Alfursan vs Etihad Guest: which loyalty program wins?

We score Alfursan and Etihad Guest 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

Alfursan is best for Frequent flyers, while Etihad Guest is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip Alfursan if Occasional travellers - miles expire after 24 months, and skip Etihad Guest if Domestic flyers.

Overall rating

	Alfursan	Etihad Guest
Overall rating	3.6 / 5	3.1 / 5
Earning	3.0 / 5	2.0 / 5
Redemption	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Network	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Ease of use	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Expiry	4.0 / 5	2.0 / 5

Earning structure

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.
Etihad Guest	Members earn Etihad Guest Miles by flying with Etihad Airways or 25+ partner airlines including American Airlines, ANA, Air Canada, Air France-KLM, Korean Air, Virgin Australia, SAS, and others. Earning also extends to 300,000+ hotels through Accor, Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy, car rentals with Avis and Budget, the Etihad Guest shopping portal, and dining partners. Members can also purchase miles (up to 100,000 per year, 150,000 for Platinum) and use the MilesBooster feature for retroactive miles on past flights. For Tier Miles (which qualify members for status), only Etihad flights and Etihad-issued payment cards count — partner flights no longer earn Tier Miles as of June 2024.

Redemption structure

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.
Etihad Guest	Miles redeem for flights and upgrades on Etihad Airways and 25+ partner airlines using a distance-based award chart. Members can also redeem for hotel stays worldwide via Accor, Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy, car rentals, and items in the Etihad Guest Reward Shop. Premium-cabin awards (Business and First) on Etihad's own routes deliver the highest typical value. Note: as of November 2025, Value awards are non-cancellable, and higher-tier awards have a 72-hour no-change window. Some partner award redemptions require calling the Etihad Guest call centre. Members can also use the Cash + Miles option for partial payment on flights.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	Alfursan	Etihad Guest
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	3	5
Top tier	Gold “Elite Plus”	Emerald
First-tier qualification	20 flights	25,000 points
Point expiry	24 months inactivity (reset on earn)	18 months inactivity (reset on earn)

Open in loyaup