Get SkyTeam Elite Plus for $299 With Asante Rewards' Status Match Offer

Kenya Airways has recently launched a status match that allows members to elevate their status within the Asante Rewards program if they hold an eligible hotel or airline status and pay a fee. Even if you aren't familiar with Kenya Airways, this status match is worth looking into.

Here's everything you need to know about the Kenya Airways status match, including how to apply, how much it costs, which card to use, and the benefits you'll receive.

Kenya Airways Status Match Details

Kenya Airways is offering a status match to its Asante Rewards loyalty program. This program just launched in 2023, so this offer is likely a way to attract new members, even if you aren't planning on flying with Kenya Airways anytime soon.

Unfortunately, this isn't a free opportunity. If you want to apply for the Kenya Airways status match, you'll need to pay. Here's how much you'll spend:

• Match to Silver: $99
• Match to Gold or Platinum: $299

If your match isn't approved, you will get a refund of the application fee. You don't see that very often, so this is a risk-free way to try to obtain elite status.

Keep in mind that Kenya Airways is a member of the SkyTeam alliance. Holding Kenya Airways Silver elite status translates to SkyTeam Elite status, while Gold and Platinum get you SkyTeam Elite Plus. In other words, if you hold an eligible airline or hotel status, you can pay $299 to get SkyTeam Elite Plus and enjoy perks when flying with other SkyTeam members like Delta Air Lines or Air France.

If your match is successful, you'll enjoy your elite status for 12 months from approval.

Screenshot of StatusMatch.com

To participate in the Kenya Airways status match, you need to hold elite status with an eligible airline or hotel chain. Luckily, this includes 48 different airline and 19 different hotel loyalty programs, so odds are you hold an eligible status if you travel at least somewhat regularly.

Here are the airlines participating in the Kenya status match offer:

And here are the hotels participating in the offer:

If you hold an eligible Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card, you can also match to Kenya Airways Silver status. However, if you're after SkyTeam Elite Plus, you'll need to leverage a hotel or airline status.

How to request a Kenya Airways status match

To request your status match, you'll need to apply on the dedicated Kenya Airways status match website. If you aren't already an Asante Rewards member, click here to register. Make sure to add your Kenya Airways account to AwardWallet so you can keep track of your point balances.

On the status match homepage, enter your name, email address, Asante Rewards membership number, and your country of residence, then click “Continue.”

Next, you'll select whether you'd like to use your airline or hotel elite status or your credit card to complete the match.

Screenshot of StatusMatch.com

I decided to use my Marriott Bonvoy^® Gold Elite Status, which I get through my American Express Platinum Card^®, to request the match. Click on “Hotel,” then enter the hotel chain, elite status tier, and your membership number. If you're matching using an airline elite status, you'd follow a similar process.

You have to attach proof of status, which can be a screenshot of your account that shows your name, membership number, and elite status tier. Note that this screenshot cannot be edited or cropped. On the final page, you can review your status match application, enter your card details, and submit.

Unfortunately, you don't get a say in which tier you match to. For instance, although my Bonvoy Gold elite status equates to Asante Rewards Gold Elite Plus, I couldn't select Silver status in order to pay a lower fee. If I only wanted Silver status, I'd need to use a lower elite status tier with a different loyalty program.

Screenshot of StatusMatch.com

It will take up to three business days after payment for your status to be upgraded, as your leveraged status will need to be verified. Your 12 months of status begin once your account is upgraded.

Related: Shortcuts to Elite Status with Airline Status Match, Fast Track

Which card to use to pay for the match

The status match fee is processed by StatusMatch.com, not Kenya Airways, which means it'll likely code as online shopping instead of an airfare purchase. So, you'll want to use one of the best credit cards for everyday purchases, including:

• Citi Double Cash^® Card: Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• Bilt Palladium Card (Rates & Fees): Earn 2X Bilt Points on everyday spend.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 2X Capital One miles on everyday purchases.

