Almaty International Airport Lounge Guide

Sitting beneath the snowy Tien Shan mountains, Almaty International (ALA) is Kazakhstan's main airport and a key gateway to Central Asia.

The June 2024 opening of Terminal 2, and ongoing renovation works in recent years, have completely modernised the airport. Since then, numerous brand new lounges have opened at Almaty International Airport. Some of these lounges are particularly unique, as they allow passengers to bypass the main terminal entirely.

This guide covers essential information on the terminal facilities and all lounges at Almaty International Airport, from the exclusive Air Astana Shanyraq Lounge to pay-per-use options like the Extime Business Lounge.

Almaty International Airport has 3 terminals:

• Terminal 1: Domestic flights

• Terminal 2: International flights

• General Aviation Terminal (formerly VIP Terminal): A separate facility for private jets and official delegations

Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 sit side by side, and are connected by a short indoor walkway on the landside. It takes about 5 minutes to walk between these two terminals, but note that you’ll need to fully clear security and immigration when switching terminals.

All lounges at Almaty International Airport are open 24/7, reflecting the round-the-clock nature of the operations at this airport.

There are a few things to note, as some of the lounges in Almaty work differently to traditional airport lounges.

Of the 7 lounges at Almaty International Airport, 5 are VIP lounges. These are not freely accessible from within the airside areas of the airport, but the general public can still buy access to most of them.

When using a VIP lounge on departure, you'll enter the lounge directly from the street and check in for your flight inside the lounge. You'll also clear security through a private checkpoint inside the lounge, and when it's time to board, a staff member will escort you directly to your plane. If the plane is parked at an apron position, you'll even get a private car transfer.

To use a VIP lounge on arrival, advance booking is required. When your flight lands, a staff member will meet you at the aircraft and escort you directly to the arrivals lounge. A porter will collect your checked luggage and personally deliver it to either you or your driver. If you're arriving on an international flight, you'll also complete arrival formalities within the lounge.

None of the lounges at Almaty International Airport have a dedicated Wi-Fi network for lounge guests.

Instead, passengers can connect to the general airport Wi-Fi. This offers a high-speed connection, but you would need to provide an SMS verification code or your ID to connect. The airport Wi-Fi reaches all of the lounges.

Dedicated to international flights, Terminal 2 offers the most lounges.

In addition to those listed below, a Freedom Holding Corp Business Lounge is being constructed near the Air Astana Shanyraq Lounge. An opening date for this lounge has not yet been announced.

Let's take a closer look at each of the lounges currently open in Terminal 2:

The Extime Business Lounge, located after passport control in the international terminal, is the most accessible lounge at Almaty International Airport.

It's a comfortable space above the main departure hall with a well-stocked buffet, dedicated bar, and lots of amenities including luggage lockers, a smoking room, and a play area for children.

Terminal 2, airside. Turn left after passport control and security, and take the lift up to the lounge which is on the mezzanine level above the main concourse.

24 hours daily

• Buffet with hot and cold food

• Dedicated bar serving beer, wine, and spirits

• Hot and cold non-alcoholic drinks

• Showers (extra charge applies of 7,000 KZT, which is around US$15)

• Restrooms

• Luggage storage lockers with chargers inside, and coat hangers

• Children's play area

• Mother's room

• Smoking room

• Meeting room (extra charge applies of 22,500 KZT per hour, which is around US$50 per hour)

• Duty-free store within the lounge precinct

• Flexible Day Pass:

• Other Advance Purchase Options:

  • Plaza Premium sells 3 hours of access to this lounge for US$70.

• Airline Status/Class:

  • Business/first class passengers and eligible frequent flyers on the following airlines: Air China, Asiana, Azerbaijan Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, flydubai, Loongair, Qatar Airways, S7 Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietjet Air, and Turkish Airlines.

• Memberships:

  • Access for up to 3 hours is complimentary for eligible members of TAV Passport. TAV Passport members are entitled to bring one guest and children aged under 18 with them into the lounge.

  • Dragonpass, Dreamfolks and LoungeKey members can access this lounge as per their membership benefits.

  • Complimentary guest entitlements will depend on how you have obtained your membership with any of these programs.

• Cardholders:

  • Access is available with cards offering Dragonpass or LoungeKey memberships. Examples include:

    • Dragonpass via Visa Airport Companion (Visa Platinum/Infinite/Signature)

    • LoungeKey via eligible Mastercards

    • Mastercard Travel Pass

• Walk-Up Access: You can purchase a pass at the reception desk directly for 35,000 KZT (US$75).

