00:00 highlights. 00:20 introduction. 00:55 journey through Kazakhstan begins. 01:45 the train review. 02:55 journey entertainment, positive and negative sides. 06:38 short stopover in Almaty. 07:17 Almaty airport. 07:48 Airastana. Boarding. 09:32 take-off. 10:20 catering. 11:23 flat bed business class seat option. 12:30 after landing at Tbilisi. 13:57 Buta airways boarding. 15:29 takeoff from Tbilisi, quick catering and landing at Baku. 16:40 hotel accommodation. 17:30 short journey review.
Hello Josh! Thank you for your review! The spouse of Air Astana's president Tatyana Foster posted an Instagram story about your video and said that it was great and I agree with her! You are one of the most often flying bloggers with our airline, maybe only David @simplyaviation has flown more than you. Air Astana shouldn't leave a comment under this video and there are two main reasons: firstly, because you are a self funded blogger and secondly, this review contains information about another airline and compares to Air Astana, that brand according to your opinion was weaker. But as an unofficial fanclub of Air Astana we are free of restrictions, so we can confirm that Air Astana has a strong branding strategy. Appreciate, Josh! Hopefully, we'll get a response from you.
Wow Josh, I didn't know Air Astana did 91 destinations... (ex-Cathay CEO) Peter Foster has done a great job. Blew me away when you said "best ever" --- thanks to your recommendation I spent 45 mins looking at AA's website! Will definitely try them out --- May start an office in Shymkent, but will have a good look at Astana also!
I live now in Almaty and regularly fly Air Astana in C, mostly short haul and it's amazing. Tried ALA-IST and was blown away , 10000x better than TK. Wish that they were part of Star Alliance
Very interesting trips! I'm a bit surprised that in these modern times, the train in Kazakhstan didn't have any sort of air conditioning in the first class car, although there WAS a nice private shower. Fun fact - Almaty (then Alma-Ata) was the only destination for supersonic Tupolev TU-144 regularly-scheduled passenger services from Moscow between 1977 and 1978. I wonder if that is the original terminal from way back then?? Definitely time for a new one!
There is air conditioning in those trains, at least in the first class. I've travelled the exact same route last summer and can confirm this. Maybe the ac was broken on his trip idk.
Thanks to this video, I tried the throne seat on Air Astana A321neo LR and what an amazing experience it was. I flew from Astana to Aktau so it was about a 2-hour 40 minute flight. As Josh said, it's definitely one of the best airlines in the world, and it's also my personal favourite.
Thank you for the review of the train and plane. I love Kazakhstan, lived and flew there for 6 years, many of my friends are flying with Air Astana. Looking forward to your next review :)
The more I see videos about Kazakhstan, the more eager I am to visit. I'm also eager to try Air Astana. Can't help it, but that business class flight attendant is absolutely gorgeous!
On the Buta flight, it did seem like the male cabin crew member was actually making an effort to get the passengers to sit down after the landing. You can see him rushing through the aisle.
Josh, I can't watch all the videos on your channel, maybe you've already flown. But you still have the opportunity to fly a Soviet Yak-42 in Russia. I think there are several years left until they are written off from us.
As always, a fun video. Enjoyed your comments on the old Russian apartment blocks. Have seen many over the years and think they are now Retro Hip.Thanks.
Hello from Kazakhstan Josh. We are very proud that Air Astana was your favourite airline. We adore to watch your travel experience, keep going my friend 🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿
Great video, Josh. Baku is on my bucket list. I had a similar experience on Ethiopian several years ago. Passengers got out of their seats and opened the overhead bins before the aircraft vacated the runway. The cabin crew let them be. They were not assertive at all.
Sorry you didn't get so much time in Almaty. The scenery is amazing especially if you get up into the mountains. Also if you skip across the border to Kyrgyzstan, that's also beautiful especially lake Issyk Kul which is amazing.
Loved it Josh, covered 40 hours of train in just 6 min and the rest is about flying experience. So tempting now to do some sort of central Asian tour. BTW did Qatar offer any apologies yet or we still not using that airlines?
