanting to fly the airline ever since I heard about it, even if I am skeptical of the business model (to put it politely). I love flying airline startups, and I’m also an airline product geek.
I’m in Europe at the moment on a non-review trip, but with the airline now launching flights to Milan (MXP), I couldn’t help but book a ticket, especially since the fare isn’t half bad. A one-way business class ticket from Milan to Male costs ~$1,242, which is significantly less than the airline was previously charging for tickets. So I’m now ticketed, and am excited to experience this firsthand.
The carrier’s marketing surrounding its new Milan flight is… ummm… something. You know, there are many things I’ve wondered about in my life, but I can’t say that the preferred travel patterns of the Mona Lisa and Vivaldi are among them.
Will this be an adventure, or a non-event?
The way I see it, there are a couple of questions here. The first question is whether there will actually be a flight for me to take. Beond Airlines has a history of canceling flights or greatly changing the schedule at the last minute, and I can’t help but wonder if that will happen here.
If the flight does operate, then I’m super excited to experience Beond Airlines. Now, I don’t actually have any need or desire to go to the Maldives at the moment. This is just a roundabout routing for me to get from Europe back home. So I actually need to figure out how I’ll get from Male (MLE) back to Miami (MIA) as quickly as possible.
Bottom line
Beond Airlines is an all-business class airline startup that has fascinated me since it launched. I finally booked a ticket on the airline, and am excited to experience it. Hopefully my flight actually operates.
So place your bets — how do you think this Beond Airlines adventure will go?
I hope that Vivaldi's violin (and its presumed protective case) complied with the airline's carry-on size limits. ;)
I've been fortunate enough to travel long-haul in Emirates first class and I've also travelled through Europe on budget airlines like Ryan Air. My disastrous experiences with Beond mean I'd choose Ryan air over Beond every time! Originally, I booked flights for my partner and I from Dubai to the Maldives. These were cancelled 2 weeks out from the flight dates via a badly worded sms message. After going back and forth with the airline's...
I've been fortunate enough to travel long-haul in Emirates first class and I've also travelled through Europe on budget airlines like Ryan Air. My disastrous experiences with Beond mean I'd choose Ryan air over Beond every time! Originally, I booked flights for my partner and I from Dubai to the Maldives. These were cancelled 2 weeks out from the flight dates via a badly worded sms message. After going back and forth with the airline's customer service team, I was eventually refunded for these flights and offered 1 free future flight as compensation. A few weeks ago, I redeemed this free flight in a 2nd attempt to have our holiday in the Maldives. 2 weeks out from my flight dates and again Beond have cancelled, his time cancelling my return flight - informing me over a call that this flight now isn't operating. After chasing their customer service teams for days (they never call back as promised), I've been offered an alternative flight 2 days earlier or 2 days later - neither are convenient, I'm now faced with the prospect of cancelling a second holiday.
Given Beond flies from Riyadh to the Maldives both lands where alcohol is not encouraged, is Beond a 'dry airline'?
I don't know what Beond's game is, but it isn't to build an airline. If you're lucky you'll get an EU261 payment out of it, but if you're unlucky you'll wind up in a backwards and hateful country that persecutes gays, women, non-Muslims and especially Jews.
Going to the Maldives while they work out how to ban Jews is a new low.
From MLE, you can fly to FRA with Gulf Air (MLE-BAH-FRA) or Vistara (MLE-DEL/BOM-FRA), both bookable with Aeroplan.
From FRA, you can fly to CUN/POP/PUJ with Condor, bookable with Alaska and thereafter take a short connection to Miami on American.
Or get creative and fly to any of the exotic European airports like NAP, PSA, OTP, BUD, POZ, KRK, etc., with flydubai (ensure to take a mix of Boeing 737MAX 9 and Boeing 737MAX 8...
From MLE, you can fly to FRA with Gulf Air (MLE-BAH-FRA) or Vistara (MLE-DEL/BOM-FRA), both bookable with Aeroplan.
From FRA, you can fly to CUN/POP/PUJ with Condor, bookable with Alaska and thereafter take a short connection to Miami on American.
Or get creative and fly to any of the exotic European airports like NAP, PSA, OTP, BUD, POZ, KRK, etc., with flydubai (ensure to take a mix of Boeing 737MAX 9 and Boeing 737MAX 8 jets).
Then, fly to MIA via FRA with TAROM/Air Dolomiti/Lufthansa connecting to Condor on the FRA-MIA flight (attractive cash prices on these flights).
Can also fly to MIA via CDG with Air France. On the BUD-CDG-MIA route, BUD-CDG is operated by ASL Airlines on a regional Boeing 737-800 jet.
