Miles&Smiles vs Radisson Rewards: which loyalty program wins?

We score Miles&Smiles and Radisson 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

Miles&Smiles is best for Frequent flyers, while Radisson Rewards is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip Miles&Smiles if Anyone who flies infrequently, and skip Radisson Rewards if Occasional hotel guests.

Overall rating

	Miles&Smiles	Radisson Rewards
Overall rating	3.9 / 5	2.8 / 5
Earning	4.0 / 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	3.0 / 5	2.0 / 5

Earning structure

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.
Radisson Rewards	Members earn Radisson Rewards points on every paid stay at participating Radisson Hotel Group properties globally. Earn rates vary by tier: Club (entry, default) earns 9 points per USD spent on eligible room charges (excluding taxes and fees); Premium earns 27 points per USD; VIP earns 36 points per USD. Points also accrue on hotel incidentals charged to the room at participating properties. Members can also earn through Radisson promotional offers and the unique Discount Booster (2026) which trades fewer points for a higher instant discount (up to 20%) on the stay. Points can be purchased (up to 250,000 per year) but purchased points don't count toward elite status qualification. There are no Radisson Rewards credit cards available - co-brand cards were discontinued globally.

Redemption structure

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.
Radisson Rewards	Points redeem for award nights at any Radisson Hotel Group property worldwide. Standard room award nights start from 9,000 points, or 5,000 points with the Points + Cash option for partial payment. There are no blackout dates on standard room redemptions. Uniquely, members still receive elite benefits (room upgrades and late checkout) when booking with points — unlike some hotel chains. Award pricing is increasingly dynamic since 2022, though some sweet spots remain on the award chart. Members can also redeem for gift cards, merchandise, travel experiences, and donations to charity. Limited airline and travel partner transfer options exist but generally offer poor value due to the compressed point value (~0.25 cents USD per point industry valuation).

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	Miles&Smiles	Radisson Rewards
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	4	3
Top tier	Elite Plus	VIP
First-tier qualification	25,000 points	3 stays
Point expiry	36 months	24 months inactivity (reset on earn)

Open in loyaup