Miles&Smiles vs Skywards: which loyalty program wins?

We score Miles&Smiles and Skywards 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 Skywards is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip Miles&Smiles if Anyone who flies infrequently, and skip Skywards if Domestic flyers.

Overall rating

	Miles&Smiles	Skywards
Overall rating	3.9 / 5	3.9 / 5
Earning	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Redemption	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Network	5.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Ease of use	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Expiry	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 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.
Skywards	Members earn Skywards Miles by flying with Emirates and flydubai (with Tier Miles for status qualification) and through 30+ partner airlines including Air Canada (full partnership December 2025), JetBlue, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, S7, and others (Skywards Miles only - no Tier Miles from partners). Earning also extends to hotel stays with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and ALL Accor; car rentals; dining partners; and retail. Saudi residents can transfer points from BSF Jana (500-point minimum, up to 200,000 per conversion) and anb rewards via published conversion rates. Tier bonuses: Silver +30%, Gold +75%, Platinum +100%. Members can also purchase miles. The Emirates Skywards Mastercard from Citi is US/Europe market only.

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.
Skywards	Miles redeem for award flights and upgrades on Emirates and flydubai, plus partner airlines (Air Canada, JetBlue, Korean, Cathay, Qantas, and 25+ more). Classic Rewards have fixed pricing; Flex Rewards have dynamic pricing with broader availability. Cash + Miles option allows partial payment for flights. Upgrade Rewards available on Emirates flights - particularly valuable on premium-cabin redemptions. First Class redemptions are restricted to Silver, Gold, and Platinum members (Blue members cannot book First). Members can also redeem for hotel stays via partners, car rentals, retail, sporting events, and cultural experiences. Fuel surcharges apply on most premium-cabin partner redemptions. Mile purchases available to supplement award costs.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

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

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