Kenya Airways (KQ, as locals call it) is your SkyTeam gateway to East Africa and beyond, connecting travelers from hubs like New York JFK, Paris CDG and Amsterdam to safari destinations across the continent. While not Africa’s largest carrier, it calls itself the “pride of Africa” for good reason. There are some key considerations to keep in mind for a pleasant experience with this airline.
The airline’s modern fleet
The top planes in Kenya Airways’ fleet are the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with flat bed seats in Premier World (business class) in a 2-2-2 layout. The airline also flies Boeing 737s and Embraer E190 regional jets. Each aircraft type offers a different experience depending on your route.
The Embraer E190s are regional jets with a 1-2 layout in business class and a 2-2 layout in economy. No middle seats here, which is always a win. They’re comfortable, but I’ve found the airline sometimes uses them on longer flights of up to four hours where they can feel a bit tight.
Other regional flights use Boeing 737s with a standard 2-2 setup in business and 3-3 in economy, sometimes on trips as long as 5 or 6 hours.
In economy, the 3-3-3 layout on the Dreamliners can feel a bit restrictive on long hauls, especially the flight to New York JFK. My advice? Splurge on an emergency exit row seat for the extra legroom. It’s worth it.
Many KQ planes have seatback screens loaded with over 80 movies and 55 TV shows, a nice perk even on the regional jets. The Boeing 737s, however, still rely on old-school overhead screens playing one movie for everyone. Maybe bring a book for those flights.
Travel experience
Premier World is the top-tier product on Kenya Airways. The flight attendants are friendly, and I like that they incorporate local ingredients into the menu, though I’d love to see even more Kenyan recipes. All flights get a meal service and an open bar, with two meals on longer routes and three on the JFK flight.
Kenya Airways offers several economy seat upgrades worth considering:
Economy Comfort: Extra legroom on 787-8 Dreamliners
Preferred: Same legroom as standard but closer to the front
Economy Max: Adjacent seat kept vacant for extra space, or book an entire row to lie down on some flights
I find Economy Max particularly clever for long-haul flights where the extra space makes a real difference.
Even in economy, all international flights include a hot meal with two choices. Props to them for also offering an open bar in the main cabin, a perk that’s becoming rare.
Kenya Airways offers a bidding service for business class upgrades that’s saved me substantial cash. Every time I’ve bid, I’ve gotten approved at half the price of paying directly for Premier World. You can enter your bid within the timeframe specified for your flight, and the airline notifies the highest bidders before the flight if their upgrade was approved.
Another feature I appreciate is that you can check out sample business class menus on their website before you fly. It’s a smart way to decide if an upgrade is worth it or if you should pack your own snacks. You can also pre-order special meals like vegetarian, diabetic or even a fruit platter, which is a nice, unique option.
An expansive route network
Kenya Airways has one of the largest route networks in Africa. As the only Africa-based SkyTeam carrier, it handles a lot of connecting traffic, especially since fellow SkyTeam members Air France and KLM also have a big presence on the continent.
KQ fills in the gaps, flying to smaller destinations like Lilongwe, Malawi; Livingstone, Zambia; and Juba, South Sudan. The airline is focused on expanding its footprint across Africa and increasing frequencies on popular routes to give travelers more options.
A hub airport that has grown and modernized
For a long time, the airport in Nairobi felt outdated for an airline with KQ’s ambitions. Luckily, newer terminal facilities have opened, giving Kenya Airways the modern hub it deserves.
At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, most international flights operate from the newer Terminal 1A, while some domestic and regional services use other terminals, and trust me, you’ll notice the difference.
Lounges
SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers and premium cabin ticket holders can access Kenya Airways’ Simba and Pride Lounges, both modern spaces with hot and cold buffets, showers, work stations and complimentary beverages. I recommend the Pride Lounge, which is much larger with more space to sit and relax, while the Simba Lounge is smaller and fills up quickly.
Sky Priority
As a SkyTeam airline, KQ offers SkyPriority benefits for premium and elite status travelers. This gets you access to priority check-in, faster security lanes where available, and priority boarding. It’s a familiar perk for frequent flyers on any SkyTeam airline, and I find it saves a lot of time when the airport is busy.
Loyalty program and partnerships
The airline’s loyalty program is called Asante Rewards, where you can earn and redeem miles for flights and get discounts on things like seat selection and lounge access. As a SkyTeam member, you can also earn and redeem miles from partner airlines like Air France, KLM, and Delta. I often redeem Delta SkyMiles for Kenya Airways flights since tickets within Africa can be very expensive. Here’s a key tip: if you can’t find Kenya Airways award flights on Delta’s website, call Delta directly to check availability for redeeming miles.
KQ Holidays
If you’re planning a safari, check out KQ Holidays, the airline’s vacation-planning service. It bundles flights, hotels, ground transport and activities, and can tailor a package to your budget. They also offer a best-price guarantee, promising to refund you twice the difference if you find the same package cheaper elsewhere.
Low-cost division
To compete with a growing number of budget airlines in Africa, Kenya Airways launched its own low-cost carrier subsidiary, Jambojet. It operates on an a la carte model, so you pay for extras like checked bags, seat assignments and onboard food depending on your fare type. The low fares are great for short domestic or regional flights within Kenya and to selected destinations in East and Central Africa, but just know that Jambojet isn’t part of the SkyTeam alliance.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
