IHG® One Rewards
IHG Hotels & Resorts
VS
Miles&Smiles
Turkish Airlines
IHG® One Rewards vs Miles&Smiles: which loyalty program wins?
We score IHG® One Rewards and Miles&Smiles 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
IHG® One Rewards is best for Frequent flyers, while Miles&Smiles is best for Frequent flyers.
Skip IHG® One Rewards if Anyone wanting predictable redemption costs or daily-spend earning, and skip Miles&Smiles if Anyone who flies infrequently.
Overall rating
| IHG® One Rewards | Miles&Smiles | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.2 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 3.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Network | 4.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
Earning structure
| 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. | |
|---|---|---|
| Miles&Smiles | Members earn both Status Miles (for tier qualification) and Award Miles (for redemption) on Turkish Airlines and AnadoluJet flights - earning depends on flight distance, fare class, and elite status level. Earning extends to 25+ Star Alliance member carriers. Marriott Bonvoy transfer at 3:1 ratio. Choice Privileges transfer at 5:1 ratio. Status Miles can also be earned from 40 qualifying flights (Classic Plus only). Status upgrade purchases of 5,000-10,000 miles are available. No Saudi bank issues a Miles&Smiles co-branded credit card. |
Redemption structure
| 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. | |
|---|---|---|
| Miles&Smiles | Award Miles redeem for flights on Turkish Airlines, AnadoluJet, all 25+ Star Alliance partners, and selected non-alliance partners. Award booking is straightforward online for Turkish flights and most Star Alliance partners; some partner awards require calling. Sweet spots remain after the 2024 devaluation: Turkish Business Class to Europe/US, domestic US partner flights at favorable rates (some destinations like Hawaii start from 10,000 miles), and premium-cabin Star Alliance partner redemptions. Cabin upgrades available on Turkish flights. Elite Plus members receive two complimentary cabin upgrades annually. Award changes incur fees varying by tier. Fuel surcharges apply on most premium-cabin partner redemptions. Members can supplement with mile purchases. |
Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy
| IHG® One Rewards | Miles&Smiles | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 5 | 4 |
| Top tier | Diamond Elite | Elite Plus |
| First-tier qualification | 20,000 points | 25,000 points |
| Point expiry | 12 months inactivity (reset on earn) | 36 months |