Kenya Airways Status Match (Up To Top Tier Elite)
Bilt Gold and Platinum members who took advantage of the August 1 Accor status match have another way to leverage that hotel status. Kenya Airways will now match Accor Gold, Platinum or Diamond directly to its top tier Asante Platinum status.
The match costs $299 and is valid for 12 months. It comes with SkyTeam Elite Plus status, including lounge access on international SkyTeam trips, SkyPriority, additional baggage and priority baggage delivery. No Kenya Airways flight is required.
How The Kenya Airways Match Works
Kenya Airways has operated a remarkably broad paid status match since last year. Airline and hotel elites can buy Asante Silver, Gold or Platinum status, while even many travel credit cards qualify for Silver.
Hotel status has ordinarily topped out at Asante Gold. The new exception is that Accor Gold, Platinum and Diamond members may apply directly for Asante Platinum.
For people who used Bilt’s Rent Day offer:
- Bilt Gold members who transferred 5,000 points received Accor Gold for 12 months.
- Bilt Platinum members who transferred 15,000 points received Accor Platinum through December 31, 2027.
- Bilt General and Silver members received Accor Silver, which only qualifies for Asante Silver.
Both Bilt Gold and Platinum members can therefore apply for Kenya Airways Platinum.
Here’s What’s New
The underlying Kenya Airways match is not new. I wrote about it last year, and Accor Gold, Platinum and Diamond members already qualified for Asante Gold.
What is new is that Accor Gold, Platinum and Diamond now receive Kenya Airways’ top Platinum tier instead of Gold. That improves Kenya Airways-specific benefits, but it does not change the member’s status within SkyTeam. Both Gold and Platinum are SkyTeam Elite Plus.
Kenya Airways Platinum includes:
- 100% bonus points on Kenya Airways flights
- Complimentary seat selection at booking
- Kenya Airways lounge access with one guest
- SkyPriority
- One additional checked bag
- A 24/7 Platinum customer-service line
Asante Gold receives a 75% points bonus and free seat selection beginning 72 hours before departure. Its alliance-wide benefits are otherwise the same.
Kenya Airways permits only one status match per person and will not upgrade a previous match because the member later acquired a better qualifying status. Someone who already bought Asante Gold cannot now rematch Accor status to obtain Platinum.
The Value Of SkyTeam Elite Plus
The key benefit is SkyTeam Elite Plus. That provides:
- Priority check-in, bag drop and boarding
- Priority security and immigration where offered
- Priority transfer desks
- Priority baggage handling
- Preferred seating where offered
- One additional bag, or an additional 20kg under weight-based baggage rules
- Business class lounge access with one guest on eligible international SkyTeam itineraries
That works when flying Delta, Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, SAS, Aeromexico and most other participating SkyTeam carriers, regardless of cabin.
This is not Delta elite status. It does not provide complimentary Delta upgrades or automatic Comfort+ seating. But it does provide access to exit rows. I use my Flying Blue Gold status (also from Bilt) for priority check-in (useful with bags), free checked bags, priority boarding (for overhead bin space) and free exit row seats.
Is Kenya Airways Platinum Worth $299?
You need to be a regular Delta flyer, but not frequent enough to earn your own equivalent status. If you’re an occasional international coach flyer that adds lounge access.
Status is valid for 12 months from approval, so ordinarily I would apply shortly before the first trip where I expected to use it. However, Kenya Airways has not published an end date for the Accor-to-Platinum exception and can remove it at any time. There’s a strong play here, but it’s not a purely speculative one given the cost.
That said, if you’re a Bilt Platinum I think the Flying Blue Gold with 10,000 points transferred is probably a better opportunity. That’s SkyTeam Elite Plus, 10,000 points is less than $300, and you still have the points to spend.
“But don’t expect SkyClub access on domestic trips.” Yeah, then probably not even worth the $299.
And, because it’s me, some more ‘shade’ to throw at BILT, because, this recent Accor transfer promotion did not adequately warn for those with pre-existing Accor status, it would not be extended further. So, if you still had a few months as Accor Gold already (say, until December 31, 2026), it won’t add 12 months to that. This should have been a major caveat listed; but, there really wasn’t any meaningful warning.
Also, for the glut of excess, expiring BILT Cash many users have, let’s be clear, 7 months is not “Coming Soon,” yes, referring to their lies on Blade and Blacklane BILT Cash redemptions. Just uncap the Accelerators (let people use more than 5), or remove expiration). Rant.
Has anyone’s Accor status match processed yet?
@Hotcrab — Is it that bad? I thought you had to click the link in the confirmation email to activate. The issue is that if you already have status with Accor (say, from a prior 12-month promo, or organically), it will decline you. Maybe, umm, check your emails from August 1?
I did this with Kenya Airways Silver last year for $99. Was great. Got me free bags and saved me quite a bit. If flying business, you get 3 x 70kg bags + 2 carry-ons.
Wouldn’t this give access to most non DL SkyTeam lounges on domestic itineraries? I.e. AF/KL lounges?
@Mike — Glad the $99 match worked out for you, but a few quick notes on the specifics so nobody gets a surprise at check-in. The program is actually called ‘Asante Rewards’ (ya know, ‘asante,’ Swahili for “thank you”…cute.) On Kenya Airways Business Class, you already get 2 checked bags by default (plus 2 carry-ons). Silver adds a 3rd bag, though partner allowances vary. That weight cap is 70 lbs (32 kg), not 70 kg! A 150 lb bag would definitely break the baggage handlers’ backs (and get rejected at the counter).
If anyone (like Mike apparently) actually uses this for KQ, that would be a surprise; Gary seems to be more focused on using it as a back-door to SkyTeam Elite/Elite Plus; but KQ does fly JFK-NBO (and beyond across Africa, Europe, and Asia). I’ve taken their 787 (2-2-2 in J) and 737 (2-2 recliners). It was a’ight. Good food, actually; nice South African wines.
@MRL — Silver only gets you SkyTeam Elite (extra bag/priority). You need Gold or Platinum for SkyTeam Elite Plus to get lounge access. Delta official rules restrict Sky Club access for all Elite Plus members (including foreign elites) to itineraries with a same-day international flight (I know, lame.) However, holding foreign SE+ via Kenya Airways does unlock access to partner-operated lounges (like Air France or KLM lounges in JFK, IAD, or ORD) on purely domestic US itineraries (so, if that’s you’re aim, go for it). Though as anyone who has tried using partner perks knows, lounge rules/agents are inconsistent; ask me about Aerolineas Argentinas at AEP if you want a rant…
1) The link to the match at the very top of the article appears to be unique. Are you getting a kickback on referrals for this, may I ask?
How about a story on how StatusMatch is amassing an enormous wealth of information on frequent fliers and the impact that’s having on other (non-monetinised) means of matching?
Actually @Josh that link above isn’t giving me anything, no
@Gary: How do I get AF/KL Gold back? I’m in the Silver “soft landing” after last year. I fly AF several times/year (best way over the pond from DTW), but always on miles. Haven’t seen a match on Bilt for 18 months (where I’m Bilt plat).
@Retired Lawyer — Oh lala, BILT Platinum! Do you have a glut of soon-to-be-expiring BILT Cash?