Lounge directory · NQZ · Last reviewed 27 June 2026
Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Lounges NQZ: every lounge and how to get in
Astana spreads its lounges across two separate buildings, the international Terminal 1 and the domestic Terminal 2, and the right lounge is the one inside the terminal you fly from. Here is the full map and how to get in.
- Lounge verdict
- Better than the airport's size suggests. Six lounges run across the two terminals, and the Sapar Lounge in each one sits in the Priority Pass directory and sells walk in entry, so you can get a quiet seat without status. There is no Amex Centurion and no Plaza Premium here, and none of the lounges run a full buffet.
- Best access play
- Priority Pass opens both Sapar lounges, in international Terminal 1 near Gates A5 and A6 and domestic Terminal 2 near Gate D06, and both run 24 hours. Without a card, the international Sky Hall sells in from around 40 US dollars and the domestic CIP Lounge from 15,000 tenge.
- The one thing to know
- The two terminals are separate buildings with no airside link, so a lounge is only reachable from inside its own terminal. Pick the lounge in the building you depart from, not the one a walkway and a fresh security screen away.
Orientation
How the Astana lounge map works
The terminal decides everything at NQZ. International flights leave from Terminal 1, domestic flights from the domed Terminal 2, and the two buildings have no airside connection, so you can only use a lounge inside the area you depart from. Plan around your departure gate, not the lounge in the other building.
Terminal 1 holds the most options. The Sapar Lounge near Gates A5 and A6 is the dependable door for most travelers, on Priority Pass, prepaid passes and paid entry. The Sky Hall lounge sits on the right after duty free near Gate A6 and sells in from around 40 US dollars. The CIP Lounge in the left wing charges at the door, and the Business Hall opposite Gates A1 and A2 admits only premium and contract passengers. Terminal 2 mirrors the setup on a smaller scale with its own Sapar, a cheaper CIP and the Air Astana Shanyraq for eligible flyers. Hours and walk in prices change, so treat the figures below as verify at booking.
The lounges
Every NQZ lounge by terminal
| Lounge | Terminal and location | Access | Walk up | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapar Lounge (International) | Terminal 1, airside near Gates A5 and A6 | Priority Pass, DragonPass, prepaid passes, pay in | Door price to be confirmed | The dependable international door, open 24 hours |
| Sky Hall | Terminal 1, airside on the right near Gate A6 after duty free | Pay in, prepaid passes | From about 40 US dollars | The paid backup when the Sapar is full |
| CIP Lounge (International) | Terminal 1, airside in the left wing of international departures | Pay in, prepaid passes, eligible airline passengers | 56,000 tenge | A steep walk up for what you get, but a guaranteed seat |
| Business Hall | Terminal 1, airside on the 2nd floor opposite Gates A1 and A2 | Premium cabin and airline contract passengers only | No paid entry | By ticket, not by status card or money |
| Sapar Lounge (Domestic) | Terminal 2, airside near Gate D06 | Priority Pass, DragonPass, prepaid passes, pay in | About 25 US dollars for a 2 hour prepaid pass | The Priority Pass door on the domestic side, open 24 hours |
| CIP Lounge (Domestic) | Terminal 2, airside on the 1st floor of domestic departures | Pay in, prepaid passes, eligible airline passengers | 15,000 tenge | The cheapest paid seat in the airport |
| Air Astana Shanyraq | Terminal 2, airside on the 2nd floor opposite Gate D04 | Air Astana Business, Nomad Club Gold and Diamond on domestic flights | No paid entry | The prettiest room, but airline only, open 4:00 to midnight |
Two things to note from the table. There is no Plaza Premium and no Amex Centurion lounge at Astana, so the Priority Pass play is the Sapar in either terminal rather than a branded card lounge. And food across all of these runs to snacks and drinks rather than a full buffet, which is normal for the region, so eat a proper meal landside if you are hungry.
Access decoder
What actually opens these doors
Priority Pass covers the Sapar Lounge in both terminals, the international one near Gates A5 and A6 and the domestic one near Gate D06, and both run 24 hours. If you connect from an international arrival to a domestic departure on a Priority Pass, you are covered on both sides of the transfer. The pass does not cover the Sky Hall, the CIP halls or the Air Astana Shanyraq.
Paying at the door works at the Sapar lounges, the Sky Hall from around 40 US dollars, and the CIP halls at 56,000 tenge international and 15,000 tenge domestic, subject to space. The international Sapar walk in price is to be confirmed, so ask at the desk or check your app before you count on a number.
Status and class of travel open the Business Hall in Terminal 1, for premium cabins and airline contract passengers only, and the Air Astana Shanyraq in Terminal 2, for Air Astana Business and Nomad Club Gold or Diamond members on domestic flights. Neither sells paid entry.
Because the two terminals do not connect airside, the single most useful rule is to choose the lounge in your departure building. Confirm the door and hours on the day, since lounge hours and prices shift.
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FAQ
Astana lounge questions
Which NQZ lounges take Priority Pass?
The Sapar Lounge in both terminals: the international one near Gates A5 and A6 in Terminal 1, and the domestic one near Gate D06 in Terminal 2. Both run 24 hours and sit in the Priority Pass directory. The Sky Hall, the CIP halls and the Air Astana Shanyraq do not take Priority Pass. Check your app before travel since coverage can change.
Can I pay to get into an Astana lounge without status?
Yes. The Sky Hall in Terminal 1 sells in from around 40 US dollars, the international CIP Lounge charges 56,000 tenge at the door, and the domestic CIP Lounge is the cheapest paid seat at 15,000 tenge. The Sapar lounges also admit paying guests. Treat prices as verify at booking.
Is there an Amex Centurion or Plaza Premium lounge at Astana?
No. NQZ has no Amex Centurion lounge and no Plaza Premium lounge. The card friendly play is Priority Pass into the Sapar Lounge in either terminal, and otherwise a paid walk in at the Sky Hall or a CIP hall.
Do the Astana lounges have showers?
The terminal lounges focus on seating, snacks and wifi rather than showers, and none is reliably documented with shower facilities. For a shower on a long layover, the CAPS LOCK capsule pods landside on the first floor of Terminal 1 have them, which the sleeping guide covers.
Which lounge is best at NQZ?
For most travelers, the international Sapar Lounge near Gates A5 and A6, because it runs 24 hours and takes Priority Pass and paid entry. The Air Astana Shanyraq in Terminal 2 is the nicest room but only for Air Astana Business and senior Nomad Club members on domestic flights. The domestic CIP at 15,000 tenge is the value pick if you are flying within Kazakhstan.
Are the Astana lounges open 24 hours?
The Sapar Lounge in each terminal and both CIP halls run 24 hours, in line with an airport that operates around the clock. The Air Astana Shanyraq in Terminal 2 is the exception, open 4:00 to midnight. Hours flex with the schedule, so confirm on the day for a very late or very early flight.
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