Hand luggage

Hand luggage is a passenger's belongings that remain with him throughout the flight and are under his responsibility. Cabin baggage is carried in and placed on the baggage rack above the passenger seat or under the front seat.

Any sharp objects are prohibited for carriage in hand luggage.

Sharp Objects in Hand Luggage: What’s Not Allowed on a Plane

To ensure the safety of all passengers, carrying sharp or pointed objects in hand luggage is strictly prohibited. This rule applies to both international and domestic flights.

Prohibited sharp items include:
- Any type of knife (including folding or souvenir knives)
- Razors with exposed blades (non-electric)
- Manicure scissors and clippers with long blades
- Sewing needles, knitting needles (restricted in some countries)
- Screwdrivers, awls, loose razor blades, small drills

Allowed in hand luggage (depending on country):
- Safety razors (with enclosed blades, e.g., disposable razors)
- Small scissors with blunt tips and blades shorter than 6 cm
- Tweezers, non-metal nail files

If you’re carrying sharp items:
– Place them in your checked baggage. Otherwise, they will be confiscated during security screening.

Always check the airline and airport regulations in advance, as rules may vary by country or carrier.

During your trip, you are allowed to carry essential health-related items — such as a blood pressure monitor, thermometer, medications, and syringes — in your hand luggage. However, it is important to comply with safety and customs regulations.

Blood Pressure Monitor and Thermometer:
- Electronic blood pressure monitors and digital thermometers are permitted in hand luggage. If you pack an electronic blood pressure monitor in your checked baggage, ensure it is well packed and cannot be accidentally activated during the flight.
- As for mercury thermometers, one per person is allowed, but only in checked baggage and must be packed in a protective case.

Medications:
- Prescription and essential personal medications are allowed in hand luggage.
- Airport security may request proof, so it’s advisable to carry them in original packaging along with a copy of the prescription.

Syringes:
- Syringes and insulin pens for medical use are allowed in hand luggage.
- A medical certificate or prescription is recommended.
- It's best to inform security staff in advance.

General Tips:
- Pack all devices and medications securely in protective cases.

- Check specific regulations of your airline and departure airport in advance.
- Be prepared to show these items during security checks and keep your hand luggage accessible.

Following these guidelines will help ensure your journey is safe and comfortable.

Substances and items that are prohibited in carry-on baggage are liquids, aerosols and gels in containers with a capacity of more than 100ml, including: 

• water and other beverages, soups, syrups, jams, stews, sauces and pastes; 
• food products in sauces or containing large amounts of liquid; 
• creams, lotions, cosmetics and oils; 
• perfumes; 
• sprays; 
• gels, including hair and shower gels; 
• contents of pressurised containers, including shaving foam, other types of foams, and deodorants; 
• pastes, including toothpaste; 
• mixtures of liquids with solids; 
• mascara; 
• lip gloss. 

Exceptions: 

• medications; 
• baby food and special dietary requirements needed during the flight; 
• liquids purchased in duty-free stores at the airport or on board the aircraft.* 

*liquids must be packaged in a securely sealed (sealed) plastic bag so that the contents can be clearly identified and come with a receipt for the purchased item to confirm that it was bought in a duty free shop at the airport or on board the aircraft on the day(s) of travel. 

If you plan to carry large musical instruments, such as a cello or double bass, you should pay for an extra passenger seat in the cabin. Your agent or local airline office will assist you in purchasing a ticket for your instrument. The instrument's weight may be 75 kg, and the size may be 120 x 50 x 30 cm.

Guitars, saxophones and other musical instruments of similar sizes may be carried as hand baggage if the sizes allow. Note that when placing musical instruments in the baggage, there is a risk that they will be damaged in transit. For more information please fill out this web form.

If the weight of your musical instrument exceeds the free baggage allowance (23 kg in economy class and 32 kg in business class), you will pay a MyBAGGAGE fee.

You can take it, but keep in mind that smoking in the cabin is strictly prohibited.

You are allowed to carry food in hand luggage, but certain restrictions apply. Rules may vary depending on the airline, country of departure and arrival, and health regulations.

Allowed in hand luggage:

- Fruits and vegetables: In small quantities, washed, and without liquids. Fruits can be carried in both hand luggage and checked baggage. If you are bringing fruits from abroad, you may carry up to 5 kg in the cabin, and up to 8 kg within Kazakhstan. Make sure your hand luggage, including fruits and other items, does not exceed 56 x 45 x 25 cm. If you're bringing a large quantity, pack them in a suitable container (box or crate with handles) and place them in your checked baggage.

- Meat and fish:
Any kind of fish (fresh, frozen, smoked, salted, dried), as well as fresh or frozen meat and frozen crabs, can only be transported in checked baggage. Live crabs are not allowed.
To avoid leakage and unpleasant odors, these items must be packed in strong and undamaged packaging. Packaging should consist of at least 3 layers, with the first and last being dense polyethylene.

- Dry food items: Nuts, dates, cookies — generally allowed.

- Prepared meals: Only without liquids and in sealed, airtight packaging.
- Canned food: Only if not containing liquid, and in permitted amounts (e.g., pâté or paste — up to 100 ml).

