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

• La Compagnie and Beond are the only two airlines that fly solely business-class Airbus planes.

• The model is historically unsuccessful, but the airlines are banking on high-demand niche markets.

• I think both are splurge-worthy for people who want a bougie-but-affordable travel experience.

All-business-class carriers are among the rarest airlines in operation — and that's because the business model historically doesn't work.

British Airways, BermudAir, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines all previously tried these premium-focused planes, only to later ditch the system. The airlines cited challenges like high costs, fluctuating demand, and tough competition.

But the model hasn't died out yet. Two all-business-class airlines are in operation: France's La Compagnie and the Maldives-based Beond.

I've flown on both carriers, flying on La Compagnie from Paris to New Jersey in 2022 and then on Beond from Milan to Malé, the Maldives, in July 2023.

There were a few key differences, but I found both to be great alternatives to mainline competitors — and about as close as you can get to flying private with a commercial ticket.

Beond and La Compagnie have the same concept but fly in different markets.

While Beond is less than a year old, La Compagnie has been flying for a decade. Both operate Airbus narrowbody planes on long-haul flights to hot-spot destinations. Despite the age gap, they fly similarly limited routes.

Beond flies from Malé to Zurich, Munich, Milan, Dubai and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The airline also has a fifth-freedom route between Zurich and Dubai.

La Compagnie connects New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport to Milan, Paris, and Nice, France.

Both companies have room for expansion, with Beond having said it hopes to eventually expand to places like Bangkok, Tokyo, and Perth, Australia.

Both companies market their brands as "premium leisure" with affordable fares.

Both airlines are attracting customers with round-trip business-class tickets that are cheaper than mainline competitors.

La Compagnie's ticket prices start at $2,400, while Beond's are about $2,000. Both have fare tiers that offer various perks, like lounge access and extra luggage.

A round-trip flight from Milan to Malé in mid September costs $1,900 on Beond. The same round-trip itinerary in business class on Qatar's and Emirates' websites is about $3,000 and $3,200, respectively, which includes layovers in Doha on Qatar and Dubai on Emirates.

A round-trip flight on La Compagnie between Newark and Paris for next month is about $3,500. The cheapest nonstop business-class route on Delta Air Lines between Kennedy Airport in New York and Paris Charles de Gaulle is about $4,500.

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

Beond launched with a single 44-seater Airbus A319 that is 21 years old. The airline is actively retrofitting a second plane, this one a 22-year-old previous-generation Airbus A321-200, with 68 lie-flat seats, which is expected to enter service soon.

La Compagnie's fleet consists of two 76-seater next-generation Airbus A321neos that are just five years old. The airline said these aircrafts burn 30% less fuel than its previous Boeing 757 planes.

Beond can't fly every route nonstop.

La Compagnie's Airbus A321neos can easily make the transatlantic hop between the East Coast and Europe.

Beond's Airbus A319 has to stop for fuel at Al Maktoum International Airport, or Dubai World Central, between Europe and the Maldives. For my flight to and from Milan, passengers could stay on board for the hourlong stop while the plane was fueled, restocked, and recrewed.

I didn't mind the stop as it was more convenient than the layover that's typically required between Malé and most European cities. There was no disembarking and traversing crowded terminals and no risk of missing a connecting flight because of a delay.

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

Beond and La Compagnie have both configured their planes with lie-flat seats in a 2-by-2 layout.

The downside is that passengers can't freely access the aisle when the seat's in bed mode without disturbing their neighbor.

I found that because the airlines are targeting leisure customers, most people on board are couples or families, making the chances of two solo people being next to each other low.

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

There was little difference in the basics. I'm 5-foot-3 and easily fit in the beds, though most seats had small footwells that made sleeping on my stomach difficult.

Sleeping on my side or back was easy, though. Taller travelers on La Compagnie may want to book an exit-row seat for more legroom.

Both airlines lacked storage, with only a few small nooks and slots for things like extra clothes or electronics.

Passengers can book an ottoman seat for extra room on Beond.

There are eight special seats on Beond, four each in the first and exit rows. These have an ottoman that can double as a companion seat and a larger footwell for the bed.

La Compagnie offers extra-legroom seats but doesn't have the ottoman perk.

The airlines provide good linens and amenity kits.

Both companies provided blankets, an eyemask, a mattress cover, and pillows for sleeping. There were also dental kits and other toiletries for freshening up.

