Alfursan vs Miles&Smiles: which loyalty program wins?

We score Alfursan 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

Alfursan is best for Frequent flyers, while Miles&Smiles is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip Alfursan if Occasional travellers - miles expire after 24 months, and skip Miles&Smiles if Anyone who flies infrequently.

Overall rating

	Alfursan	Miles&Smiles
Overall rating	3.6 / 5	3.9 / 5
Earning	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Redemption	4.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Network	3.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Ease of use	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Expiry	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 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.
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

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.
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

	Alfursan	Miles&Smiles
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	3	4
Top tier	Gold “Elite Plus”	Elite Plus
First-tier qualification	20 flights	25,000 points
Point expiry	24 months inactivity (reset on earn)	36 months

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