{"id":4629,"date":"2023-10-12T19:37:15","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T19:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mer.tours\/new-airline-plans-flights-to-maldives-with-only-lie-flat-seats\/"},"modified":"2023-10-12T19:37:15","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T19:37:15","slug":"new-airline-plans-flights-to-maldives-with-only-lie-flat-seats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/new-airline-plans-flights-to-maldives-with-only-lie-flat-seats\/","title":{"rendered":"New airline plans flights to Maldives with only lie-flat seats"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>A new airline plans to launch operations to a top vacation destination next month aboard aircraft with all premium seating.<\/p>\n<p>Startup carrier Beond (pronounced &#8220;beyond&#8221;) plans to fly customers to the <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/destination\/asia\/maldives\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Maldives<\/a> on narrow-body planes filled with lie-flat seats.<\/p>\n<p>With just a single aircraft and three routes to start, company leaders hope to rapidly expand the carrier&#8217;s fleet and reach in the coming months.<\/p>\n<p><b>Want more airline-specific news? <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/aviation-newsletter\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for TPG&#8217;s free biweekly Aviation newsletter<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Beond unveiled its inaugural aircraft at dual launch events on Wednesday in Dubai and at its operating base of Male&#8217;s Velana International Airport (MLE) in the Maldives.<\/p>\n<p>Starting with just a single Airbus A319 aircraft, Beond will seat 44 passengers in entirely premium-style accommodations. By the end of the year, the airline hopes to add an Airbus A321 to its fleet, with more long-range A321 deliveries expected beginning in the spring of 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Beond&#8217;s founder and CEO Tero Taskila dubs the airline the world&#8217;s first &#8220;luxury leisure&#8221; carrier.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/maldives-on-points-and-miles\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> The best ways to get to the Maldives on points and miles<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s targeting people who are seeking luxury experiences in travel,&#8221; Taskila said at a news conference in Dubai on Wednesday. &#8220;We have, really, a niche where the product has been designed with the luxury, leisure traveler in mind.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"&#10;        EmailSignUp_container__70lh2&#10;        undefined&#10;        EmailSignUp_isLoading__zGkU5&#10;      \"><picture><source media=\"screen and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-mob.svg\"\/><\/picture>\n<div class=\"EmailSignUp_form__cnneL\">\n<p>Daily Newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG\u2019s experts<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"jsx-4252866712 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond-Aircraft.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond-Aircraft.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond-Aircraft.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond-Aircraft.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond-Aircraft.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond-Aircraft.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond-Aircraft.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond-Aircraft.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond-Aircraft.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-4252866712 figcaption\">BEOND<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a id=\"routes-planned-to-and-from-the-maldives\" class=\"jsx-3480274316 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-3480274316\">Routes planned to and from the Maldives<\/h2>\n<p>Beond will initially fly three routes between Male and:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (launches Nov. 9)<\/li>\n<li>Munich (launches Nov. 15)<\/li>\n<li>Zurich (launches Nov. 17)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Additionally, the airline plans to launch new routes to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) beginning in late March.<\/p>\n<p>Taskila set an ambitious target for Beond&#8217;s next few years, too, pledging to grow the carrier&#8217;s fleet to 32 aircraft and 60-plus destinations out of the Maldives over the next five years.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-4252866712 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-resort-3_KGenter_89.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-resort-3_KGenter_89.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-resort-3_KGenter_89.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-resort-3_KGenter_89.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-resort-3_KGenter_89.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-resort-3_KGenter_89.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-resort-3_KGenter_89.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-resort-3_KGenter_89.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-resort-3_KGenter_89.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-4252866712 figcaption\">KATIE GENTER\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The company is not revealing much else about its future potential routes, and it&#8217;s unclear whether it might someday serve the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>Certainly, though, there are distance limitations to its fleet. Beond&#8217;s aircraft \u2014 all in the single-aisle, A320 family \u2014 will have to make short refueling stops in Dubai on certain European routes. This might slightly dampen the airline&#8217;s appeal of serving the Maldives directly.<\/p>\n<p>Asked about any plans to attract U.S. travelers or serve North America in the future, a Beond spokesperson told TPG that Male is just the carrier&#8217;s first planned hub and that others are planned for the future.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"beonds-service\" class=\"jsx-3480274316 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-3480274316\">Beond&#8217;s service<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"jsx-4252866712 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:67.5625%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-3.jpeg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-3.jpeg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-3.jpeg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-3.jpeg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-3.jpeg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-3.jpeg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-3.jpeg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-3.jpeg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-3.jpeg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-4252866712 figcaption\">BEOND<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The idea behind Beond is that you get a premium experience no matter your seat, not to mention a direct (though not necessarily nonstop on all routes) connection to a <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/where-to-stay-maldives-points-and-miles\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">bucket-list vacation destination<\/a> for many.