About
On August 5, 2025, Kenya Airways announced that through its partnership with StatusMatch, it is offering status matches from many airline, hotel, and credit card programs. This means that if you are a member of the relevant programs, you can apply to become SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus and enjoy broad alliance benefits, with an application fee required.
Kenya Airways itself is not especially attractive, but it is a SkyTeam member, and its elite status can map directly to SkyTeam status. So it can still be useful even if you do not fly Kenya Airways.
- SkyTeam Elite: extra baggage allowance, priority check-in, and baggage handling.
- SkyTeam Elite Plus: includes SkyPriority service and lounge access on most flights.
Airline Match
Airline match pricing and corresponding table are as follows.
For members in Canada, the United States, other countries in the Americas, and members from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam:
- Elite (Silver) status match fee: $99. Elite Plus (Gold, Platinum): $299.
For members from other countries:
- Elite (Silver) status match fee: $80. Elite Plus (Gold, Platinum): $175.
Hotel Match
Hotel status and credit card status can also be matched, as follows:
- From hotel status, the Elite (Silver) match fee is $99, and Elite Plus (Gold) is $299. Many people have Hilton Diamond, which can be matched to Kenya Airways Gold, and then upgraded to SkyTeam Elite Plus, including checked baggage and lounge access. Not bad.
Credit Card Match
- Credit card status can only be matched to Elite (Silver), with a fee of $99, and it provides additional baggage allowance and priority check-in.
