Flying Blue
VS
Hassad
Riyad Bank
Flying Blue vs Hassad: which loyalty program wins?
We score Flying Blue and Hassad 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
Flying Blue is best for Frequent flyers, while Hassad is best for Riyad Bank World Elite cardholders who spend internationally or on e-gaming.
Skip Flying Blue if Anyone seeking elite status without flying, and skip Hassad if Anyone wanting long point validity or airline/hotel transfer partners.
Overall rating
| Flying Blue | Hassad | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.8 / 5 | 2.8 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 4.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Network | 5.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 4.0 / 5 | 2.0 / 5 |
Earning structure
| Flying Blue | Members earn Flying Blue Miles on flights with Air France, KLM, Transavia, Aircalin, Air Europa, Kenya Airways, TAROM, and the 19+ SkyTeam alliance partners including Saudia, Delta, Korean Air, China Eastern, Garuda, ITA Airways, China Southern, and Aeromexico. Earn rate by status: Explorer 4 Miles/Euro, Silver 6/Euro, Gold 7/Euro, Platinum 8/Euro, Ultimate 9/Euro. XP (Experience Points) for tier qualification are earned only on flights — Silver requires 100 XP, Gold +180 XP, Platinum +300 XP. XP earnings depend on distance and cabin class. Non-alliance partners include Japan Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, GOL, and Etihad. Hotel partner ALL Accor allows seamless earning across both programs. No Saudi bank issues a Flying Blue co-branded credit card. | |
|---|---|---|
| Hassad | Members are auto-enrolled in Hassad Rewards on most Riyad Bank credit card activations (some cards excluded). Earn rates vary significantly by card type and transaction category: World Elite Mastercard delivers up to 2.5% back; entry tiers typically earn 1% on local point-of-sale, 1.5% on international, 1.25% on online purchases, and 7.5% on e-gaming platforms. Welcome bonuses of 500-1,600 Hassad points apply on most cards. Points are also earned through digital banking transactions beyond card spend. The Hassad Rewards Calculator on the Riyad Bank website calculates expected points by card type and transaction type. |
Redemption structure
| Flying Blue | Miles redeem for award flights on Air France, KLM, all SkyTeam partners, and non-alliance partners (Japan Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, GOL, Etihad). Award pricing is moderately dynamic - less than US programs but more than Avios. Monthly Promo Rewards offer 25-50% discounts on selected award routes - a uniquely member-friendly feature. Members can also redeem for cabin upgrades (including World Business Class on long-haul KLM/Air France), seat upgrades, hotel stays (ALL Accor primarily), car rentals, and experiences. La Première (Air France First Class) redemptions are restricted to Platinum and Ultimate members. A 70 Euro change/cancellation fee applies to most awards; waived for Platinum and Ultimate. | |
|---|---|---|
| Hassad | Points redeem through two main channels: at Hassad partner stores by providing the registered mobile number and confirming the transaction with an OTP code sent by SMS; or through the Riyad Bank mobile app for gift cards and vouchers. Members can transfer Hassad points to other Hassad members using their mobile number or Hassad ID. Minimum redemption threshold is 1,000 Hassad points. Vouchers obtained through Hassad are non-refundable and non-transferable. Points cannot be redeemed for cash or used to pay credit card fees, and are non-transferable financially. Refunded or cancelled transactions reverse the corresponding Hassad points. |
Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy
| Flying Blue | Hassad | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 5 | 0 |
| Top tier | Ultimate | — |
| First-tier qualification | 100 points | — |
| Point expiry | 24 months inactivity (reset on earn) | 12 months |