Airtel Premier Plans in Kenya: My Experience So Far!

When Safaricom revamped its Postpay plans in 2020, I eagerly signed up, attracted by the promise of more data and the convenience of managing my expenses with a single bill each month. However, by 2022, they made changes that no longer worked for me, leading me to abandon the service and leaving me without a postpaid plan for years. Then, Airtel introduced its new Premier Plans, which caught my attention with their compelling offers. Though initially hesitant due to concerns about their network reliability, I decided to give it a try. Now, three months in, I’ve had a positive experience, which has led me to write this article.

Airtel has structured its postpaid offerings to allow customers to prioritize calling, texting, or data usage. Over the past few months, I can say I’ve found the service to be reliable and well-suited to my needs. I’ve experienced no outages, except when traveling, where in certain parts of the country, I occasionally lose access to 4G/LTE or 5G and have to settle for 3G or even 2G. There have also been instances where, after receiving or making a call, I’ve had to toggle Airplane mode on and off to reset the network, which gets stuck on 3G instead of reverting to LTE or 5G. I hope these are issues Airtel will address.

However, when I am in urban areas or at work/home in Nairobi, the service has been good, allowing me to stream lossless music on Apple Music or watch 4K videos whenever I like without worrying about my data plan. I am currently on the Browse Zaidi monthly plan for KES 2,999, which provides me with 75GB of data.

Switched to Airtel Premier. The packages are too good to resist. Plus everything rolls over (unlike Safaricom).

Problem is this: you have to physically go to an Airtel Shop and actually physically fill a form like it’s 1999.

I got the KES 1999 package with 45GB and 1000mins. pic.twitter.com/4r7atB74YF

— Dickson Otieno (@DicksonOtieno) May 28, 2024

Understanding Airtel Premier Plans

Airtel Premier plans are divided into three categories: Bonga Zaidi, Browse Ukibonga, and Browse Zaidi. These categories are designed to align with different communication and data consumption habits.

• Bonga Zaidi: Best for users who primarily make voice calls and send SMS, offering more minutes and SMS compared to data.
• Browse Ukibonga: A balanced option for those who need a decent amount of both data and minutes.
• Browse Zaidi: Tailored for users who require more data than minutes and SMS, making it ideal for heavy internet users.

Airtel Premier Plans Overview

Here’s a breakdown of the Airtel Premier plans available in Kenya:

Price (KES)	Plan Type	Data	Minutes	SMS
999	Bonga Zaidi	5GB	600	600
	Browse Ukibonga	10GB	400	400
	Browse Zaidi	15GB	200	200
1,499	Bonga Zaidi	15GB	700	700
	Browse Ukibonga	20GB	600	600
	Browse Zaidi	25GB	400	400
1,999	Bonga Zaidi	25GB	1,000	1,000
	Browse Ukibonga	35GB	800	800
	Browse Zaidi	45GB	500	500
2,999	Bonga Zaidi	45GB	1,500	1,500
	Browse Ukibonga	60GB	1,200	1,200
	Browse Zaidi	75GB	900	900
4,999	Bonga Zaidi	75GB	3,000	3,000
	Browse Ukibonga	100GB	2,500	2,500
	Browse Zaidi	125GB	2,000	2,000

Booster Packs

If you run out of minutes or data before the end of the month, Airtel offers booster packs:

• Voice Booster (KES 200): 200 minutes
• Data Booster (KES 250): 5GB
• Data Booster (KES 500): 15GB

The Good Things about Airtel Premier Packages

1. Value for Money

Airtel Premier plans provide substantial value, especially compared to offerings from other providers. The plans, particularly the Browse Zaidi packages offer significant amounts of data and minutes that are really good value for people who use lots of data. I am particularly satisfied because I only need data when I am out of the house. I have also shifted to using Airtel for calls.

2. Roll-Over Feature

I love that data rolls over. Data is what’s important to me. When you renew plans within 10 days after expiry, you get your resources from the previous month. This isn’t similar to what Safaricom did originally in 2020, but given the amount of resources you get for the amount of money you pay, I am okay. Also, given the new offerings from Safaricom also have the same roll over status (for minutes, not data), I am okay paying Airtel to keep my data rolling over.

3. Extra Minutes for Airtel to Airtel Calls, and Booster Packs

Each Airtel Premier plan also includes an equal number of “Extra Minutes,” which are specifically for Airtel to Airtel calls. You also get the option for booster packs at reasonable prices if you find yourself running out of data or minutes, these packs provide a cost-effective way to extend your usage without having to upgrade to a more expensive plan.

Issues with Airtel Premier in Kenya:

1. Network Reliability

Airtel’s 5G and LTE networks are available in many parts of Kenya, which generally ensures good speeds for data use. However, it’s always a good idea to check the network coverage in your specific area before signing up for a plan. Personally, I’ve found Airtel’s network to be dependable in my use cases. Only when traveling do you get to areas where you’re forced to be on 3G. My wish is for 5G speeds to get better.

2. Airtel Premier Stupid Sign-Up Process

Unlike many services where you can sign up via USSD or an app, Airtel requires you to visit a physical store to get started. Yes, physically go and fill a form like it’s 1999!

Conclusion

I began using Airtel Premier at the end of May 2024 with the KES 1,999 Browse Zaidi plan. The 45GB of data, along with 500 minutes and SMS, was because I was cautious about how my experience would be. I have had instances in previous years where my Airtel line would stop working randomly, so I needed to be sure I won’t have any such occurrences before committing fully.

I then switched on to the KES 2999 Browse Zaidi plan, and I’ve been happy. The plan has been very helpful when I am away from home, or when Safaricom Home Fibre has been a total disappointment. I’ve had no instances where I’ve needed to deal with their customer care online, so I can’t report on that.

Would I recommend jumping on the plans? Yes. If you’re sure you live in an area where the network is good. And provided the bundles you sign up for are enough for your demands. Personally, I augment my Post Pay with Home Fibre services when at home, and I am very satisfied.