<\/p>\n<p>Beond will offer limousine service for travelers from their homes to the airport (included with all fares except lower-level tickets).<\/p>\n<p>On board, the aircraft is designed entirely in a 2-2 configuration. The seats \u2014 each of which has lie-flat capability \u2014 are designed by boutique Italian company Optimares; the company&#8217;s seats are also found on <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/four-seasons-plane\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Four Seasons&#8217; private aircraft<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Beond pushes away from using the term &#8220;all-business class.&#8221; It instead insists that it&#8217;s a leisure airline, not an airline meant for business travelers.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-4252866712 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-1.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-1.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-1.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-1.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-1.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-1.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-1.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-1.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-1.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-4252866712 figcaption\">BEOND<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The plane&#8217;s small number of seats is striking. An A319 aircraft typically has a maximum capacity of 156 passengers, depending on how the airline configures the jet. Beond&#8217;s A319 has just 44 seats.<\/p>\n<p>Its A321 will seat 68 customers, compared with a maximum of around 200 on the jet for typical commercial service.<\/p>\n<p>Along with offering tailored entertainment (including Apple iPads and wireless headphones for each customer) and high-end meal options, Beond plans to partner with <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/new-updated-maldives-resorts\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Maldives resorts<\/a> to ease the transfer process; many hotels there are generally only reachable by speedboat or seaplane.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-4252866712 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-2.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-2.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-2.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-2.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-2.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-2.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-2.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-2.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Aircraft-Interior-2.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-4252866712 figcaption\">BEOND<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The aircraft&#8217;s livery, unveiled Wednesday in Male, is a graphite gray color. The airline made a point to note that it is not too dark to cause any overheating issues, a problem that can stem from aircraft paint that&#8217;s too dark. (This was a key reason why an Air Force One redesign by former President Donald Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/air-force-one-new-colors-scrapped\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">fell through<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-4252866712 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_CabinCrew3.jpeg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_CabinCrew3.jpeg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_CabinCrew3.jpeg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_CabinCrew3.jpeg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_CabinCrew3.jpeg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_CabinCrew3.jpeg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_CabinCrew3.jpeg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_CabinCrew3.jpeg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_CabinCrew3.jpeg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-4252866712 figcaption\">BEOND<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One amenity the airline will notably not have on board? Inflight Wi-Fi. But, Taskila said, that&#8217;s by design.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The customer surveys say you go to the Maldives to detox,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They want to escape that hustle and bustle and being connected all the time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"booking-a-trip-on-beond\" class=\"jsx-3480274316 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-3480274316\">Booking a trip on Beond<\/h2>\n<p>Beond says its service will start at roughly $1,500 each way.<\/p>\n<p>We found some initial itineraries for slightly less than that, including this January round-trip journey between Munich and Male for $2,883.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-4252866712 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:27.125%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-booking.png?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-booking.png?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-booking.png?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-booking.png?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-booking.png?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-booking.png?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-booking.png?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-booking.png?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-booking.png?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-4252866712 figcaption\">BEOND<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Once you input your dates, you&#8217;ll have to choose between three fare types. &#8220;Delight&#8221; is the lowest level and includes a checked bag but does not include seat selection; seat selection starts at around $25 each way for this trip.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-4252866712 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:63.31250000000001%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-seat-selection.png?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-seat-selection.png?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-seat-selection.png?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-seat-selection.png?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-seat-selection.png?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-seat-selection.png?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-seat-selection.png?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-seat-selection.png?