African SkyTeam member Kenya Airways relied on Air France and KLM’s Flying Blue as its frequent flyer program for years. In 2023, the airline launched its own loyalty program called Asante Rewards, which quickly gained popularity thanks to a complimentary status match.
The era of free status matches has passed, but the status match has returned with participation fees ranging between US$99 (~€86) and US$299 (~€259). In return, approved applicants receive SkyTeam Elite or SkyTeam Elite Plus status for a full 12 months. Key perks include alliance-wide lounge access (starting at Gold) and extra checked baggage allowances on all SkyTeam flights.
The fee structure breaks down as follows (based on European residency):
- Match from a frequent flyer status:
- US$80 (~€69) to Asante Rewards Silver (= SkyTeam Elite)
- US$175 (~€151) to Asante Rewards Gold / Platinum (= SkyTeam Elite Plus)
- Match from a hotel status:
- US$99 (~€86) to Asante Rewards Silver (= SkyTeam Elite)
- US$299 (~€259) to Asante Rewards Gold (= SkyTeam Elite Plus)
- US$299 (~€259) to Asante Rewards Platinum (= SkyTeam Elite Plus)
- Match from a credit card (e.g. Amex Platinum):
- US$99 (~€86) to Asante Rewards Silver (= SkyTeam Elite)
In certain countries (e.g. Germany), American Express Platinum cardholders receive complimentary Accor ALL Gold status. In theory, this could be used to apply for Platinum Elite Plus (= SkyTeam Elite Plus) with Kenya Airways. However, according to the terms and conditions, chain-matching or unearned status is officially excluded:
(j) Any application where StatusMatch.com believes the origin account has not earned the status according to the other program terms and on merit through flying, or ‘chain matched’ from another program, will be declined.
While there are reports of successful matches using complimentary hotel status, approval is not guaranteed. If an application is rejected, StatusMatch.com refunds the processing fee, so there is little financial risk. Matching to Silver status (for $99) via credit card is officially permitted directly without using a hotel program shortcut.
Table of Contents
Eligible Programs
The complete table with all eligible programs can be found in the FAQ. Below is an excerpt of selected programs showing the minimum status required to obtain Silver, Gold, or Platinum status with Asante Rewards.
Silver Elite (= SkyTeam Elite)
For Silver status, you can qualify using an airline status, a hotel status, or selected credit cards:
Airline Programs (for €69):
- Aegean Miles+Bonus Silver
- British Airways Club Bronze
- Finnair Plus Silver
- Iberia Club Plata
- Miles&More FTL
- Qatar Privilege Club Silver
- Royal Jordanian Silver Jay
- Singapore KrisFlyer Silver
- Turkish Miles&Smiles Classic Plus
Hotel Programs (for €86):
- Accor ALL Silver
- Best Western Rewards Gold
- Choice Privileges Gold
- GHA Discovery Gold
- Hilton Honors Silver
- World of Hyatt Discoverist
- IHG One Rewards Silver
- Leaders Club Club
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver
- Radisson Rewards Premium
- Wyndham Rewards Gold
Credit Cards (for €86):
- VISA Infinite / Signature / Platinum
- Mastercard World / World Elite
- Amex Platinum / Charge
Gold Elite Plus (= SkyTeam Elite Plus)
Gold status corresponds to SkyTeam Elite Plus and offers substantial alliance-wide perks. Eligible tiers include:
Airline Programs (for €151):
- Aegean Miles+Bonus Gold
- British Airways Club Silver
- Finnair Plus Gold
- Iberia Club Oro
- Miles&More Senator
- Qatar Privilege Club Gold
- Royal Jordanian Gold Sparrow
- Singapore KrisFlyer Gold
- Turkish Miles&Smiles Elite
Hotel Programs (for €259):
- Best Western Rewards Platinum
- Choice Privileges Platinum
- GHA Discovery Platinum
- Hilton Honors Gold
- World of Hyatt Explorist
- IHG One Rewards Gold
- Leaders Club Sterling
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold
- Radisson Rewards VIP
- Wyndham Rewards Platinum
Platinum Elite Plus (= SkyTeam Elite Plus)
Platinum status offers few additional perks beyond Gold—and carries the same price tag. However, there is a potential advantage: upon expiration, Platinum members typically receive a soft landing to Gold, securing SkyTeam Elite Plus status for a second 12-month period.
