Air Astana may not be an airline you’re as familiar with as the big players, but that should change, says Nick Walton after a recent Air Astana flight between Hong Kong and Almaty.

Background

Kazakhstan’s Air Astana is proof of what you can accomplish when you put the right team together with the right vision. Launched in 2002, the airline operates 64 routes across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Asia and Europe from its main base in Almaty, and its secondary base at Nursultan’s Nazarbayev International Airport. In just two decades the airline has expanded its fleet to include state-of-the-art aircraft, including the new A320 Neo, won a host of awards, been accredited as a four-star airline by Skytrax, and single-handedly shaken off the stigma of aviation in the former Soviet bloc.

Check-in/The Lounge

While Air Astana passengers at Hong Kong International Airport once checked-in for flights in Terminal 2, with HKIA’s recent expansion the airline’s check-in desks have moved to the new aisle L, where a dedicated counter is assigned for business class passengers and silver and gold tier members of the airline’s Nomad Club. Friendly local staff quickly check my luggage and send me towards security and on to the Plaza Premium First lounge located near gate 5.

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Here the experience is a little hit and miss; a revolution in pay-in independent lounges, Plaza Premium First at HKIA is the first of a new brand of luxury lounges operated by Plaza Premium Group, a global aviation hospitality powerhouse. In addition to the First lounge, the Group operates an arrivals lounge at HKIA (the world’s first), and four more standard lounges, including new lounges located at gate 60 and 35.

After a 15 minute wait in line to get into the lounge, a staff member named Kapil, eyes me suspiciously and, after examining my boarding pass at length, reluctantly invites me into the space. It’s a strange first impression.

However, the experience gets much better once I’m inside; it’s breakfast time so I make for the lounge’s 40-seat a la carte restaurant Primo, where cheerful staff serve breakfast, in my case scrambled eggs and avocado on toast and a glass of champagne.

The lounge also has intimate relaxation areas, workstations, a self-service space with fresh salads and fruit, a cocktail bar that serves an impressive array of beverages ranging from Old and New World wines and tea-laced mocktails to barrel-aged cocktails and boutique whiskeys; and a small spa offering complimentary massages. The brand has also entered into innovative collaborations with brands like Lavazza, TWG and Beyond Meat to offer one of the best lounge experiences at HKIA.

While I’m in the lounge the boarding time is changed from 9.40 am to 10 am, giving me a little more time to get to gate 41, where we board the Air Astana 757-200 – one of the last 757 aircraft to come out of the factory in Everett – and are welcomed by vitalistic crew into a business class cabin with 16 seats in a 2-2 configuration.

The Seat

As soon as you walk into the business class cabin on the Air Astana 757, you know you’re in for something a little different. With minimalist seats in white leather and cabin lighting in soothing indigo, the vibe is that of a private jet rather than a commercial plane. Despite allocating my seat in advance using the Air Astana app (and double-checking a week out) my window seat has become an aisle seat. However, the cabin is only half full, so passengers quickly spread themselves out.

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The cabin’s business class seats are well spaced apart (especially those closest to the bulkhead) and what they lack in amenities they make up for in style. Ideally suited for mid-range journeys, especially during the day, the 21-inch wide seats are angled lie-flat when in bed mode, making them better suited for naps than longer sleeps, and feature AC ports, individual air nozzles, and plenty of storage.

As we prepare for departure, crew offer glasses of juice and water, and very stylish amenity kits (which I had a peek inside but then returned) that includes moisturizer, hand cream and lip balm from La Mer, as well as a comb, pen, eye mask, socks, and shoe shine kit, all housed in a very impressive leather case by Italian brand Bric’s (passengers are also offered a 20% discount on the brand’s leather goods).

Before long we’re taxiing to the eastern end of the southern runway at HKIA, taking off on time on the 6-hour 50-minute journey that sees us curl around the islands of Cheung Chau and Lamma before racing down the length of Victoria Harbour and turning north into Chinese air space.

Dining

As we have experienced in our many previous flights with Air Astana between Hong Kong and Almaty, the crew quickly begin the meal service after we reach cruising altitude. I opt for a Bloody Mary made with Kazakhstan’s own Snow Queen vodka to pair with the appetizer of sweet chili marinated prawns with smoked Norwegian salmon, and dory fish mousseline with lime. This is complemented by a mixed salad and, something few airlines do any more, a heart-warming butternut squash soup with paprika-garlic croutons. The prawns are delicate and flavourful and the soup is hearty and rich.

For the mains, we’re offered a choice of Chinese five-spiced duck with gai lan, jasmine rice, and steamed baby carrots; char-grilled beef tenderloin with tomato sauce, Parmesan arancini and baked red onions; tiger prawns with sweet and sour sauce, egg noodles, and mixed vegetables; and sweet and spicy braised tofu with eringi mushrooms, choy sum, and egg fried rice.

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While the beef, which I pair with a Royal Reserve Saperavi Chelti from Georgia, is quite tough and refuses to yield to my little airline knife, the dessert, a vanilla mousse with passionfruit coulis, is enough to bring a tear to the eye. Lunch also comes with a small box of bite-sized candy bars, which comes in handy during the transit in Almaty.

Service

Air Astana has always impressed us with its world-class and consistent service levels and this flight was no different. The attentive crew were not only warm and welcoming but efficient and professional and anticipated requests. Throughout the flight, cabin crew checked in on passengers, refilled drinks, and even offered suggestions for dining hotspots in Almaty.

Entertainment

The seats on the 757 don’t have a built-in entertainment system so after take off crew handed out headphones and tablets pre-loaded with a host of movies and television shows. However, if you’re looking for the latest shows or blockbusters, it might be wise to bring your own tablet or laptop, as I did, as well as your own noise reduction headphones if sound quality is something you take seriously.

What We Loved

While Air Astana’s business class seat is a little light on features, it’s always the crew that win us over, with their positive attitude and their attentive service. Major airlines could learn a thing or two from the boutique Kazakh carrier.

What We Didn’t

We could have done without the babies (plural) being changed at their seats, although I appreciate it’s tricky for parents as the 757’s bathroom is pretty tiny.

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Summary

We land in snowy Almaty, on time, sated and thoroughly relaxed after yet another impressive flight from the airline every frequent flyer should be keeping their eye on.

Air Astana Hong Kong to Almaty return in business class from US$2,700 per person. 

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