Alfursan vs IHG® One Rewards: which loyalty program wins?

We score Alfursan and IHG® One Rewards on the same five factors — earning rate, redemption value, partner network, ease of use, and point expiry — to help you choose the right program for how you actually spend.

Verdict

Alfursan is best for Frequent flyers, while IHG® One Rewards is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip Alfursan if Occasional travellers - miles expire after 24 months, and skip IHG® One Rewards if Anyone wanting predictable redemption costs or daily-spend earning.

Overall rating

	Alfursan	IHG® One Rewards
Overall rating	3.6 / 5	3.2 / 5
Earning	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Redemption	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Network	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Ease of use	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Expiry	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5

Earning structure

Alfursan	Earn miles based on flight distance and cabin class — from 25% of miles flown on Economy Saver up to 250% in First Class. Also earn miles via co-branded credit cards (Al Rajhi, Riyad Bank, Alinma, SNB, BSF, SAB, AmEx) and SkyTeam partner airlines.
IHG® One Rewards	Members earn 10 base points per USD spent at most IHG brands. Extended-stay brands (Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites) earn 5 points/USD. Elite tier members receive bonus points: Silver +20%, Gold +40%, Platinum +60%, Diamond +100%. Saudi users do not have access to IHG-branded credit cards - the IHG Premier and Traveler cards from Chase are US-only. Members can also earn points through Hertz car rentals (1,500 bonus + 125-500 points/day), OpenTable dining reservations, and point purchases.

Redemption structure

Alfursan	Redeem for SAUDIA and SkyTeam award flights starting at 4,500 miles (one-way domestic Economy), cabin upgrades from 3,750 miles, extra baggage, and lounge access. Miles expire if a user is not active for 2 years.
IHG® One Rewards	Points redeem for hotel stays at 6,300+ IHG properties in 100+ countries. Variable point pricing applies (no published award chart since 2018) - redemption costs shift based on cash rates. Members can also use Points + Cash flexibility, transfer to 30+ airline partners (typically poor 5:1 or 10:1 ratios), redeem for gift cards, merchandise, or Hertz car rentals. Platinum and Diamond Elite members get exclusive access to promotional Reward Night discounts. IHG dropped fixed award charts in favor of variable dynamic pricing, making redemption costs less predictable than competitors.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	Alfursan	IHG® One Rewards
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	3	5
Top tier	Gold “Elite Plus”	Diamond Elite
First-tier qualification	20 flights	20,000 points
Point expiry	24 months inactivity (reset on earn)	12 months inactivity (reset on earn)

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