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/beond-seat-selection.png?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-4252866712 figcaption\">BEOND<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For around $300 more, a &#8220;Bliss&#8221; fare includes a complimentary limo ride to the airport, seat selection and lounge access.<\/p>\n<p>Another $300 or so gets you an &#8220;Opulence&#8221; ticket, giving you added ticket change flexibility.<\/p>\n<p>All passengers also get Fast Track security, and Taskila said the airline will arrange to have your bags transferred right to your hotel.<\/p>\n<p>In checking out, Munich customers can see a brief refueling stop is noted on the itinerary, planned for Dubai. Beond said passengers won&#8217;t deplane during the stop, and no other passengers will be allowed to board during the stop.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"is-flying-beond-worth-it\" class=\"jsx-3480274316 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-3480274316\">Is flying Beond worth it?<\/h2>\n<p>On top of all-premium seating, Beond&#8217;s biggest appeal to travelers has to be the direct access to Male, eliminating the need for a layover (even if your flight does have to make a refueling stop).<\/p>\n<p>Still, Beond seems to be banking that even a brief stop on the ground will be more convenient than making a connection, as 90% of passengers traveling to the Maldives currently do, according to Taskila.<\/p>\n<p>Generally, travelers have to stop at hubs like Dubai International Airport (DXB) when flying on Emirates, Doha&#8217;s Hamad International Airport (DOH) for Qatar, Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) for Etihad or elsewhere in the region.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/airline\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The best airline credit cards<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Notably, Beond does not plan to offer any sort of frequent flyer program for travelers, Taskila said, eliminating the possibility of redeeming points or miles for a flight aboard the premium carrier.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, U.S. travelers wanting to experience the airline&#8217;s service for the foreseeable future would have to book a flight to a city like Zurich or Munich.<\/p>\n<p>If you can find an ultra-cheap coach ticket to one of those cities and score Beond fares on the lower end of its spectrum, it&#8217;s not out of the realm of possibility that you could cobble together a workable split itinerary without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s common to find business-class tickets from New York to Male (with one or two stops along the way) for between $3,000 and $4,000.<\/p>\n<p>If you do opt for a split itinerary, just be sure to give yourself plenty of time between your flights.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-4252866712 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-origin-1_KGenter_87.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-origin-1_KGenter_87.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-origin-1_KGenter_87.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-origin-1_KGenter_87.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-origin-1_KGenter_87.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-origin-1_KGenter_87.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-origin-1_KGenter_87.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-origin-1_KGenter_87.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/07\/20230714_Hilton-Maldives-Amingiri-Resort_hilton-maldives-origin-1_KGenter_87.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-4252866712 figcaption\">KATIE GENTER\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a id=\"bottom-line\" class=\"jsx-3480274316 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-3480274316\">Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>Beond has ambitious plans as it seeks to become the world&#8217;s first all-premium leisure airline. It has an ultra-small fleet and route map to start but has major plans to scale its operation in the coming years.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the coming months \u2014 and years \u2014 will tell how successful the carrier is financially. Time will illustrate Beond&#8217;s ability to draw sufficient interest from passengers and overcome the myriad of challenges faced by startup airlines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new airline plans to launch operations to a top vacation destination next month aboard aircraft with all premium seating. Startup carrier Beond (pronounced &#8220;beyond&#8221;) plans to fly customers to the Maldives on narrow-body planes filled with lie-flat seats. With just a single aircraft and three routes to start, company leaders hope to rapidly expand [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4630,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel","entry","has-media","owp-thumbs-layout-horizontal","owp-btn-normal","owp-tabs-layout-horizontal","has-no-thumbnails","has-product-nav"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_Aircraft2.jpeg?w=1600&resize=1600,1067&ssl=1","rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_Aircraft2.jpeg?w=1600&resize=1600,1067&ssl=1",1600,1067,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_Aircraft2.jpeg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1",1200,0,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_Aircraft2.jpeg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1",1200,0,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_Aircraft2.jpeg?w=150&resize=150,150&ssl=1",150,150,false],"medium":["https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_Aircraft2.jpeg?w=300&resize=300,300&ssl=1",300,300,false],"large":["https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_Aircraft2.jpeg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1",1024,1024,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2023\/10\/Beond_Aircraft2.jpeg?w=1536&resize=1536,1536&ssl=1",1536,1536,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fast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href=\"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/category\/travel\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Travel<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"A new airline plans to launch operations to a top vacation destination next month aboard aircraft with all premium seating. Startup carrier Beond (pronounced &#8220;beyond&#8221;) plans to fly customers to the Maldives on narrow-body planes filled with lie-flat seats. With just a single aircraft and three routes to start, company leaders hope to rapidly expand&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4629"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4629"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4629\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4631,"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4629\/revisions\/4631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travelaffiliatewebsite.com\/mer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}