Status matches have become one of the easiest ways for frequent travellers to sample a new airline or hotel loyalty programme without flying enough to earn elite status organically. Kenya Airways’ Asante Rewards has been running one of the more interesting paid status match programmes in recent months, allowing elite members from airlines, hotels and even premium travel credit cards to buy their way into the programme.
Now, Kenya Airways has made the offer even more attractive for hotel loyalists. Accor Live Limitless (ALL) elite members can now bypass the usual hotel status cap and match directly into the airline’s highest published elite tier, unlocking SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits in the process.
Kenya Airways Status Match
Accor elites can now match directly to Asante Rewards Platinum (SkyTeam Elite Plus)
The biggest enhancement announced by Kenya Airways is an exclusive pathway for Accor Live Limitless members.
Previously, travellers using hotel status could only match up to Asante Rewards Gold Elite Plus. Under the new promotion, ALL Gold, Platinum and Diamond members can now receive Asante Rewards Platinum, the airline’s top elite tier, for a one-time application fee of USD 299. This enhancement is available for a limited period.
Interestingly, this benefit is exclusive to Accor Live Limitless members. Members of Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, Hyatt, IHG One Rewards and other participating hotel programmes continue to be capped at Gold Elite Plus when matching from hotel status.
While Kenya Airways itself may not be the first airline many travellers think of, Asante Rewards is part of the SkyTeam alliance. That means Asante Rewards Platinum translates into SkyTeam Elite Plus, providing benefits across participating SkyTeam airlines, including carriers such as Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, SAS, Vietnam Airlines, Saudia and others that already recognise Asante Rewards elite benefits.
The Air France Lounge, accessed by me with Asante Rewards Status in 2022
For travellers who occasionally fly SkyTeam but do not have enough activity to earn status naturally, paying USD 299 may represent an attractive shortcut, particularly if they already hold Accor Gold, Platinum or Diamond status.
What benefits do you receive?
Kenya Airways says Asante Rewards Platinum members receive:
- Complimentary lounge access for themselves and one guest
- SkyPriority services across participating airports
- Free seat selection
- One additional checked bag on Kenya Airways and participating partner airlines
- 100% bonus points on eligible Kenya Airways flights
- A dedicated 24×7 Platinum customer support line
For many travellers, lounge access and SkyPriority alone may justify consideration, especially when flying long-haul SkyTeam carriers.
For reference, one can get Accor Gold Tier by signing up for the Accor ALL+ subscription.
Part of the Kenya Airways–Accor partnership
This promotion builds on the broader partnership announced earlier this year between Kenya Airways and Accor Live Limitless. That partnership already allows members to convert points between the two programmes, making it possible to move rewards from hotel stays into airline miles and vice versa. The new status match adds another layer to that relationship by allowing hotel loyalty to unlock airline elite status directly.
It is one of the relatively rare examples of a hotel programme being used as a pathway into top-tier airline status.
The rest of the Kenya Airways Status Match programme continues
Outside the Accor-specific enhancement, Kenya Airways continues to operate its broader paid status match programme with StatusMatch.com
Eligible applicants include:
- Elite members of dozens of airline frequent flyer programmes.
- ANA Mileage Club
- Aegean Airlines Miles+Bonus
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air China PhoenixMiles
- Air India Maharaja Club
- Air New Zealand Koru
- Alaska Airlines ATMOS Rewards
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- Asiana Club
- Austrian Airlines Miles & More
- Avianca LifeMiles
- British Airways Club
- Brussels Airlines Miles & More
- Cathay Pacific Cathay
- Copa Airlines ConnectMiles
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
- EgyptAir Plus
- Emirates Skywards
- Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles
- Etihad Guest
- Finnair Plus
- Gulf Air Falconflyer
- Hawaiian Airlines ATMOS Rewards
- Hong Kong Airlines Fortune Wings Club
- Iberia Club
- Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- LOT Polish Airlines Miles & More
- Lufthansa Miles & More
- Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- Oman Air Sindbad
- Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
- Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer
- Royal Brunei Royal Skies
- Royal Jordanian Royal Club
- S7 Airlines Priority
- SWISS Miles & More
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- South African Airways Voyager
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- SriLankan Airlines FlySmiLes
- TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
- Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- United Airlines MileagePlus
- Virgin Australia Velocity
- WestJet Rewards
- Members of participating hotel loyalty programmes.
- Best Western Rewards
- Choice Privileges
- GHA DISCOVERY
- Hilton Honors
- World of Hyatt
- IHG One Rewards
- Langham Brilliant
- Marriott Bonvoy
- Omni Select Guest
- Preferred Hotel Rewards
- Radisson Rewards
- Sarova Zawadi Rewards
- Serena Prestige Club Global
- Shangri-La Circle (listed as Golden Circle on the table)
- Leaders Club (The Leading Hotels of the World)
- WorldHotels Rewards
- Wyndham Rewards
- citizenM+ (mycitizenm+)
- Holders of eligible premium travel rewards credit cards
- MasterCard
- Visa
- American Express Platinum Tier and American Express Charge Cards
Unlike many airline status matches, Kenya Airways also accepts premium credit cards as a qualification route, although these only match into the entry-level Silver tier. You can apply for a Status Match here.
Which Accor members are eligible?
Under the enhanced offer:
- ALL Silver members can match to Asante Rewards Silver Elite.
- ALL Gold, Platinum and Diamond members can now match directly to Asante Rewards Platinum under the limited-time promotion.
What does it cost?
A Kenya Airways Asante Rewards Status Match has the following pricing:
- Silver match: USD 99
- Gold/Platinum: USD 299
Applicants must first enrol in Asante Rewards before submitting a status match application. Approved matches are generally valid for 12 months, with Kenya Airways stating that future renewal requires meeting the programme’s published qualification criteria. Decisions are typically made within three business days after all required documentation is submitted.
Bottomline
Kenya Airways has made one of the more compelling paid status match offers available today by giving Accor Live Limitless Gold, Platinum and Diamond members a direct path to Asante Rewards Platinum, and with it, SkyTeam Elite Plus recognition.
For travellers who already hold Accor elite status—whether earned through hotel stays or other promotions—the offer provides a relatively straightforward route into meaningful airline benefits without needing to accumulate dozens of flights. At USD 299, it won’t make sense for everyone, but frequent SkyTeam flyers without existing alliance status may find the proposition surprisingly attractive, particularly given the included lounge access, priority airport services and baggage benefits across participating airlines.
What do you think of having an opportunity to earn Elite Status on SkyTeam with your Accor Status? Apply here for the Accor to Kenya Airways Status Match.
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