Aura vs British Airways Club: which loyalty program wins?

We score Aura and British Airways Club 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

Aura is best for Mall shoppers, while British Airways Club is best for Frequent flyers.

Skip Aura if Budget shoppers outside malls, and skip British Airways Club if Anyone targeting elite status.

Overall rating

	Aura	British Airways Club
Overall rating	3.4 / 5	4.1 / 5
Earning	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Redemption	3.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Network	3.0 / 5	5.0 / 5
Ease of use	5.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Expiry	2.0 / 5	4.0 / 5

Earning structure

Aura	Members earn 1 point for every 1 SAR spent at participating Alshaya brands, in-store and online. That's a 2% effective return on most purchases. Star tier members earn an additional 1% on top, and VIP members earn an additional 2% - bringing the top return to 4%. Bonus points are also offered during promotional events. Starbucks, Boots medicinal products, and Alshaya gift cards are excluded from earning.
British Airways Club	Members earn two currencies on BA-marketed flights and oneworld partners: Avios (the spending currency) and Tier Points (the status currency). Avios accrue at 6 per £1 (Blue), 7 (Bronze), 8 (Silver), or 9 (Gold) on eligible BA spending. Tier Points: 1 per £1 of eligible BA spend (fare + extras like seats, baggage), 2 per £1 of Sustainable Aviation Fuel contributions (April 2026 update, max 2,000 tier points/year). Bonus tier points based on fare type (April 2026): flexible fares earn more than standard fares within the same cabin. American Airlines and Iberia flights now earn bonus tier points based on cabin/haul. No Saudi bank issues a BA co-branded card. Avios can also be earned via Marriott Bonvoy transfer (3:1 ratio, 5,000 bonus per 60,000 points).

Redemption structure

Aura	Points redeem at a fixed rate of 50 points = 1 SAR (0.02 SAR per point) directly at checkout in any participating Alshaya store or online site. There's no minimum threshold - points can be applied to any eligible purchase. Members can also redeem for exclusive experiences, member-only prices, and special offers via the Aura app. Points cannot be transferred, converted to cash, or redeemed at non-Alshaya partners. Refunds on items paid partly with points are returned in points.
British Airways Club	Avios redeem for award flights and upgrades on BA, oneworld partners. Reward Flight Saver offers fixed cash + Avios pricing for select short-haul routes. Standard award flights use variable Avios + taxes/fees. BA award redemptions include high carrier-imposed surcharges (especially on premium-cabin long-haul). Members can use Avios for hotel stays (BA Hotels), car rentals, Avios shopping, BA Cabin Crew Wine, and gift experiences. Cash + Avios part-pay available on most BA bookings. Tier Points cannot be redeemed — they only determine status.

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

	Aura	British Airways Club
Number of partners	0	0
Partners	—	—
Number of tiers	3	4
Top tier	VIP	Gold
First-tier qualification	6,000 points	3,500 points
Point expiry	12 months	36 months inactivity (reset on earn)

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