Beond's blanket was the softest I'd ever used on a plane, but the pillow on La Compagnie was more plush.

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

Most business classes have seatback screens with an accompanying remote, and La Compagnie was no different.

Beond, on the other hand, provided an iPad loaded with content that could be propped on a tablet holder in front of the seat. The table was connected to noise-canceling Beats, which was the best set of headphones I've ever had in business class.

Unpopular opinion: I preferred Beond's version.

I've raved that the tablet holder on American Airlines is perfect for my travel preference of catching up on reality TV, and it's the same case with Beond.

I came prepared for my flight with my Kindle tablet. It fit perfectly in the little holder, and I could even connect it to the provided headphones.

Beond lacks a middle divider, a headrest, and WiFi.

While I preferred Beond's in-flight-entertainment setup, I thought La Compagnie's seat was more comfortable because of the headrest and it was a little more private.

The middle divider provides more privacy when solo travelers get stuck next to a stranger. Beond's planes lacked this, but I still found that passengers were largely hidden away when sleeping.

There was no internet on Beond, while La Compagnie's was fast and free. Beond targerts leisure customers, so I understand it may not be a priority, but adding WiFi would make it more competitive.

Beond's technology is behind.

Beond launched in November and doesn't yet have an online-check-in system, so I had to visit the ticket counter before each flight to get my boarding pass.

La Compagnie let me get my boarding pass online so I could go straight to security. I suspect the check-in efficiency is on Beond's to-do list, but for now, manual it is.

La Compagnie has a gastronomy focus.

Part of La Compagnie's business model is partnering with Michelin-rated chefs to produce high-quality meals. I had two meals on La Compagnie, including the larger main meal and a smaller second one, where I could choose pastries or a tomato sandwich.

The main meal was the star, consisting of a cheese platter, a salmon-salad appetizer, a scallop entrée topped with truffles, pastries, and an apple tart.

All the meals were incredible, and it was easy to see how food-focused the airline was.

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

Because of the fuel stop, my Milan-Malé itinerary included four legs. I got one large meal on each, which meant I got to enjoy four nice selections of bread, appetizers, main courses, and desserts.

The company catered lobster tail on one of the flights, which was one of the best dishes I've ever had on a plane. Everything from chicken, cold cuts, and pasta to seafood, fruit, and brisket was also available.

Minus the goose-liver pâté, which I think is an acquired taste, I enjoyed every bite of food on Beond.

After flying on both airlines, I find it's like sharing a private jet.

Unlike a typical commercial plane that's split into first/business class and economy, everyone flying Beond and La Compagnie gets a bed and delicious food for a few thousand dollars. And the fewer seats on the planes mean check-in is quick, without any "gate lice" while boarding or traffic jams while deplaning.

Passengers won't get the truly private perk of bypassing security. But both airlines' lounge access for most fares and fast-track security and passport control at participating airports make the experience less stressful overall.

If you have a flexible budget and are eyeing a destination served by Beond or La Compagnie, I think it's worth splurging for the unique flying experience. And it could be cheaper and more convenient than a competitor — especially if it negates a layover.

I'm not convinced this business model can survive.

Mainline carriers are better equipped to respond to cost and demand changes because they can strategically price their economy and first/business cabins to offset dips in one or the other.

While my concerns about this business model apply to both airlines, I think Beond is in a tougher position since it's brand-new and operates in a seasonal market at a time when operating prices are more expensive than ever.

La Compagnie recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and reported its first profitable year in 2022.

La Compagnie also makes money via cargo operations and chartering a jet for luxury tourism. Beond has announced similar plans to rent out its Airbus fleet.

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

La Compagnie and Beond don't operate their flights every day, meaning there's less flexibility. There are few options if a maintenance issue takes either airline's tiny fleet out of service.

La Compagnie has partnered with the low-cost airline easyJet for connections to places like Rome and Geneva. Beond doesn't partner with other airlines at this point.

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

La Compagnie CEO Christian Vernet said in 2021 that the Airbus A321XLR, expected to start flying this year, would be a "good fit" for the carrier.

"That aircraft is going to be a bit better as far as performance is concerned, in terms of range, because it has more fuel, and it is supposed to be a bit lighter than the classic LR," he said.

Beond is also eyeing the jet. Company CEO Tero Taskila told Aerotime Hub in May that most of the 32 planes that Beond hopes to fly by 2035 will be longer-ranged A321neoLRs and A321XLRs, which would eliminate the fuel stop and open new markets.

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