Kenya Airways Introduces Paid Status Match to Unlock SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus
Kenya Airways has launched a new paid status match program in partnership with StatusMatch.com, giving travellers a shortcut to SkyTeam Elite or SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits for 12 months.
Whether you hold status with Air Canada, WestJet, another of 40+ airlines, 15+ hotel programs, or even certain premium credit cards, you could qualify for this match and enjoy benefits like lounge access, SkyPriority, and extra baggage on SkyTeam flights around the world.
Matching Status with Kenya Airways Asante Rewards
The match is processed entirely online, with the fee depending on where you live and what type of status you’re matching from.
For residents of Canada, the US, the Americas, and select Asian countries:
From airline status:
- Silver Elite: $99 USD
- Gold Elite Plus or Platinum Elite Plus: $299 USD
From hotel status:
- Silver Elite: $99 USD
- Gold Elite Plus: $299 USD
From credit card status:
- Silver Elite only: $99 USD
For residents of all other countries:
From airline status:
- Silver Elite: $80 USD
- Gold Elite Plus or Platinum Elite Plus: $175 USD
From hotel status:
- Silver Elite: $80 USD
- Gold Elite Plus: $299 USD
From credit card status:
- Silver Elite only: $80 USD
Note that pricing is the lowest when you match from an airline status outside the Americas and Asia. If your address happens to be in the UK, France, or another “rest of world” country, you could pay as little as $80 USD for Silver or $175 USD for Gold/Platinum. We all have relatives in Europe, right?
Which Programs Can You Match From?
Kenya Airways accepts matches from airline programs, hotel programs, and premium credit cards.
Your matched Asante Rewards tier depends on your current program and status level — higher tiers from airlines can get you to Platinum, while hotels can take you up to Gold, and credit cards up to Silver.
Eligible Airline Programs
If you hold elite status with one of these 46 airlines, you can match to Silver, Gold, or Platinum depending on your tier. This is the only path to reach Asante Rewards Platinum Elite Plus, such as holding a top-tier status like Aeroplan 75K or Super Elite.
| <strong>Airline Program</strong> | <strong>Matched to Silver Elite</strong> | <strong>Matched to Gold Elite Plus</strong> | <strong>Matched to Platinum Elite Plus</strong> |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANA Mileage Club | Bronze | Platinum | Diamond, Super Flyers |
| Aegean Airlines Miles+Bonus | Silver | Gold | Not Available |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 25K | Elite 35K | Elite 50K, Elite 75K, Super Elite 100K |
| Air China PhoenixMiles | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Air India Flying Returns | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Air New Zealand AirPoints | Silver | Gold | Elite |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | MVP | MVP Gold | MVP 75K, MVP 100K |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Gold | Platinum | Platinum Pro, Executive Platinum, Concierge Key |
| Asiana Airlines Asiana Club | Gold | Diamond | Diamond Plus, Platinum |
| Austrian Airlines Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator | HON Circle |
| Avianca LifeMiles | Silver | Gold | Diamond |
| British Airways Executive Club | Bronze | Silver | Gold, Gold Guest List, Premier |
| Brussels Airlines Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator | HON Circle |
| Cathay Pacific Cathay | Silver | Gold | Diamond, Diamond Plus, Invitation |
| Copa Airlines ConnectMiles | Silver | Gold | Platinum, Presidential Platinum |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | Silver | Gold | Diamond |
| Egyptair Plus | Silver | Gold | Elite, Platinum |
| Emirates Skywards | Silver | Gold | IO, Platinum |
| Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Etihad Guest | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Finnair Plus | Silver | Gold | Platinum, Platinum Lumo |
| Gulf Air Falconflyer | Silver | Gold | Black |
| Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles | Gold | Platinum | Not Available |
| Hong Kong Airlines Fortune Wings Club | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Iberia Plus | Plata | Oro | Infinita, Infinita Prime, Platino |
| Japan Airlines Mileage Bank | Crystal | Global Club, Global Club Sapphire | Global Club Diamond, Global Club Premier |
| JetBlue TrueBlue Rewards | Mosaic 1 | Mosaic 2 | Mosaic 3, Mosaic 4 |
| LOT Polish Airlines Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator | HON Circle |
| Lufthansa Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator | HON Circle |
| Malaysia Airlines Enrich | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Oman Air Sindbad | Silver | Gold | Not Available |
| Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles | Elite | Premier Elite | Million Miler |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Silver | Gold | Chairmans Lounge, Platinum, Platinum One |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer | Silver | Gold | Ambassador, Platinum |
| Royal Brunei Royal Skies | Silver | Gold | Not Available |
| Royal Jordanian Royal Club | Silver JAY | Gold SPARROW | Platinum HAWK |
| S7 Airlines Priority | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| SWISS Miles & More | Frequent Traveller | Senator | HON Circle |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Silver | Gold | PPS, PPS Solitare |
| South African Airways SAA Voyager | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | A-List | A-List Preferred | Companion Pass |
| Sri Lankan Airlines FlySmiLes | Classic | Gold | Platinum |
| TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go | Silver | Gold | Navigator |
| Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | Classic Plus | Elite | Elite Plus |
| United Airlines MileagePlus | Premier Silver | Premier Gold | Global Services, Premier 1K, Premier Platinum |
| Virgin Australia Velocity | Silver | Gold | Beyond, Platinum |
| WestJet Rewards | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Eligible Hotel Programs
If you hold select hotel elite status, you can match up to Asante Rewards Gold Elite — the entry point for SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits.