In the passenger cabin of an airplane you can carry:

• 1 portable crib;

or

• 1 foldable baby carriage (maximum folded size 34x32x14cm);

If the infant has a ticket with a seat, you can place the infant in the cradle from the stroller and place the cradle on the seat during the entire flight.  If an infant flies without a seat, parents hold him in their arms and place the stroller or crib on the baggage rack.

It is also possible to carry a child car seat, but only if an air ticket for an infant with a separate seat. In this case, the width of the seat must be at most 41 cm, as it must have mounts for fixation on the passenger seat.

At check-in at the airport, find out if you can return the stroller at the boarding gate. And if there is such a possibility, you can use the stroller until you board the plane. The airline employee will take it to the baggage compartment and return it to you after the flight, just like at the boarding ramp. 

The stroller in the baggage compartment is transported according to the same rules as regular baggage and occupies a separate space. It is free of charge if you fly with a child. And if you're traveling without a baby, you'll need to pay for extra baggage space for the stroller. In doing so, take care to protect the stroller from damage. You can use a roomy plastic bag to pack, and removable fragile parts can be removed from the stroller and, if their size allows, carried in hand baggage.

For safety reasons, the use or charging of power banks during the flight is strictly prohibited. Please keep your power banks and electronic cigarettes under supervision at all times.

If you notice any unusual signs such as overheating, smoke, or a strange odor, please inform a member of the cabin crew immediately.

You can, but only the one you bought in Duty-Free after passing the security check. Alcohol purchased in Duty-Free must be packed in a securely sealed (sealed) plastic bag. You can't open it on board.
You must put it in your baggage if you brought alcohol or bought it before the inspection.  In this case, take care of good packaging so that the container does not break (not crushed) in the baggage.

Yes, you can. There are no restrictions for drugs in solid form (tablets, capsules, powders or pills). There may be a ban on bringing medications into the destination country; please fill out this web form in advance for verification. Note that if you are traveling with more than one airline, you should check the terms and conditions of the other airlines as well.

Drugs in liquid form (syrups, tinctures, solutions, ointments, creams) are subject to other liquids' exact requirements and restrictions. The exception is in-flight medications that are vitally important. The airline allows you to take them in any quantity, but it is obligatory with an abstract from a medical history containing a doctor's prescription for such drugs.

Aerosols can also be carried in hand baggage, but the weight of each preparation must be at most 0.5 kg or 500 ml.

It is better to transport all medicines in their original packaging. If you are taking medication as prescribed by a doctor, take your doctor's prescription with you to use such medicines.

Yes, you can take everything you need for your baby in the cabin during the flight: formula in a jar, pre-made formula in a bottle, puree. There are no strict restrictions on the volume or content of baby food.

It will be confiscated and placed in the cargo hold. You can take the following items into the cabin:

• Passport/travel documents/valuables
• Vital medicines
• Spare lithium batteries and cells, mobile gadgets, laptops
• Electronic cigarettes and other smoking devices
• Any items/equipment that produces heat

There are situations when it is necessary to move your hand luggage into the aircraft's cargo area. In this case, remember to take the above items with you into the cabin.

Any sharp objects are not allowed in the cabin. If you carry hypodermic needles, it is best to put them in your baggage or have a doctor's note stating that the passenger will need an injection during the flight. Also, you can not transport mercury thermometers and liquids in containers larger than 100 ml in your hand luggage.

Toy or model weapons will be confiscated at the security checkpoint and will not be allowed to be transported inside the cabin. Air Astana is not responsible if airport security seizes such items before departure.

Before your flight, remember to check that the bag you plan to take with you in the cabin does not contain any dangerous goods, prohibited items, or substances from this list.

Before you travel, find out the customs regulations of the country you are flying to. Some states (e.g., South Korea or European countries) restrict the import/export of certain products and substances. Make sure that you are not carrying anything forbidden.

Each airline has requirements for the size and weight of hand baggage that passengers carry in the cabin.
Air Astana Economy and Premium Economy Class passengers can carry 1 bag not exceeding 56 x 45 x 25 cm and weigh no more than 8 kg. Business Class passengers can carry 2 suitcases with the above weight and size.

In the check-in area at the airport, there are special border frames. Place the bag you will take into the cabin in them and ensure it fits the correct size.

We recommend that you bring at most 1 piece of hand baggage - then your and other people's bags will have enough room in the baggage racks.

In addition to the established free baggage allowance, a passenger may carry the following items that he/she needs during boarding, disembarkation or in flight free of charge, if they are in the passenger's hands and are not included in the baggage:

• One cane/pair of crutches or leg braces, provided the passenger cannot do without them;
• One handbag or a small men's briefcase or backpack (maximum 3 kg, dimensions in the sum of three dimensions up to 80 cm);
• When traveling with a child - one portable baby crib or one folding baby stroller (maximum rolled up size 34x32x14 cm; baby scooters are not equal to baby strollers and are carried as checked baggage);
• Small cake;
• Little bouquet of flowers;
• Small amount of goods purchased on the day of departure in the duty-free zone (where permitted), with the ability to provide a receipt for the goods for inspection upon request. Liquids larger than 100 ml (e.g. alcoholic beverages) in transit are not to be unsealed or opened before reaching the final destination;

Laptops and laptop bags must fit into the allowable hand baggage allowance.

Please note that the laptop must be placed in standard carry-on luggage, as it may be considered an additional item.