Air Astana offer an excellent onboard experience to customers from what I've seen. I would like to try them one day. Really nice review Josh! keep it up!
Yes I love the old Soviet style apartment blocks specially in Poland. It was a sense of community that I liked and the trees in the grass. Everything seems so familiar with that with a little shop usually in the basement and everybody knows your business. That’s what some of the architecture was so beautiful and ugly at the same time, but to me beautiful.
Philippines and japan again this year, not getting in a rut just love japan, like your fav airline japan is my fav country. as usual great video, you well deserved your award for certain.
I love this video as it covers the best of both worlds; trains and planes. Kazakhstan is a hidden gem for any lover of the former Soviet Union republics. I'm a huge fan of these countries as I visited them all except Turkmenistan and loved them all. Josh mentioned a valid point about the temperature inside the sleeper train and I totally agree. I have no idea why they always switch on the heater to the maximum on board these night trains in Kazakhstan and Russia! About Air Astana, they're spectacular and I don't exaggerate if I say that they're one of the top airlines in the world but the terminal in Almaty is a real pain and totally contradicts the high quality of Air Astana. I really hope the new terminal will be ready soon. About Astana airport, oh yeah, it's lovely! Thanks for the great video about the beautiful country of Kazakhstan!
I absolutely love Soviet architecture. My friends don't understand why I do, but I do. Too bad you didn't spend time in Tbilisi...a great city. Baku is nice, too. I'll be flying Air Astana several times in July when I visit Almaty and Astana and other neighboring cities. Glad to know you love it.
How wonderful to get up on Saturday morning and se a new post from my favourite traveler. I, too, love the train and am saving up to travel across Canada on Via One! I wonder if the black dumplings have squid ink? High praise indeed from such an honest reviewer.
That was interesting to see what kind of smell was it? 😆 I share the same love for the architecture 💕grow up in these old buildings as well. I guess they stick on you for life😁 Every time I traveled and seen them I was so exited, I thought I was the only one been weird 🤣
In addition to all the great flight reports so far, now I definitely have to give special praise to the first part of this video, wonderful train trip report ❤
What a great journey. Shame for the temperature issues on the train. The cabin looked very nice. And then first the best airline followed by the worst. Look forward to see more combined traveljourneys.
I’m newly subscribed to your channel, although I’ve watched a few of your videos before - recommended by a number of Avgeeks I already follow. Congratulations on your recent award - as I get to see more of your videos, I understand why your channel has almost 700,000 subscribers. Great job on giving us a very varied experience of some of the best and some of the less desirable travel experiences and I appreciate your honest reviews - keep up the great work of making me realize I haven’t even scratched the surface of my own travels around the world 🙏
1st flight was splendid. You know you're in Asia when the wheels hit the ground and everyone jumps up all at the same time immediately ready to deplane well before arriving at the gate. lol
Josh with another amazing review, Always love it ❤. Just small correction. You said the crew didn’t give a shit about asking the passengers to remain seated however I saw a male cabin crew approaching from the aft and asking them to be seated. I mean I saw it in the end of the video so tell me if I missed on something 😅
We appreciate you not getting proper sleep to show us all these great traveling experiences. Great mixed review travels with train and plane. But looks like you could use a new travel case watching you picking up at the luggage carousel. I have to Google Salmon Manti now. Safe travels.
It's ok to have a favourite airline but in many circumstances depends on when and where you want to go. I worked in DLC for some time so as a Skyteam hub some good and not so good experiences sometimes at high prices as no way to use credit card in China from Western bank online but no choice. I got used to it as 6 local airlines out of there incl Jal,NH and KE for European trips. Note after understanding airspace restrictions also made my selections asset like not having tight connections in PVg or CAN
Those "ugly-beautiful" buildings look very similar to older buildings that I encountered (visited and stayed in) in and around Helsinki when I was a child visiting my grandparents and other relatives in Finland!!🇫🇮 It brought back some great memories! 🥰❤️
Please keep in mind, for some of those people in Azerbaijan the airline is just fine. It is someone's livelihood, and local economy needs these low cost crappy planes, to carry people that otherwise may not be able to afford a proper posh and poofy airlines! I understand having standards, but when you have never been on an airplane, most people can appreciate a funny looking sandwich, and a low cost airline! Great videos!