Airline Programs (for €151):
- Aegean Miles+Bonus: n/a
- Miles&More HON Circle
- British Airways Club Gold
- Finnair Plus Platinum
- Iberia Plus Platino
- Qatar Privilege Club Platinum
- Royal Jordanian Gold Platinum
- Singapore KrisFlyer PPS
- Turkish Miles&Smiles Elite Plus
Hotel Program (for €259):
- Accor ALL Gold
How it Works
Below is a brief step-by-step guide to applying:
1. Register with Asante Rewards
First, you need an active Asante Rewards account. The registration page offers two choices: a Quick Registration requiring only your name, email, and password, or a Full Registration requesting complete address details. Quick registration is generally sufficient.
Upon registration, your frequent flyer membership number will be sent by email. You will need this number for the next step:
2. Register via StatusMatch.com
The offer can only be claimed through the StatusMatch.com campaign page. Enter your name, email address, Asante Rewards number (from step 1), and country of residence into the application form.
Select your current loyalty program and status level, then upload proof of your status (e.g. a clear photo or screenshot of your physical or digital membership card).
Finally, complete payment of the non-refundable processing fee ranging from US$80 (~€69) to US$299 (~€259) via credit or debit card:
3. Wait for Processing
Applications are reviewed within three business days. Upon approval, it may take up to an additional 3 business days for your account tier to be updated and for benefits to activate.
The status remains valid for 12 months. After this period, regular requalification criteria apply. A soft landing is anticipated (e.g. Platinum members stepping down to Gold for a year, then Silver), though this is subject to ongoing program rules.
Benefits
Asante Rewards features three elite status tiers. Even matching to Silver can provide good value, as it includes a free checked bag on all SkyTeam flights.
A complete overview is available on the Kenya Airways website. Key benefits are summarized below:
Silver
Silver status normally requires 20,000 status miles or 15 segments with Kenya Airways or SkyTeam partners. Key benefits include:
- Across all SkyTeam airlines (SkyTeam Elite):
- 1 additional free checked bag, including on Light fares (10 kg extra on airlines operating a weight concept)
- Priority waitlist handling
- Check-in at dedicated SkyPriority or Elite counters
- Priority boarding
- Additional benefits on Kenya Airways flights:
- 50% bonus miles on Kenya Airways flights
- Complimentary seat selection 24h prior to departure (Preferred Seating)
- Additional perks:
- Miles do not expire with active membership
Gold
Gold status normally requires 40,000 status miles or 30 segments. Key benefits include:
- Across all SkyTeam airlines (SkyTeam Elite Plus):
- All SkyTeam Elite benefits listed above
- Alliance-wide lounge access on international and select domestic flights (+1 guest)
- Guaranteed Y-class seat availability on long-haul flights up to 24h prior to departure
- Complimentary standard seat selection
- Fast-track SkyPriority security screening (where available)
- Additional benefits on Kenya Airways flights:
- Complimentary seat selection 72h prior to departure (Preferred Seating)
- 75% bonus miles on Kenya Airways flights
- Additional perks:
- Miles do not expire with active membership
Platinum
Platinum status normally requires 65,000 status miles or 50 segments. Key benefits include:
- SkyTeam Elite Plus Status (same alliance benefits as Gold)
- Additional benefits on Kenya Airways flights:
- All Gold status benefits
- Complimentary preferred seat selection immediately at booking
- 100% bonus miles on Kenya Airways flights
Conclusion
The Asante Rewards status match demonstrates how paid status matches have evolved. While free matches were common in previous years, this campaign involves notable processing fees, making it important to calculate whether the benefits offset the cost.
Matching to Silver status for $80 or $99 can provide strong value for budget-conscious travelers, as it includes a free checked bag on all SkyTeam flights for 12 months. This fee can pay for itself after just 1 or 2 round-trips on basic Light fares (where checked baggage otherwise costs €30 to €60 per flight leg). Matching to Gold is considerably more expensive, but makes sense for travelers who value alliance-wide lounge access.