AMEX Membership Rewards
VS
Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific
AMEX Membership Rewards vs Asia Miles: which loyalty program wins?
We score AMEX Membership Rewards and Asia Miles 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
AMEX Membership Rewards is best for International travelers wanting premium-cabin redemptions and no expiry pressure, while Asia Miles is best for Premium-cabin redemption seekers who travel to East.
Skip AMEX Membership Rewards if Anyone seeking the highest local earn rate or the lowest annual fees, and skip Asia Miles if Anyone wanting to earn through daily spend.
Overall rating
| AMEX Membership Rewards | Asia Miles | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Network | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 5.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
Earning structure
| AMEX Membership Rewards | Cardholders earn 1 Membership Rewards point for every USD spent (approximately 3.75 SAR) at any establishment accepting American Express in Saudi Arabia and 200+ countries worldwide. Premium cards (Gold, Platinum, The Platinum Card, The Gold Card) offer enhanced earning on select categories such as dining, travel, and supermarkets - earning rates vary by specific card product. Welcome bonuses provide head-start points on enrollment, typically substantial. Amex Offers provide additional bonus points and statement credits at participating merchants. Some cards charge USD 25/year for Membership Rewards enrollment; others include it free. | |
|---|---|---|
| Asia Miles | Members earn Asia Miles by flying Cathay Pacific (direct from Riyadh to Hong Kong) and on 15+ oneworld alliance partners including Qatar Airways, British Airways, American, JAL, Qantas, Iberia, Finnair, Cathay Pacific, and Royal Jordanian. Earning rate depends on flight distance, cabin class, and fare type (Economy: 25-100% of flown miles; premium cabins up to 200%). Status Points (separate from miles) are earned on Cathay/partner flights for tier qualification. Members can also transfer points to Asia Miles from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio, 5,000 bonus per 60,000 transfer), Hilton Honors, and Amex Membership Rewards (5:4 ratio, March 2026 update). No Saudi bank issues a Cathay co-branded credit card — the Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard is Hong Kong-only. |
Redemption structure
| AMEX Membership Rewards | Points redeem through multiple channels: transfer to international airline frequent flyer programs (multiple major carriers, typically 1:1 ratio), transfer to global hotel loyalty programs (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, ALL Accor), book travel directly via Amex's reward catalogue, redeem for digital gift cards from major retailers, pay annual card fees with points, donate to selected charities, or shop with points at AmexShop for electronics, accessories, and gifts. Minimum redemption is 1,000 points. The highest value typically comes from premium-cabin airline transfers, where points can deliver several times more value than cashback or shop-with-points options. Redemption is processed via the Amex Saudi Arabia app, online account, or by calling 800 124 2229. | |
|---|---|---|
| Asia Miles | Asia Miles redeem according to three fixed award charts: Cathay Pacific-operated flights (distance-based), airline partners (zone/distance-based), and oneworld multi-carrier awards (for round-the-world tickets). Cathay's Economy short-haul Asia routes from 7,000 miles one-way; Business HKG-Sydney for 58,000; Business HKG-LHR for 88,000; First HKG-LHR for 125,000. Most premium-cabin partner awards deliver outsized value. Fuel surcharges apply on most redemptions and are priced by region. Online booking for Cathay and many oneworld partners; some partner awards require calling Asia Miles. Round-the-world award tickets uniquely available. Members can also redeem for cabin upgrades, extra legroom seats, baggage allowance, hotel stays, car rentals, and merchandise. |
Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy
| AMEX Membership Rewards | Asia Miles | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 0 | 5 |
| Top tier | — | Diamond Exec |
| First-tier qualification | — | 300 points |
| Point expiry | Never expire | 18 months inactivity (reset on earn) |