AirRewards vs Alfursan: which loyalty program wins?

We score AirRewards and Alfursan 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

AirRewards is best for Frequent economy flyers, while Alfursan is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip AirRewards if Anyone wanting to earn through daily spend, and skip Alfursan if Occasional travellers - miles expire after 24 months.

Overall rating

	AirRewards	Alfursan
Overall rating	3.4 / 5	3.6 / 5
Earning	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Redemption	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Network	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Ease of use	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Expiry	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5

Earning structure

AirRewards	Members earn up to 10% cashback as AirRewards points on every Air Arabia flight booking (and ancillary services like meals, baggage, and seat selection). The exact earn rate varies by fare type and route. Earning also extends to partner activities: 200 points per 100 AED with Union Insurance, up to 40 points per 100 AED at Kalyan Jewellers, 3 points per 10 AED via Buzzpay mobile recharges (UAE-focused), up to 6 points per USD with Sixt car rentals, up to 10,000 points per Rocketmiles hotel stay, up to 15 points per USD with Kaligo hotel bookings, and 4 points per Euro at Land of Fashion. Family accounts pool points across multiple members.
Alfursan	Earn miles based on flight distance and cabin class — from 25% of miles flown on Economy Saver up to 250% in First Class. Also earn miles via co-branded credit cards (Al Rajhi, Riyad Bank, Alinma, SNB, BSF, SAB, AmEx) and SkyTeam partner airlines.

Redemption structure

AirRewards	Points redeem at the fixed rate of 100 AirRewards points = 1 USD, with no variability based on fare type, date, or route — a uniquely transparent value in airline loyalty. Points can be used for flights (every seat on every flight available, no blackout dates), meals, baggage, and additional services. Cash + Points option allows partial payment when point balance is insufficient. Family account members can pool points to redeem together. AirRewards points can also be transferred to Etihad Guest Miles for redemption within the broader Etihad network. Redemption is processed entirely through www.airarabia.com or the mobile app.
Alfursan	Redeem for SAUDIA and SkyTeam award flights starting at 4,500 miles (one-way domestic Economy), cabin upgrades from 3,750 miles, extra baggage, and lounge access. Miles expire if a user is not active for 2 years.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	AirRewards	Alfursan
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	0	3
Top tier	—	Gold “Elite Plus”
First-tier qualification	—	20 flights
Point expiry	—	24 months inactivity (reset on earn)

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