When I booked my ticket on Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, I had no idea what to expect. In a world dominated by mega-carriers and flashy Gulf airlines, Air Astana quietly flies under the radar. But Kazakhstan’s flag carrier has been heavily investing in its onboard product and steadily expanding its international network, increasingly connecting Central Asia to the rest of Asia, Europe, and beyond.
My flight from Guangzhou (CAN) to Almaty (ALA) was operated by one of the airline’s newer Airbus A321LRs – a long-range narrowbody that has been making headlines for its increased comfort and range. In the last few years, Air Astana has been pivoting away from its fleet of older Boeing 767-300ERs (which I used to fly!) in its ambitions to modernize and streamline it’s fleet.
But I didn’t know what all this would actually mean for my flight. Would my experience remind me of European narrowbodies stuffed with thin Recaro seats (read: not great)? Would it carry a bit of Soviet austerity? Or – best-case scenario – would it feel like a cozy flying yurt, shepherded by kind Kazakh flight attendants?
Guangzhou to Almaty: The Competition is On
On this route, Air Astana competes with China Southern, another rising star – but they fly a much less comfortable Boeing 737MAX8. Interestingly enough, China Southern’s flight is blocked at at 7 hours and 5 minutes – nearly 30 minutes longer than the Air Astana flight.
This might be due to slower speeds, but it’s more likely the fact that Air Astana departs at 5:45AM, whereas China Southern departs at a much more comfortable 3:25PM.
Both airlines operate this route Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while Air Astana additionally flies it on Sunday. It’s interesting that they tend to compete on the same exact days rather than alternating.
In my research, China Southern prices seem lower most days – but you’re also getting a much less comfortable ride, as you’ll see soon. Both airlines include 20kg of checked luggage, but Air Astana’s cancelation fee is lower ($40) than China Southern’s ($85) while also allowing changes for the same $40 fee.
Air Astana Check-in at Guangzhou International Airport
Online check-in didn’t seem to work for this flight, so I headed to the airport counter instead. Thankfully, the process at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport was remarkably smooth; no queues, no confusion, and I had my boarding pass in hand within five minutes of clearing the initial airport entry checkpoint.
The only hiccup came when I realized I’d accidentally packed a small battery in my checked luggage. Chinese security staff caught it almost immediately and, to their credit, handled it efficiently and politely. Within a few minutes, I had retrieved it and continued on to the main security line without any delay.
I made quick pit stop at the China Southern Business Lounge using PriorityPass for a shower and a snack prior to a quite efficient boarding process after a quick 10 minute walk to the gate. There were 4 or 5 lounges included with PriorityPass, but I sadly did not have enough time to explore them all.
First impressions
As I stepped onboard, my first thought was simple: wow. The cabin looked modern and airy, the IFE screens were impressively large, and the color palette felt fresh and calm. The 2-1-2 layout up front in business immediately caught my eye, especially because I was tired from flying all night and the lie-flats looked very comfortable. Not bad at all for a mid-sized airline!
The interior design was genuinely beautiful: sleek overhead bins, soft ambient lighting, and a spacious layout that made the aircraft feel larger than it was. The A321LR’s quiet cabin and higher humidity levels added to the sense of comfort.
Seating, IFE, and Comfort
Economy was laid out in the familiar 3-3 configuration, but it felt noticeably roomier than average. The seat padding was firm but comfortable, and every seat had an individual entertainment screen, USB port, and adjustable headrest.
With 16 Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats, Air Astana configures their 321LRs very spaciously. Economy seats are entitled to 33″ of pitch, which is far more generous than most carriers.
And it was super noticeable. I was able to doze off around 4 hours – in economy class – thanks both to the ample legroom and 3″ of recline (using my favorite neck pillow doesn’t hurt either).
Blankets, water, a small pillow, and headphones were provided. There was also a surprisingly thoughtful amenity kit, featuring a toothbrush, earplugs, eye mask, pen, and wipe – a pleasant surprise for economy!
The IFE had a decent selection of movies and TV, but the moving map is where my screen was parked for most of the flight. There was no WiFi, but it’s my understanding that the 321LRs are configured for it, so hopefully it will become available sometime soon!
Unsurprisingly, the lavatories are stocked with high-quality soap and lotion – yet again a nice touch!
Service: Kazakh-style
Service was… let’s call it efficiently reserved. There’s still a hint of that post-Soviet stoicism – no excessive smiles or scripted “luxury” charm. But the flight attendants were attentive, responsive, and professional, which I honestly prefer to over-the-top fakery (especially when I just want to sleep).
As far as I can remember, the meal service was pretty efficient and quick. Speaking of….
Food
I (mostly) slept through meal service! As far as I can remember, there was a main hot meal at cruise and a light snack/sandwich before descent, both nicely presented. There was even a hot towel service, which instantly elevates the experience.
Conclusion
While I’m all for widebodies, I must admit that Air Astana does a phenomenal job making the narrowbody experience as good as it can get – especially for economy class. Every row feels like “Economy Plus”, with ample legroom, recline, padding, and thoughtful design touches. The modern IFE, USB plug, and outlet in combination with the beautiful lighting and interior design give the cabin an airy, elegant feel. Add in small but meaningful perks like the amenity kit, pre-departure water, and hot towel, and you have an economy experience that feels genuinely premium.
Hands-down, I wouldn’t hesitate to fly on Air Astana’s 321LR’s again, and I’d almost certainly choose them over competing carriers on the same routes – particularly ones not flying widebodies, which is increasing each and every year.
Air Astana A321LR Economy Class Ratings
| Category | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Check-In | ★★★★☆ | Smooth and efficient at Guangzhou, but online check-in didn’t work |
| Hard Product / Seats | ★★★★★ | Spacious 33″ pitch, good recline, and excellent comfort for a narrowbody |
| Soft Product / Service | ★★★☆☆ | Efficient and polite, but reserved – minimal warmth or interaction |
| In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) | ★★★★☆ | Large screens, good variety, clean interface, and a nice moving map |
| Meal Service | ★★★★☆ | Well-timed, hot towel service; better than regional peers |
Overall: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – Quietly excellent and surprisingly refined for a regional flag carrier.
[…] It doesn’t chase the over-the-top glamour of the Gulf airlines. Instead, as I wrote about in my Air Astana A321LR Economy Class Review, it delivers a more understated, yet polished and surprisingly refined kind of […]