Hi, Josh, Great Video as always, the train $80 ticket for 1st class and you get a shower, refreshing option for sure, OK, but not great. Air Astana, I believe I commented on one of your Air Astana videos, it's nice and way nicer than a lot of airlines out there too. It's No Emirates Business class wow factor, but it is quite nice. I would love to fly with them, but they need to start flying here first, which I have heard could probably be in the cards anyway Batu Airways was it. Catastrophe very dated seats, and while standing and moving whilst a plane is landing is no laughing matter and a Major Major Safety violation, it reminds me of taking the public bus here, the bus hasn't fully stopped in a lot of cases and people are already moving towards the front of the bus. Sacre bleu as the French would say.
How was the experience of reviewing the train along with airline-related content? And of course, people will hurry to leave the flight due to suffocation because of bad smell and experience so it's a normal thing. But due to you buddy, I came to know about new places, countries peoples and environments. All the best for your journey and future flights.
00:00 highlights.
00:20 introduction.
00:55 journey through Kazakhstan begins.
01:45 the train review.
02:55 journey entertainment, positive and negative sides.
06:38 short stopover in Almaty.
07:17 Almaty airport.
07:48 Airastana. Boarding.
09:32 take-off.
10:20 catering.
11:23 flat bed business class seat option.
12:30 after landing at Tbilisi.
13:57 Buta airways boarding.
15:29 takeoff from Tbilisi, quick catering and landing at Baku.
16:40 hotel accommodation.
17:30 short journey review.
Hello Josh!
Thank you for your review! The spouse of Air Astana's president Tatyana Foster posted an Instagram story about your video and said that it was great and I agree with her! You are one of the most often flying bloggers with our airline, maybe only David @simplyaviation has flown more than you. Air Astana shouldn't leave a comment under this video and there are two main reasons: firstly, because you are a self funded blogger and secondly, this review contains information about another airline and compares to Air Astana, that brand according to your opinion was weaker.
But as an unofficial fanclub of Air Astana we are free of restrictions, so we can confirm that Air Astana has a strong branding strategy. Appreciate, Josh! Hopefully, we'll get a response from you.
“I have showered on a plane, I have showered on a train…..” Dr Seuss
My brain: "I've showered on a boat, I've showered with a goat..." I should get more sleep 😂
I hope that means greatest of all time ….
😂😂😂@@BlueHound
Nostalgia to green ham and egg😢
plane, train, brain drain; plane is faster than train, don't fly in train and ride on a plane; LOL
Oohhhh a mix of Railway & Airline review, lovely video Josh!
Not just 1, but 2 airlines to boot.
Wow Josh, I didn't know Air Astana did 91 destinations...
(ex-Cathay CEO) Peter Foster has done a great job. Blew me away when you said "best ever" --- thanks to your recommendation I spent 45 mins looking at AA's website! Will definitely try them out --- May start an office in Shymkent, but will have a good look at Astana also!
I live now in Almaty and regularly fly Air Astana in C, mostly short haul and it's amazing. Tried ALA-IST and was blown away , 10000x better than TK. Wish that they were part of Star Alliance
I LOVED THAT YOU REVIEW A TRAIN
A new video by Josh Cahill and Vicarious Voyager in the same hour is a win in my books
for a second in the intro i thought you were flying qatar airways
😅😅😅😅😅
Don’t
I repeat
Don’t push it😅😅😅
@@bellatrix4943 exactly
I Hav Heard Very Good Thinks About Air Astana.Great Trip Report
Very interesting trips! I'm a bit surprised that in these modern times, the train in Kazakhstan didn't have any sort of air conditioning in the first class car, although there WAS a nice private shower. Fun fact - Almaty (then Alma-Ata) was the only destination for supersonic Tupolev TU-144 regularly-scheduled passenger services from Moscow between 1977 and 1978. I wonder if that is the original terminal from way back then?? Definitely time for a new one!