The Shanyraq Lounge is the flagship international business lounge of Air Astana, Kazakhstan's national carrier.

This modern lounge pays homage to Kazakhstan's rich culture. Even the name, "Shanyraq", is a reference to the traditional Kazakh yurt - whose design is also incorporated into the lounge itself.

It features many of the same amenities you would find in the Extime Business Lounges, with a few differences. One key highlight is the food - the extensive buffet includes traditional Central Asian dishes like lagman, and there's even a live cooking station where you can order freshly made eggs for breakfast or pasta for lunch and dinner.

The Shanyraq Lounge has two shower suites, which are available free of charge for lounge guests.

Level 2 of Terminal 2, opposite Gate 201, in the international departures area. Turn right after passport control to reach the lifts that lead up to this lounge.

24 hours daily

• Buffet with hot and cold food

• Live cooking station

• Hot and cold drinks, including alcoholic drinks from a dedicated bar

• Showers (included, and subject to availability)

• Restrooms

• Napping area

• Mother's room

• Luggage storage lockers

• Airline Status/Class:

  • Air Astana passengers on international flights in business class, Economy Sleeper, or holding Nomad Club Gold or Diamond status.

The Extime VIP Lounge for international departures is located within the same precinct as the Extime Business Lounge, but is actually a separate lounge. (Only the toilets, smoking room and shower facilities are shared with the Business Lounge.)

If you visit the Extime Business Lounge, you'll walk past the entrance to the VIP Lounge as you head in.

The VIP Lounge looks and feels similar to the neighbouring Business Lounge, but is quieter and offers extra amenities and services like an à la carte dining menu. It also has a more comprehensive drinks list, with more wines and spirits available.

Private meeting and VIP rooms are available in this lounge for an extra charge. The VIP rooms include a private lounge area and bathroom.

One of the key benefits of buying access to the VIP Lounge is that you can actually enter the airport through a separate entrance around the side of Terminal 2. Here, you'll check-in for your flight and clear security and passport control at a private checkpoint with no queues, before being escorted upstairs to the VIP Lounge. There is no longer a fast-track lane for security and passport control in the main terminal, so this is a big benefit.

As you'd expect, these extra "VIP" services come at a higher price.

The VIP lounge entrance for international departures is located around the north side of Terminal 2, with access directly from the street. There are signs outside Terminal 2 directing to the entrance. (This also doubles up as the exit to the Extime VIP Lounge for international arrivals.)

24 hours daily

• Private check-in, security & passport control, with a personal escort to the lounge and to your plane

• Buffet with hot and cold food

• À la carte dining menu

• Dedicated bar with a comprehensive range of beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks and hot drinks available

• Showers (included, and subject to availability)

• Restrooms (shared with the Extime Business Lounge)

• Luggage storage lockers with chargers inside

• Children's play area

• Mother's room

• Smoking room (shared with the Extime Business Lounge)

• Landside and airside meeting rooms (extra charge applies of 45,000 KZT (US$97) per hour)

• VIP rooms (extra charge applies of 115,000 KZT for 3 hours, which is around US$245)

• Duty-free store within the lounge precinct

Access to the Extime VIP Lounge for international departures costs 95,000 KZT (US$204).

Children under 2 are free of charge, while children aged 2-12 and people with disabilities can get a 50% discount.

The only way to access the VIP lounge (which includes the various VIP services) is to purchase it directly from the lounge operator. There are 3 ways to do this:

• Pre-book access by emailing extime.almaty@tav.aero

• Pre-book access over the phone, by calling +7 727 357 46 79 (for urgent requests only)

• Walk-up access without a reservation is available for departures, with payment made directly at the VIP lounge reception.

Almaty Airport also offers a VIP lounge for international arrivals.

If you book this service, a staff member will meet you at your aircraft and take you directly to the Extime VIP Lounge for international arrivals. A porter will collect your luggage, and you'll clear passport control and customs within the lounge.

The international arrival lounge itself is much smaller than the departure lounges, but it serves a different purpose. It's designed as a place to quickly freshen up and grab a snack or a drink, before leaving the terminal through a private exit.

Ground floor, Terminal 2, on the north side of the main building. This lounge is not accessible from the main terminal area.

24 hours daily

• Personal escort from your plane to the lounge

• Cold snacks

• Alcoholic, hot and soft drinks

• Smoking room

• Restrooms

Access to the Extime VIP Lounge for international departures costs 80,000 KZT (US$172).

Children under 2 are free, while children aged 2-12 and persons with disabilities receive a 50% discount.

