It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen a meaningful airline status match offer, but one has finally arrived and it’s worth some attention. This time it’s Kenya Airways, a member of the SkyTeam alliance.
- There’s no published deadline
- You can match to Silver, Gold, or Platinum status
- Select airline / hotel / credit card loyalty programs are accepted
- Matched status will be valid for one year
- Note that this is a paid status match
Pricing is based on your country of residence. Americas and some Asian countries:
- Silver: $99
- Gold / Platinum: $299
Discounted price for other countries if matching using an airline card:
- Silver: $80
- Gold / Platinum: $175
Note that the From what I know applications that are denied are generally refundable.
Kenya Airways status tiers are as follows:
- Silver corresponds to SkyTeam Elite and comes with benefits like extra baggage allowance, priority check-in, and boarding
- Gold and Platinum are both SkyTeam Elite Plus, which adds airport lounge access and fast-track security
Keep in mind that SkyTeam lounge access usually only applies to international flights, although there are (growing) exceptions now.
There is little practical difference between Gold and Platinum unless you fly Kenya Airways frequently. However, according to their terms and conditions a soft landing policy is in place – if you match to Platinum, you’re guaranteed two years of SkyTeam Elite Plus!
The eligibility list is huge. Most of the mainstream international airlines are included, such as British Airways, Lufthansa, United, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines and many more. It’s very strange to see names such as China Eastern which is Kenya Airways’ partner in Skyteam. Matching to Gold usual requires the mid-tier status like BA Silver and Lufthansa Senator.
It’s even easier to qualify with hotel status. The Gold membership from Marriott, IHG, Hilton and Accor is sufficient for Gold match (you can’t match to Platinum), and there are names like Best Western, Preferred Hotels and Radisson too.
I’ve never seen this before but they even accept credit card programs: Amex Platinum, Mastercard World (Elite) and Visa Platinum are good enough for Silver.
Since this is a paid match, whether or not it’s worth it depends on your travel pattern and plans. $175 for SkyTeam Elite Plus status is a solid value if you’ll make use of lounge access and other perks, whereas $299 is less compelling. Even $99 for Silver can pay off quickly if you check bags just a couple of times. All in all, this is one of the most generous and accessible status match campaigns we’ve seen in recent years.
Recent Comments