That original terminal got burned in a fire in 1999. The current terminal was built in 2004
There is air conditioning in those trains, at least in the first class. I've travelled the exact same route last summer and can confirm this. Maybe the ac was broken on his trip idk.
I think the first class cabin on the train could have been made a little bigger. It seems a bit tight for a first class. 😳
Thanks to this video, I tried the throne seat on Air Astana A321neo LR and what an amazing experience it was. I flew from Astana to Aktau so it was about a 2-hour 40 minute flight. As Josh said, it's definitely one of the best airlines in the world, and it's also my personal favourite.
ive lived in budapest and rural hungary. love the buildings, gives so much nostalgia
I was i Almaty last weekend! Great timing on this video :)
I’m glad to hear Buta is going away.
That airline didn’t issue us refunds after cancelling flights during Covid.
lots of shiit going on during covid I had to get Credit Card to get EVA to pay
Thank you for the review of the train and plane. I love Kazakhstan, lived and flew there for 6 years, many of my friends are flying with Air Astana. Looking forward to your next review :)
Air Astana looks so amazing! I can't wait to travel with them next year
The more I see videos about Kazakhstan, the more eager I am to visit. I'm also eager to try Air Astana.
Can't help it, but that business class flight attendant is absolutely gorgeous!
She's a model, they put her on the flight specifically for this episode. But yea...
this was so fun to watch. thank you
Really an interesting trip and report about. Well done.
lovely flight i enjoyed traveling with you im german and i remember these old houses greetings from the netherlands
On the Buta flight, it did seem like the male cabin crew member was actually making an effort to get the passengers to sit down after the landing. You can see him rushing through the aisle.
You're german? Kudos your english is perfect. 😍 I love your videostyle too.
"As a German I Do Love my Sausages" -Josh Cahill 2024
Josh, I can't watch all the videos on your channel, maybe you've already flown. But you still have the opportunity to fly a Soviet Yak-42 in Russia.
I think there are several years left until they are written off from us.
This video feels like a mix of the usual Josh Cahill fare, with more than a few touches of Bald and Bankrupt!
Josh you never cease to amaze all of us with your honest reviews and a big well done on your recent award.😊😊😊
simple and humble life in this kind of simple and humble houses is beautiful and fun !
As always, a fun video. Enjoyed your comments on the old Russian apartment blocks. Have seen many over the years and think they are now Retro Hip.Thanks.
I love Air Astana.
Greetings from Czech Republic 🇨🇿 and yes that building reminds me partly my childhood too 😂
Nice vlog Josh. That business class with Air Astana on a A-321 LR looks stunning
Hello from Kazakhstan Josh. We are very proud that Air Astana was your favourite airline. We adore to watch your travel experience, keep going my friend 🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿
I worked in Aktobe for 3 months. Air Astana is good, it reminds me of Cathay Pacific for some reason.
Meeting a lot of uber drivers from these countries and always intrigued so it's fascinating to see a bit!
I am somewhat disappointed by the fact, you didn't try Noel Philips' favourite airline SCAT, when you had the chance to😂
Great video, Josh. Baku is on my bucket list. I had a similar experience on Ethiopian several years ago. Passengers got out of their seats and opened the overhead bins before the aircraft vacated the runway. The cabin crew let them be. They were not assertive at all.
I will not call the building ugly but beautiful old time buildings these bring back beautiful memories of the old days
11:06 That flight attendant reminds me of Alina Kabaeva
I agree with you, Air Astana is an excellent airline, I also consider it one of the best in the world. It ´s the best I have ever flown.
The landscape is very calming😸
Sorry you didn't get so much time in Almaty. The scenery is amazing especially if you get up into the mountains. Also if you skip across the border to Kyrgyzstan, that's also beautiful especially lake Issyk Kul which is amazing.
Loved it Josh, covered 40 hours of train in just 6 min and the rest is about flying experience. So tempting now to do some sort of central Asian tour. BTW did Qatar offer any apologies yet or we still not using that airlines?
I love these videos about places I never even think about. It’s definitely makes me want to visit them just to do it.
