AMEX Membership Rewards vs Miles&Smiles: which loyalty program wins?

We score AMEX Membership Rewards 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

AMEX Membership Rewards is best for International travelers wanting premium-cabin redemptions and no expiry pressure, while Miles&Smiles is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip AMEX Membership Rewards if Anyone seeking the highest local earn rate or the lowest annual fees, and skip Miles&Smiles if Anyone who flies infrequently.

Overall rating

	AMEX Membership Rewards	Miles&Smiles
Overall rating	4.2 / 5	3.9 / 5
Earning	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Redemption	5.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Network	5.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Ease of use	3.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Expiry	5.0 / 5	3.0 / 5

Earning structure

AMEX Membership Rewards	Cardholders earn 1 Membership Rewards point for every USD spent (approximately 3.75 SAR) at any establishment accepting American Express in Saudi Arabia and 200+ countries worldwide. Premium cards (Gold, Platinum, The Platinum Card, The Gold Card) offer enhanced earning on select categories such as dining, travel, and supermarkets - earning rates vary by specific card product. Welcome bonuses provide head-start points on enrollment, typically substantial. Amex Offers provide additional bonus points and statement credits at participating merchants. Some cards charge USD 25/year for Membership Rewards enrollment; others include it free.
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

AMEX Membership Rewards	Points redeem through multiple channels: transfer to international airline frequent flyer programs (multiple major carriers, typically 1:1 ratio), transfer to global hotel loyalty programs (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, ALL Accor), book travel directly via Amex's reward catalogue, redeem for digital gift cards from major retailers, pay annual card fees with points, donate to selected charities, or shop with points at AmexShop for electronics, accessories, and gifts. Minimum redemption is 1,000 points. The highest value typically comes from premium-cabin airline transfers, where points can deliver several times more value than cashback or shop-with-points options. Redemption is processed via the Amex Saudi Arabia app, online account, or by calling 800 124 2229.
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

	AMEX Membership Rewards	Miles&Smiles
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	0	4
Top tier	—	Elite Plus
First-tier qualification	—	25,000 points
Point expiry	Never expire	36 months

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