Kenya AirwaysKQ

Kenya Airways is the flag carrier airline of Kenya and one of Africa's leading carriers. Founded in 1977 following the dissolution of East African Airways, the airline is headquartered in Embakasi, Nairobi, with its main hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Known as "The Pride of Africa," Kenya Airways connects over 5 million passengers annually to 45 destinations worldwide, including 37 within Africa.

As the sole African member of the SkyTeam alliance, Kenya Airways provides passengers access to a global network of over 1,060 destinations in 173 countries through its alliance partners. The airline operates a mixed fleet including Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners for long-haul routes and Boeing 737-800s and Embraer E190s for regional services. Kenya Airways was honored with Best Airline Staff and Best Airline Cabin Crew in Africa at the 2024 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

Carry-On Allowance

Economy Class:

• 1 cabin bag: 55 x 35 x 25 cm (22" x 14" x 10")
• Maximum weight: 7 kg (15 lbs)
• Must fit in overhead bin

Business Class (Premier World):

• 2 cabin bags with combined weight up to 12 kg (26 lbs)
• Same dimensions per piece

Class	Pieces	Total Weight	Notes
Economy	1	7 kg (15 lbs)	Must fit in overhead
Business	2	12 kg (26 lbs)	Combined total

Checked Baggage

Kenya Airways uses the piece concept for baggage on all routes. Allowances vary by route and fare class.

Within Africa:

Class	Included Bags	Weight per Bag
Economy	1 bag	23 kg (50 lbs)
Business	2 bags	32 kg (70 lbs) each

Long-Haul (Europe/Americas/Asia):

Class	Included Bags	Weight per Bag
Economy	2 bags	23 kg (50 lbs) each
Business	2 bags	32 kg (70 lbs) each

Size Limits: Maximum 158 cm (62 inches) linear dimensions (L + W + H) per bag.

Excess Baggage Fees

Item	Fee (USD)
Additional bag (23 kg)	$225
Overweight (23-32 kg)	$75

Fees may vary by route. Europe-Nairobi overweight charges are approximately EUR 50 for bags between 23-32 kg.

Family/Group Pooling: Kenya Airways allows baggage pooling for families or groups traveling together to the same destination on the same flight.

Special Items

Item	Fee	Notes
Golf clubs	Standard bag fee	Counts as 1 checked bag
Skis/Snowboard	Standard bag fee	Counts as 1 checked bag
Bicycle	$150	Must be boxed
Car seat	Free	For traveling children
Stroller	Free	Gate-check available
Wheelchair	Free	Assistive devices always free

Fees verified January 2025. Check kenya-airways.com/baggage for current rates.

Kenya Airways offers two cabin classes: Economy Class and Premier World (Business Class). The airline emphasizes African hospitality with cuisine inspired by the continent's culinary heritage.

Premier World (Business Class)

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Long-haul):

• Configuration: 2-2-2 across 30 seats
• Seat pitch: 75-78 inches (190-198 cm)
• Seat width: 21 inches (53 cm)
• Fully lie-flat beds
• 15.4-inch touchscreen entertainment
• USB and AC power outlets
• Amenity kit with travel essentials
• Noise-cancelling headphones provided

Boeing 737-800 (Regional):

• Configuration: 2-2 across 16 seats
• Seat pitch: 47 inches (119 cm)
• Seat width: 21 inches (53 cm)
• Recliner seats
• Power outlets

Premier World Amenities:

• Champagne welcome
• Multi-course dining with African-inspired cuisine
• Premium beverages throughout flight
• Pillow and duvet bedding
• Priority check-in and boarding
• Pride Lounge access in Nairobi

Economy Class

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner:

• Configuration: 3-3-3 with 204 seats
• Seat pitch: 31-32 inches (79-81 cm)
• Seat width: 17 inches (43 cm)
• Seatback entertainment screens
• USB and AC power at every seat
• Complimentary meals and beverages on all flights

Economy Comfort (Premium Economy option):

• Available on 787 Dreamliner (rows 11, 12, 14)
• 34-36 inches seat pitch (up to 8 cm extra legroom)
• Priority boarding
• Available for upcharge (approximately $149)

Embraer E190 (Regional):

• Configuration: 2-2 with 88 seats
• Seat pitch: 31 inches (79 cm)
• Seat width: 18 inches (46 cm)

Food & Beverage

• Complimentary meals on all flights
• African-inspired cuisine featuring local flavors
• Kenyan specialties including Ugali and local vegetables
• Complimentary beer and wine
• Special meals available with advance request (24+ hours)

Entertainment & Connectivity

• Seatback screens on 787 Dreamliner
• Movie, TV, and music selection
• No WiFi available on any aircraft
• USB and AC power outlets in all cabins

Booking:

• Book directly on kenya-airways.com for better change/refund support
• Consider Economy Comfort seats on 787 for $149 extra legroom
• Check SkyTeam partner pricing - sometimes cheaper via KLM or Air France

At Nairobi Airport:

• Arrive 3 hours early for international departures
• Pride Lounge access for Premier World and Asante Gold/Platinum
• Terminal 1A is dedicated to Kenya Airways operations
• Connection times: Allow 2+ hours for international connections

Baggage Tips:

• Long-haul Economy includes 2 bags - better than many competitors
• Family baggage pooling allowed - consolidate for group travel
• Weigh bags before airport - overweight fees are strictly enforced

Earning Miles:

• Can credit to either Asante Rewards OR Flying Blue (choose at booking)
• If you have Flying Blue status, keep crediting there
• If starting fresh, consider Asante for easier SkyTeam Elite Plus qualification
• Status match available from almost any airline or hotel program ($99-299)

Best Routes:

• 787 Dreamliner used on long-haul routes (London, Amsterdam, New York)
• 737-800 used on popular African routes
• E190 used for shorter regional hops

Upgrades:

• Same-day upgrade requests possible at check-in (space available)
• Asante Rewards points can be used for upgrades
• Premier World is most competitive on long-haul vs. other African carriers