Enjoyable video, thanks for taking us along.
Estonia, where I am from there are many soviet buildings and all of them have their own charm
Great trip report. You make it easy to subscribe, given your warm & cordial personality. Your reviews are honest & not biased which i like. 💯
He seems all puffed up and happy 😊
Always travel with a fan!
Love, love, love Air Astana. Got a free upgrade from prem economy for London to Astana. Such a quality product.
Air Astana should be really proud 😊😊
Josh thanks for flying the airlines that we know then to avoid😆 (You did say that Buta have now stopped operating.) Another excellent review.
Great video as always. I liked your White hoodie. Is it Adidas?
Yeah, it looks like z.n.e hoodie👍
@sylwiagejzler4260 Thank you for your tip. I found it. It is indeed Z.N.E Adidas.
❤ from Kazakhstan ❤
Air Astana offer an excellent onboard experience to customers from what I've seen. I would like to try them one day. Really nice review Josh! keep it up!
Do you prefer skinless Sausage? Train looks like a great way to see the country and I bet its no where near the price of the caledonian sleeper.
Those Talgos are wild trains. I scrapped the Amtrak cascades . We saved of neat parts
Thank you Josh!
Yes I love the old Soviet style apartment blocks specially in Poland. It was a sense of community that I liked and the trees in the grass. Everything seems so familiar with that with a little shop usually in the basement and everybody knows your business. That’s what some of the architecture was so beautiful and ugly at the same time, but to me beautiful.
Great vlog Josh
BA also flies some pitifully out of date A320s from the old British Midland.
Philippines and japan again this year, not getting in a rut just love japan, like your fav airline japan is my fav country. as usual great video, you well deserved your award for certain.
Another grrrrreat review, greetings from Lake Toba on Sumatra!
Liking the style of concrete city, has a charm to it.
Liking the cheekiness Mr JC !
You’re always Brave & Adventurous, JC, That’s why we Love You 💙✈️😎
I love this video as it covers the best of both worlds; trains and planes. Kazakhstan is a hidden gem for any lover of the former Soviet Union republics. I'm a huge fan of these countries as I visited them all except Turkmenistan and loved them all. Josh mentioned a valid point about the temperature inside the sleeper train and I totally agree. I have no idea why they always switch on the heater to the maximum on board these night trains in Kazakhstan and Russia! About Air Astana, they're spectacular and I don't exaggerate if I say that they're one of the top airlines in the world but the terminal in Almaty is a real pain and totally contradicts the high quality of Air Astana. I really hope the new terminal will be ready soon. About Astana airport, oh yeah, it's lovely! Thanks for the great video about the beautiful country of Kazakhstan!
I absolutely love Soviet architecture. My friends don't understand why I do, but I do. Too bad you didn't spend time in Tbilisi...a great city. Baku is nice, too. I'll be flying Air Astana several times in July when I visit Almaty and Astana and other neighboring cities. Glad to know you love it.
How wonderful to get up on Saturday morning and se a new post from my favourite traveler. I, too, love the train and am saving up to travel across Canada on Via One! I wonder if the black dumplings have squid ink? High praise indeed from such an honest reviewer.
It's a nice airline - the problem is the split Almaty/Astana hub doesn't really work for connections (arguably now a 3 way split with Atyrau added)
That was interesting to see what kind of smell was it? 😆 I share the same love for the architecture 💕grow up in these old buildings as well. I guess they stick on you for life😁 Every time I traveled and seen them I was so exited, I thought I was the only one been weird 🤣
Thanks a lot Josh for this interesting video, you are simply the best 🥳
Love from Nigeria 🇳🇬
Why did i think Josh was traveling with Qatar :D
I like the video very much Josh Well done
Fabulous work and great fun hanging out. Love this alway will.
Onward 🌈 to more great videos.
A very good video with combination of air and railway trips.Well done👍👏👏👏👏
it looked like a fun trip......liked the train...and the first air line.......
hope things improve for the 2nd air line....
You should try finnairs new business class!
What team does Josh play for?
