Airline Review: Air Astana (Business Class)
Air Astana is the flag carrier of Kazakhstan, with direct flights to London, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, etc.. The main cities and city airports in Kazakhstan are Almaty (main hub), Astana (capital), Shymkent (capital of the south).
Air Astana markets two main products, Business and Economy, with no First Class.
At first I thought they are part of Star Alliance but till this day I have collected no mileage on my account. They have their own frequent flyer programme called Nomad Club, but as their network isn't very big now there is little chance of me taking frequent flights on Air Astana.
I think the Business Class product is still in development, as privileges and perks are quite limited. There is a very small lounge in Almaty and there is no lounge in Astana. In all these airports, however, is a lounge called CIP Lounge which you have to pay an extra US$100 to use. The CIP Lounge has its own toilets, a few couches and coffee tables laid out (the one in Almaty has little to offer, whereas the one in Shymkent is lined with snacks, sandwiches and drinks). The CIP Lounge is also available as an arrival lounge, where a separate bus will collect you from the plane and your checked-in luggage. When departing, the CIP Lounge does the security and check-in as well - basically, if you are using the CIP Lounge you will not step foot in the main airport terminal at all.
On board, seats are noticeably wider than Y with a little more leg room, but not much recline. There is no AVOD. Food service needs to improve as well in order to reach a more acceptable standard for J. One thing that shines is the flight attendants as service was courteous and attentive. Kazakh hospitality is first rate, and it's worth looking past other (temporary) inadequacies.
It is exciting to witness the development of such a country. While plenty of improvements are needed, I am optimistic about its future and look forward to experiencing Kazakh hospitality again.
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