primeclass Business Lounge

primeclass Business Lounge – Almaty (ALA)

The primeclass Business Lounge is currently the only club at Almaty Airport. (The other lounge, dubbed CIP Lounge and Capsule Hotel, closed permanently during the COVID pandemic.)

Located in the international departure concourse, immediately after immigration and security, the primeclass Business Lounge welcomes most elite and business class passengers, as well as Priority Pass members.

The club was remodeled in 2018. In 2021, TAV Airports, a major airport services provider, took over Almaty Airport operations, and rebranded the Business Lounge as the primeclass Lounge, though the decor and amenities haven’t changed.

primeclass Business Lounge ALA design

primeclass Business Lounge – Almaty (ALA)

Designed in partnership with the Chivas whisky brand, the primeclass Business Lounge at Almaty airport aims to emulate an upper-scale whiskey bar with dark-wood bookcases and inviting couches. The space is certainly a dramatic step up from the drab public concourse, but the decor misses the mark. The white floor, red furniture, mirrors, and harsh neon lighting clash inharmoniously, and the prominent advertising banners on the walls are tacky. Considering that most international flights depart Almaty at the wee hours of the morning, a more subdued ensemble would have been a better fit to help soothe the senses.

Sandwiched between restaurants and duty free stores, the club lacks windows and daylight. Although the lounge is generally quiet and underutilized, noise from the terminal frequently enters through the automatic door.

primeclass Business Lounge – Almaty (ALA)

Guests have their choice of comfortable couches or lounge chairs. Every seat comes with a coffee table, and power outlets are available along the walls. However, the lounge lacks a proper dining area.

Ultimately, comfort and privacy are the major draws of the primeclass Business Lounge at Almaty airport. The space is unremarkable, but the club is nevertheless a haven away from the bustle of the public concourse.

primeclass Business Lounge ALA amenities

The primeclass Business Lounge at Almaty airport functions primarily as a private bar and restaurant: virtually all food and beverages come at a cost, and a steep one at that. At the time of writing, a Caesar salad cost 3,800 Tenge, while a modest chicken dish was priced at 5,000 Tenge. In addition, the lounge assess a 10% service charge, even though the staff displays a remarkably unfriendly attitude. Furthermore, there is even a charge for water.

primeclass Business Lounge – Almaty (ALA)

Guests are prohibited from bringing their own food and beverages into the lounge, with a notable exception: Priority Pass members receive a voucher for a set menu at an adjacent coffee shop and snack bar, and they’re allowed to bring their food inside the lounge. Options include sandwiches, meat or cheese plates, salads, desserts, soft drinks, beer, and liquor. Incredibly, bottled water is not an option. The voucher is valid only for a single use.

Premium customers flying with major airlines (including Asiana, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and China Southern at the time of writing) fare slightly better, as they receive a one-time coupon to visit the cordoned-off buffet area within the lounge, and therefore do not need to fight the crowds at the snack bar. However, the meager spread is rather unappealing.

While the primeclass Lounge Almaty is ostensibly sponsored by Chivas, the value of the partnership is unclear to guests: there is not a free drink in sight.

The primeclass Business Lounge Almaty does not have Wi-Fi. Guests are welcome to use the airport’s network, but the login procedure requires a local phone number, making the service off-limits to most international visitors.

Other amenities include bathrooms (which were dirty when we visited, though perhaps less so than the public facilities outside the lounge) as well as two computers.

primeclass Business Lounge ALA bottom line

The primeclass Business Lounge at Almaty airport is essentially a subpar and overpriced restaurant that masquerades as an airport lounge.

primeclass Business Lounge – Almaty (ALA)

There’s nothing to look forward to at the primeclass Lounge Almaty, save for a relatively quiet and comfortable place to sit, power outlets, a decent amount of privacy, and an escape from the noisy and crowded public concourse.

Even keeping in mind the locale—Almaty is not a premium market, and the previous incarnation the club used to be even worse—the shortcomings of the Business Lounge are difficult to ignore. The lack of Wi-Fi, dirty bathrooms, and surly staff are unfortunate, but charging for water is the ultimate low.

primeclass is typically an upscale brand. The current facilities predate TAV’s takeover, and the new operator will hopefully substantially improve the Almaty Airport business lounge soon. Down the road, the opening of the new Almaty airport terminal should transform the lounge experience.