AFF Review: Air Astana A321LR Business Class (BKK-ALA)

[AFF Editor]

Review: Air Astana’s Excellent A321LR Business Class is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

Review: Air Astana's Excellent A321LR Business Class

The national airline of Kazakhstan, Air Astana offers a fantastic lie-flat Business Class product on its Airbus A321neo LR. In this review, find out why Air Astana is my favourite airline as I fly from Bangkok to Almaty.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[OZDUCK]

Looks to be a very solid offering and the food seems excellent.

 

[2APlease]

Matt, left field and fascinating, will you be posting on the follow-on flights?

 

[AFF Editor]

Matt, left field and fascinating, will you be posting on the follow-on flights?

I was planning to post a review of one other flight that I did with Air Astana in Economy, but not the rest of the Business flights as things might get a bit repetitive

But if there's anything you'd like to know about the other flights, let me know.

 

[2APlease]

I'd be interested in the experience consistency in business class across flights and aircraft if your travels permitted.

 

[AFF Editor]

@2APlease here are a few photos from some other flights I took on the same trip.

First up, ALA-SCO-LHR on KC663. This was a direct flight with just a fuel stop in Aktau, where there was a crew change and a few more passengers boarded. No passengers were allowed off the plane in Aktau.

For this flight, I had chosen a throne seat (4E).



There was a meal service on both sectors. On the first leg, I got to try "Kazy" - a national dish which is a horse sausage. Not for everyone, but I found it quite nice. There were several other hot meal options but I chose to give this a go.



Approaching and landing in Aktau:




This was the menu for the second leg:



This was another excellent multi-course meal service. And the service was just as good as on the Bangkok-Almaty flight, especially from the purser Baglan.






I must admit, in 2023 it did feel slightly strange to land in London and then hear a landing announcement in Russian (in between the Kazakh and English).

 

[AFF Editor]

On the return journey, I flew out of Frankfurt and was on the world's youngest Boeing 767 from FRA-NQZ. This flight (KC922) normally leaves Frankfurt around 7pm, but due to planned runway works in Astana it was rescheduled to leave a few hours earlier on this particular day.

Air Astana has a 1-2-1 layout on its 767 in Business and I was in 1K for this flight with lots of space.



This was the menu from FRA-NQZ:



Again, an excellent meal service which began with a hot towel and champagne.

 

[Myrna]

Thanks, Matt. Enjoyed reading the trip report / flight reviews. Would like to try Air Astana one day. The fares were very affordable for the route you took.

 

[2APlease]

Matt, many thanks for the bonus photos and comments.

 

[Oceanic]

Thank you, Matt, for sharing. I am already planning to visit Uzbekistan en-route to Europe shortly, and you have sparked my interest in adding Uzbekistan to my schedule. I enjoy and make it my policy of trying new Carriers and your detailed favourable report on Air Astana has most certainly got by attention!

 

[Oceanic]

adding Kazakhstan i meant to say.

 

[1022]

On the return journey, I flew out of Frankfurt and was on the world's youngest Boeing 767 from FRA-NQZ. This flight (KC922) normally leaves Frankfurt around 7pm, but due to planned runway works in Astana it was rescheduled to leave a few hours earlier on this particular day.

Air Astana has a 1-2-1 layout on its 767 in Business and I was in 1K for this flight with lots of space.

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This was the menu from FRA-NQZ:

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Again, an excellent meal service which began with a hot towel and champagne.

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I wonder if the parsimonious bean counters at QF have seen the size of these business class meals on Air Astana!

 

[Gremlin]

I wonder if the parsimonious bean counters at QF have seen the size of these business class meals on Air Astana!

In all seriousness, why should they? In no real sense are QF competing with KC.

 

[1022]

It was a tongue in cheek comment on the fact that people often complain that the serving sizes in J on QF are too small and not filling

 

[schnitzel travellers bro]

What a wonderful review this was Matt. It's great seeing travellers consider other airlines for their travel needs other than the usual airlines. I wish you had posted the other business class flight you took with air Astana. Traveller schnitzel was always encouraging the followers to consider alternative airlines for cost savings. Keep up the great work your doing

 

[Chicken]

I think most cabins especially in business are a little darker, but because the whole cabin is white grey, it looks very bright to the eyes. Is it just me?

 

[AIRwin]

First up, ALA-SCO-LHR on KC663. This was a direct flight with just a fuel stop in Aktau, where there was a crew change and a few more passengers boarded. No passengers were allowed off the plane in Aktau.

No more fuel stop:

Air Astana NW24 London Heathrow Service Changes — AeroRoutes

Published at 0700GMT 06SEP24 Air Astana in Northern winter 2024/25 season is adjusting service to London, as the airline schedules nonstop terminator Almaty – London Heathrow route from 27OCT24, replacing existing Almaty – Aktau – London Heathrow service. The carrier’s Airbus A321neo LR operates

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[AFF Editor]

I think most cabins especially in business are a little darker, but because the whole cabin is white grey, it looks very bright to the eyes. Is it just me?

I didn't really find this to be the case. The cabin appears modern and clean, but the colourful mood lighting offsets the brightness and the window shades are lowered during the middle of the flight and on night flights anyway.