If you fly or if you do not fly with Beond, it will be an interesting review to read. If they do not bankrupt by then, which may happen any time soon.
They really spared no expense on the AI images for that campaign. They couldn't even match the seats of their single plane!
It's been a while since you've done a CX longhaul as well as a review on Sri Lankan.
Is Air India's new A350 flying yet?
Clearly not a legitimate review. More a low hanging fruit approach for content. Not a bad thing. But take it for what it is. Clearly this is all in hopes for drama. And there will be, of course. For whatever it's worth to readers beyond entertainment.
No offense, but tbh that's the sort of thing we're all here for? If you want to read about united Y ewr-iad, good on you and certainly no judgment but those of us who take this stuff seriously want to understand the edge cases.
Hope this helps and God bless.
I've got an idea. Book premium economy for your return from MLE and have a review. I think the reviews are great, in general, but often times you lose focus on the fact that many people are not choosing an airline and routes for the same reasons you are.
"Beond," is that someone's word-play on the word, "Beyond?"
In the likely event your flight doesn't operate, please enlighten us about your adventure getting Beond Air to re-book you to MLE in business on another carrier, as they are required to do under EU261.
Have you reviewed the Ritz or JW Maldives yet?
You could fly via Dhaka and London. Then you could fly Biman Bangladesh to London and Maldivian/US-Bangla to Dhaka. Would be able to try two new airlines
Given that this is a flight from the EU, presumably you would be entitled to EU261 compensation if it doesn't operate, right?
Not a compensation if it's cancelled more than 14 days out, but rebooking on another carrier would be due.
he's currently in europe so its almost certainly within 14 days
Non-review trip - a whole new meaning to nonrev!
You could fly to Dhaka on Maldivian or US-Bangla airlines and then on to London on Biman Bangladesh's 787. Not the most comfortable route but would be two new airlines.
While not the quickest way back to MIA, the following would allow for some interesting reviews.
MLE-DEL on Vistara (or EK) A230
DEL-MRU on Air Mauritius A330-neo or Vistara
MRU-CDG on Air Mauritius A350
From Europe to MIA you should have a variety of products to review.
I’d love to see a vistara review. I just flew them from Delhi to Frankfurt and really enjoyed it.
Agree on a review of a mid-range, speedboat accessible Maldives hotel, maybe Le Meridien?
or Jen Male?
We've decided that we're not spending any more money in countries rules by autocratic governments with a theocratic bent. This includes the Maldives. It also includes flying airlines from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, etc. Why would any LGB person spend their money in a country that would lock you in prison, or even execute you?
Agreed! Pointless to go to the Maldives
We actually made the same decision, but this would be a nightmare for travel bloggers relying on celebrating the latest bling product from a ME carrier or some champagne variety or another served on Emirates .
Yawn……! You should be so LUCKY to enjoy the privilege of having this choice!
Bahahaha! Any excuse you want to tell yourself to stick to OECD countries. Validate that self-imposed ignorance anyway you want
Because Ben and many others aren't a snowflake like you.
Actually, I like your decision since I won't have to worry about seeing guys like you when I go there.
Similar to the interior of the Four Seasons private jet. Interesting concept, would love to see something similar for popular European or N America routes.
JFK-CDG on La Compagnie, and they have been lucky so far this year, few cancellations or very long delays (because of the small fleet).
Sorry... JFK-ORY.
No, EWR-ORY... Must be age.
Not a points hotel, but the Taj Exotica is definitely worth consideration. 15 minute boat ride from the airport with less than 50 rooms and one of the best lagoons in the Maldives. This time of year, the rates might actually be reasonable and I think there are virtuoso benefits.
Why don't you review the Maldives Sheraton while over there since that is the typical choice if the sea planes can't operate for incoming Bonvoy travelers. Right near the airport and can have value to your readers. Just an idea!
Yes agreed, that's a great and convenient hotel!
I'd attempt to find award availability either with Qatar Airways(via Doha), Emirates(via Dubai), British Airways(via London-Heathrow) or Lufthansa/Discover Airlines/Condor(via Frankfurt). Bearing in mind you have already reviewed Emirates this year, I'd aim towards Qatar Airways or Lufthansa/Discover Airlines/Condor.
How about Boliviana for getting back? Take a Gulf carrier (or someone else) from Male to Madrid, then Boliviana from Madrid to Santa Cruz to Miami. They have reasonable business class fares and basically don't do revenue management, so you should be able to get a good rate even close-in/in high season.
I remind reading somewhere that Ben wan't to return to Miami asap... What you are proposing don't sounds that fast...
But it sounds very typical for Ben! Fast isn't fun.
Maybe mot the quickest way back but it Air India’s new cabins?