Reviews for Almaty Airport
Read reviews or write a review about Almaty Airport (ALA) in Kazakhstan. Provide other airport travellers with essential airport information and tell us about your airport experience. So far, 3 airport passengers have written an airport review about Almaty Airport with an average score of 2 out of 5.
Reviews
I had bad story at the airport .
Went outside I smoke cigarette then security showed up saying here is not allowed. He said will help me order the taxi but he took me to police office they said I broke law gave to pay 55,000 and I had for whole week 46,000 .
I'm lucky I speak Russian I said I didn't do anything wrong that first time here then said I want call the embassy then didn't feel good showed him my card that I have illness couldn't speak was shaking he was afraid I'll need am ambulance let me go out he helped get taxi was oy 1400 to hotel near Almaty 1 but I heard from the airport to city people paid 15,000 (30eu)and 24,000(48eu) should be 3000-4000 (6-8eu) to city center
It's poor country but they scam charged more then In Dubai .
Also police came to hostel took girl passport that she overstayed a day asked pay 88,000 almost 200eu and I read up to 3 days is just warning ,3-5days 20,000
Horrible place notich to do only Bog streets roads cars people just some shopping malls not worth come here wasting time and money
What I am about to share will make your hair stand on end and we met other people who had this horrible experience. Do not take any private taxi from the airport.
If you have to take any taxi, then take the one booked from Yandex app for 2000 Tenge and activate it before you leave the home country or take a local SIM at Almaty airport and activate it. Or ask the hotel to send gtheir taxi for 7000 tenge.
As soon as we came out, one guy approached us and asked for taxi, we told him we were booking from app and he hustled us saying he will take us for same amount and told us to buy sim and exchange currency in the city as airport was expensive.
Then he took us to taxi where two guys got in. After spending a tense journey, the got us to the hotel but then wouldnt let us out. They demanded half a million Tenge instead of 2000 or 880 dollars. We were stunned. They were talking through mobile app. They said 2000 was aiport parking fee and rest is taxi charge for the distance. We said why didnt u tell us sooner? I didnt have that much money. They said they wouldnt let us out till we paid. Then we screamed at the windows to the people to let us out but no one interfered. We said we could make a compromise but they were unrelenting.
Then they pinned me to the back seat with my wife watching and tried to strangle me. I was in panic and started having an attack. Then they panicked and let us out. I ran to grab some water. The hotel Grand Sapphire people also didnt and later told us they settled with the guys for 5000 tenge.
So beware of airport taxis or they will fleece you. We met another Swiss lady at our hotel who had the same experience and paid up. This used to be my favorite place but these guys have ruined it. The police needs to take action or their country will also go to the dogs and lose tourism just like Uzbekistan has done.
Do not accept a taxi ride from anyone at the arrivals door of the airport main hall. I was told it was. a metered taxi. It turned out to be an 'online' metered taxi and I was charged 21000 Tenge to go to a City Centre Hotel. The average fare should have been around 4000 Tenge! Total scam and Rip Off! Lesson learned for me!