Nice Video Josh
In addition to all the great flight reports so far, now I definitely have to give special praise to the first part of this video, wonderful train trip report ❤
What a great journey. Shame for the temperature issues on the train. The cabin looked very nice. And then first the best airline followed by the worst. Look forward to see more combined traveljourneys.
I’m newly subscribed to your channel, although I’ve watched a few of your videos before - recommended by a number of Avgeeks I already follow.
Congratulations on your recent award - as I get to see more of your videos, I understand why your channel has almost 700,000 subscribers.
Great job on giving us a very varied experience of some of the best and some of the less desirable travel experiences and I appreciate your honest reviews - keep up the great work of making me realize I haven’t even scratched the surface of my own travels around the world 🙏
Thanks Bruce, much appreciated!
Your favourite airline. Isn't it meant to be a video about Qatar? 😂
I love 'Plattenbau.'
never to Butah Airways again, the traumatic flight i had before from Tbilisi to Baku😫😫😫
Love this new vlog type videos 🥰
BUTA means - Blind. No wonder they cease operation soon😅
Glad you found some sausage to snack on 😂
1st flight was splendid. You know you're in Asia when the wheels hit the ground and everyone jumps up all at the same time immediately ready to deplane well before arriving at the gate. lol
Oh yeah? Reminds me of every flight from JFK to Chicago and some crazy ass people behaving inappropriately from time to time
The funniest German with wings, a man who never disappoints. Kudos Mr. Herr. Josh
Josh with another amazing review, Always love it ❤. Just small correction. You said the crew didn’t give a shit about asking the passengers to remain seated however I saw a male cabin crew approaching from the aft and asking them to be seated. I mean I saw it in the end of the video so tell me if I missed on something 😅
You were on a train for 40 hours in a first class cabin. Did they not serve any food? Or was it strictly BYO?
We appreciate you not getting proper sleep to show us all these great traveling experiences. Great mixed review travels with train and plane. But looks like you could use a new travel case watching you picking up at the luggage carousel. I have to Google Salmon Manti now. Safe travels.
The train is a TALGO, a Spanish railway construction company, one of the best in the world.
It's ok to have a favourite airline but in many circumstances depends on when and where you want to go.
I worked in DLC for some time so as a Skyteam hub some good and not so good experiences sometimes at high prices as no way to use credit card in China from Western bank online but no choice.
I got used to it as 6 local airlines out of there incl Jal,NH and KE for European trips.
Note after understanding airspace restrictions also made my selections asset like not having tight connections in PVg or CAN
Those "ugly-beautiful" buildings look very similar to older buildings that I encountered (visited and stayed in) in and around Helsinki when I was a child visiting my grandparents and other relatives in Finland!!🇫🇮 It brought back some great memories! 🥰❤️
Please keep in mind, for some of those people in Azerbaijan the airline is just fine. It is someone's livelihood, and local economy needs these low cost crappy planes, to carry people that otherwise may not be able to afford a proper posh and poofy airlines! I understand having standards, but when you have never been on an airplane, most people can appreciate a funny looking sandwich, and a low cost airline!
Great videos!
Hi, Josh, Great Video as always, the train $80 ticket for 1st class and you get a shower, refreshing option for sure, OK, but not great. Air Astana, I believe I commented on one of your Air Astana videos, it's nice and way nicer than a lot of airlines out there too. It's No Emirates Business class wow factor, but it is quite nice. I would love to fly with them, but they need to start flying here first, which I have heard could probably be in the cards anyway Batu Airways was it. Catastrophe very dated seats, and while standing and moving whilst a plane is landing is no laughing matter and a Major Major Safety violation, it reminds me of taking the public bus here, the bus hasn't fully stopped in a lot of cases and people are already moving towards the front of the bus. Sacre bleu as the French would say.
How was the experience of reviewing the train along with airline-related content? And of course, people will hurry to leave the flight due to suffocation because of bad smell and experience so it's a normal thing. But due to you buddy, I came to know about new places, countries peoples and environments. All the best for your journey and future flights.
Josh is a good boy
Spoiler: It's Qatar Airways