Avios
Qatar Airways
VS
LAK Rewards
Saudi National Bank
Avios vs LAK Rewards: which loyalty program wins?
We score Avios and LAK 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
Avios is best for Frequent travelers, while LAK Rewards is best for Early adopters.
Skip Avios if Saudi residents who don't travel internationally, and skip LAK Rewards if Users wanting wide partner coverage.
Overall rating
| Avios | LAK Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.4 / 5 | 2.6 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 5.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Network | 5.0 / 5 | 2.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 5.0 / 5 | 2.0 / 5 |
Earning structure
| Avios | Members earn Avios on Qatar Airways flights - earning rates vary by route, fare class, and booking class. Earnings also accrue on flights with oneworld alliance partners (American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Iberia, Finnair, Royal Jordanian, and others) and on 90+ global partners including hotels (Marriott, IHG), car rentals (Hertz, Avis), retail, dining, and financial services. Avios are credited up to two hours before takeoff after check-in. Members can also purchase Avios to top up their balance, gift them to family and friends, or transfer between accounts. There is no Saudi bank co-branded credit card for Avios as of 2026. | |
|---|---|---|
| LAK Rewards | Members earn LAK points on eligible local and international transactions made with SNB AlAhli credit cards, prepaid cards, and the Global Multi-Currency Credit Card. Earn rates vary by card segment (Titanium, Platinum, World, Infinite) - cardholders need to check their card's terms or the SNB Mobile app to find their specific rate. An additional bonus of up to 50% applies on overseas transactions paid in the local currency of the country visited. The Cashback Credit Card and Alfursan Credit Card are excluded from LAK earning, as they have separate reward structures. |
Redemption structure
| Avios | Avios redeem on Qatar Airways and oneworld alliance flights worldwide - economy, business, and first class. Cabin upgrades to Business class on Qatar Airways are available. Cash + Avios allows part-payment for flights, giving flexibility on Avios-poor or last-minute bookings. At Qatar Duty Free in Hamad International Airport (Doha), Avios redemptions save up to 20% on luxury brands and dining. Members can also redeem at the Privilege Club Collection (lifestyle merchandise) and convert Avios with partner programs. Expired Avios can be revalidated at USD 0.015 per Avios - unique flexibility among airline programs. | |
|---|---|---|
| LAK Rewards | Points redeem through the SNB Mobile app or LakRewards.com, with a minimum threshold of 1,000 points. Redemption options include cashback to the card, transfer to Alfursan miles, flight and hotel bookings via the LAK travel portal, e-gift cards, and partner merchant purchases. |
Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy
| Avios | LAK Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 4 | 0 |
| Top tier | Platinum | — |
| First-tier qualification | 150 points | — |
| Point expiry | 36 months inactivity (reset on earn) | 12 months |