This is arguably the easiest and sweetest path to SkyTeam Elite Plus, since you can get Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite or Hilton Honors Gold status simply by holding an American Express Platinum Card.
| <strong>Hotel Program</strong> | <strong>Matched to Silver Elite</strong> | <strong>Matched to Gold Elite Plus</strong> | <strong>Matched to Platinum Elite Plus</strong> |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accor ALL | Silver | Diamond, Gold, Platinum | Not Available |
| Best Western Rewards | Gold | Diamond, Diamond Select, Platinum | Not Available |
| Choice Hotels Choice Privileges | Gold | Diamond, Platinum | Not Available |
| GHA Discovery | Gold | Platinum, Titanium | Not Available |
| Hilton Honors | Silver | Diamond, Gold | Not Available |
| Hyatt World of Hyatt | Discoverist | Explorist, Globalist | Not Available |
| IHG One Rewards | Silver Elite | Diamond Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Royal Ambassador | Not Available |
| Langham Brilliant | Topaz | Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire | Not Available |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Silver Elite | Ambassador Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite | Not Available |
| Melia Melia Rewards | Silver | Gold, Platinum | Not Available |
| Omni Select Guest | Platinum | Black | Not Available |
| Preferred Hotel Group Preferred Rewards | Silver | Gold, Titanium | Not Available |
| Radisson Radisson Rewards | Premium | VIP | Not Available |
| Shangri-La Golden Circle | Gold | Diamond, Jade | Not Available |
| Leading Hotels Leaders Club | Club | Sterling | Not Available |
| World Hotels Rewards | Gold | Diamond, Diamond Select, Platinum | Not Available |
| Wyndham Wyndham Rewards | Gold | Diamond, Platinum | Not Available |
| citizenM mycitizenM+ | MycitizenM+ | Not Available | Not Available |
Eligible Credit Cards
Select premium credit cards can get you Asante Rewards Silver Elite, unlocking basic SkyTeam Elite benefits.
| <strong>Card Type</strong> | <strong>Matched to Silver Elite</strong> | <strong>Matched to Gold Elite Plus</strong> | <strong>Matched to Platinum Elite Plus</strong> |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | Infinite, Signature, Rewards, Platinum | Not Available | Not Available |
| Mastercard | World, World Elite | Not Available | Not Available |
| American Express | Platinum / Charge | Not Available | Not Available |
Kenya Airways Asante Rewards & SkyTeam Benefits
Kenya Airways’ Asante Rewards program has three elite tiers available through the status match. Each tier comes with its own benefits, plus the corresponding SkyTeam Elite or SkyTeam Elite Plus perks across the alliance.
Asante Rewards Silver → SkyTeam Elite
- 50% bonus points on Kenya Airways flights
- One extra checked bag on Kenya Airways and partner airlines
- Free seat selection within 24 hours of departure (excluding economy comfort seats)
- 25% discount at Kenya Airways lounges
- SkyTeam Elite benefits:
- Priority check-in and baggage drop-off
- Preferred seating (where available)
- Priority boarding
- Extra baggage allowance on most SkyTeam airlines
Asante Rewards Gold → SkyTeam Elite Plus
- 75% bonus points on Kenya Airways flights
- Complimentary Kenya Airways lounge access for you and one guest
- Free seat selection within 72 hours of departure
- SkyPriority services at all airport touchpoints
- One extra checked bag on Kenya Airways and partner airlines
- SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits:
- All SkyTeam Elite perks
- Lounge access for you and one guest when travelling internationally on any SkyTeam airline, regardless of class of service
- Priority security, immigration, and boarding lanes
- Priority baggage handling
Asante Rewards Platinum → SkyTeam Elite Plus
- 100% bonus points on Kenya Airways flights
- Complimentary lounge access for you and one guest
- Free seat selection at booking
- SkyPriority services at all airport touchpoints
- 24/7 Platinum customer service line
- One extra checked bag on Kenya Airways and partner airlines
- Same SkyTeam Elite Plus perks as Asante Rewards Gold
Should You Consider This Match?
If you’re a frequent Kenya Airways flyer, this match might make sense on its own.
For everyone else, the real value likely comes from the SkyTeam Elite perks — lounge access, SkyPriority, and extra baggage — which can easily offset the one-time match fee after just a few trips.
With relatively easy-to-get statuses like Marriott Bonvoy Gold or Hilton Honors Gold, you can unlock SkyTeam Elite Plus without ever stepping on a qualifying flight.
Plus, you never know when this status could open the door to other match opportunities in the future.
For example, I matched my Marriott Bonvoy status to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold earlier this year, and now I can use that status to match into Asante Rewards Gold — unlocking SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits for only $175 USD, without taking a single Kenya Airways flight.
Conclusion
Kenya Airways’ paid status match is a straightforward way to enjoy SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus benefits for 12 months, whether you’re a frequent Kenya Airways flyer or simply looking to upgrade your experience with partner airlines like Air France, KLM, and Delta.
With perks such as lounge access, SkyPriority, and extra baggage, the value can easily outweigh the one-time fee after just a few trips.
And with easily attainable statuses like Marriott Bonvoy Gold or Hilton Honors Gold, unlocking SkyTeam Elite Plus has never been simpler — especially if you can take advantage of rest-of-world pricing to bring the cost down to $175 USD.
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