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Welcome Offer Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

Apply Now

Annual Fee

$0Rates & Fees

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
  
  Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.

Bilt Palladium Card

Welcome Bonus 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.

Apply Now

Annual Fee

$495Rates & Fees

• Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
• 2X points on everyday spend

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

How to Apply

Annual Fee

$95

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

• 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
• 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases

Elite Status Benefits

Kenya Airways elite perks

Kenya Airways isn't incredibly popular in the U.S. After all, it operates just a single route to anywhere in the Americas: New York City (JFK) to Nairobi (NBO). If you wanted to fly on Kenya Airways metal, you'd need to depart from a handful of destinations in Europe and Asia, or already be located in Africa.

That said, if you do find yourself heading to Kenya (or on a fifth-freedom route operated by Kenya Airways), here are the perks you'll receive:

Silver Elite

• 50% bonus points
• Priority waitlist
• Free preferred seating within 24 hours of departure
• An extra checked bag
• Priority services at ticketing offices and transfer desks
• Priority boarding
• 25% discount at Kenya Airways lounges
• Your points don't expire
• Promotional discounts exclusive to elite members

Gold Elite Plus

Gold Elite Plus members receive all of the Silver benefits, plus:

• 75% bonus points
• Free preferred seating within 72 hours of departure
• SkyPriority services, including priority check-in, baggage drop-off, and priority immigration and security screening
• Elite Plus recognition
• Free lounge access with a companion

Platinum Elite Plus

Platinum Elite Plus members receive all of the Gold Elite Plus benefits, and:

• 100% bonus points
• Free preferred seating

Preferred seating. Credit: Kenya Airways

SkyTeam elite perks

The real reason this offer is so advantageous is that it gives you an easy way to score SkyTeam status that includes perks with the following airlines:

• Air Europa
• Air France/KLM
• China Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Korean Air
• Delta Air Lines
• Tarom
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Vietnam Airlines
• Saudia
• Middle East Airlines
• Xiamen Air

If you match to Kenya Airways Silver status, you'll become a SkyTeam Elite member and enjoy the following benefits:

• Priority reservation wait list
• Priority check-in counters
• Priority boarding
• Extra baggage allowance

Meanwhile, if you match to Kenya Airways Gold or Platinum, you'll enjoy SkyTeam Elite Plus status that includes all of the SkyTeam Elite benefits and the following:

• Guaranteed full-fare Y-class reservation on sold-out long-haul flights, at least 24 hours before departure
• Access to airport lounges worldwide
• Priority baggage handling on arrival
• Extra baggage allowance

However, there's a clear disclaimer on the SkyTeam website limiting your benefits as a Kenya Airways elite:

“Members of Kenya Airways’ Asante Program may not experience full Frequent Flyer reciprocity across all SkyTeam member airlines. Please check with your Frequent Flyer Program for more information on Frequent Flyer benefits.”

Before you request a status match, use the loyalty benefits calculator to determine available benefits on your desired airline. Select Kenya Airways Asante Rewards from the dropdown menu, then enter your elite status tier and operating airline to determine which benefits you'll receive. However, if your goal is to receive benefits with Delta or Air France, you should be in the clear.

Credit: Tyler Glatt / AwardWallet

Bottom Line

I already have SkyTeam Elite Plus thanks to my Delta status, so I didn't complete the status match. However, the process was quick and easy, and you can leverage status earned by holding a co-branded credit to complete the match.

Overall, the Kenya Airways status match is quite similar to the Vietnam Airlines status match or the Flying Blue status match, both of which allow you to match up to SkyTeam Elite Plus. Be sure to compare the terms and conditions of each offer before submitting a request.

Want to apply? Here's the link to apply for Kenya Airways Asante Rewards status match.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Bilt Palladium Card (Rates & Fees), and Citi Double Cash^® Card (Rates & Fees)