Advance booking is required, and must be done at least 1 hour before your flight lands. The only way to access this lounge is to pre-book directly with the operator.

There are 2 ways to book this lounge:

• Pre-book access by emailing extime.almaty@tav.aero

• Pre-book access over the phone, by calling +7 727 357 46 79 (for urgent requests only)

The only lounges available in Almaty's domestic terminal are Extime Lounges, which operate in a similar way to the Extime VIP Lounges in the international terminal.

The Extime VIP Lounge for domestic departures is a strong option for people flying from Almaty to other destinations within Kazakhstan, who don't mind paying a reasonable price for extra comfort and convenience.

This newly opened lounge offers a dedicated check-in area and lots of amenities. When it's time to board your flight, a staff member will find you and escort you directly to your plane.

This is a fairly large lounge, and it's rarely busy, so peace, quiet and privacy is almost guaranteed.

The entrance to this lounge on the ground floor of Terminal 1 is directly from the street, outside the airport, between Terminals 1 and 2.

24 hours daily

• Private check-in & security checkpoint, with a personal escort to your plane

• Buffet with hot and cold food

• Alcoholic, hot and soft drinks

• Luggage lockers

• Smoking room

• Prayer room

• Restrooms

• Shower (this is still under construction, but will be included in the price once open)

• Meeting and VIP rooms (also still under construction, and will attract an additional charge once open)

Access to the Extime VIP Lounge for domestic departures costs 35,000 KZT (US$75).

The only way to access the VIP lounge and services is to purchase it directly from the lounge operator. There are 3 ways to do this:

• Pre-book access by emailing extime.almaty@tav.aero

• Pre-book access over the phone, by calling +7 727 357 46 79 (for urgent requests only)

• Walk-up access without a reservation is available for departures, with payment made directly at the lounge reception.

By purchasing access to this lounge, you'll be met at your plane and escorted directly to the domestic arrivals lounge. This is located beside the domestic departures lounge, and even shares its bar and buffet, but is a separate space with fewer overall amenities.

Ground floor of Terminal 1, with an exit directly out to the street (near the domestic departures lounge entrance).

24 hours daily

• Personal escort from your plane to the lounge

• Buffet with hot and cold food

• Alcoholic, hot and soft drinks

• Restrooms

Access to the Extime VIP Lounge for domestic arrivals costs 26,900 KZT (US$58).

The only way to access the VIP lounge and services is to purchase it directly from the lounge operator. There are 2 ways to do this:

• Pre-book access by emailing extime.almaty@tav.aero

• Pre-book access over the phone, by calling +7 727 357 46 79 (for urgent requests only)

The General Aviation Terminal at Almaty International Airport is located away from Terminals 1 and 2, in a separate part of the airport. It is mainly used for charter flights and private aviation, and is not accessible to passengers on commercial flights.

The Primeclass VIP Lounge is located within the General Aviation Terminal, and has separate sections for domestic and international passengers.

This lounge offers a bar service, cold snacks and a shower. But the main selling point is its exclusivity - and the price reflects that.

Inside the General Aviation Terminal

24 hours daily

• Dedicated bar serving premium alcoholic, soft and hot drinks

• Cold snacks

• Shower

• Restrooms

Bookings for this lounge are not available to the general public.

Spending the night at Almaty International Airport is challenging outside the lounges. There are no designated sleeping areas or quiet zones. Terminal 2 is cleaner and slightly more comfortable but still not designed for overnight stays.

For real rest, you can book lounge access to give you padded seating, food, and relative quiet until morning, though stays are usually capped at three hours.

Alternatively, the Caps Lock capsule hotels at the far ends of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer private pods with lockers, fresh linen, slippers, climate control, and shared showers. Rates range from 14,000 KZT (US$30) for 3 hours to 28,000 KZT (US$60) for a full 12-24 hour block. Pods are quiet but minimalist, so bring a sleep mask and earplugs, and book ahead during peak periods. A surcharge may apply if occupancy levels are high.

Check out the brief video below by 'CAPS LOCK Future Hotel' to get a closer look at the pods:

Almaty International Airport has transformed with the opening of its new international terminal, bringing modern lounges and improved facilities, though comfort still depends heavily on booking lounge access.

Many of the lounges at Almaty International Airport are VIP lounges which are separated from the main terminals. Most of these are available to the general public, but you would need to book directly with the lounge operator.

For most passengers departing on international flights, the Extime Business Lounge is a great option. This lounge is available to members of multiple credit card and lounge programs, or you can simply purchase instant access from LoungePair.