British Airways Club vs ICSAB+: which loyalty program wins?

We score British Airways Club and ICSAB+ 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

British Airways Club is best for Frequent flyers, while ICSAB+ is best for Households paying SADAD and government bills.

Skip British Airways Club if Anyone targeting elite status, and skip ICSAB+ if Heavy spenders on groceries, fuel, and restaurants.

Overall rating

	British Airways Club	ICSAB+
Overall rating	4.1 / 5	3.6 / 5
Earning	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Redemption	5.0 / 5	3.0 / 5
Network	5.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Ease of use	3.0 / 5	4.0 / 5
Expiry	4.0 / 5	3.0 / 5

Earning structure

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).
ICSAB+	Members earn ICSAB+ points across a wide range of activities: credit card spend (7.5–12.5 points per 100 SAR domestic, 10–15 points international, depending on card type), Mada debit card spend (0.5 points domestic, 1 point international per 100 SAR), digital banking registration and activity (10–40 points), paperless statement enrollment (10–20 points), ITM and e-Desk services (10 points each), AQSAT installment plans (10–30 points), IPO enrollment (20–40 points), and personal/home finance applications (100–200 points). Digital payment behavior boosts earnings: contactless +5%, digital wallet +10%, online purchases +15%, recurring digital payments +20%.

Redemption structure

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.
ICSAB+	Points redeem through six channels via SAB Mobile or SAB Online: Instant ICSAB+ Cash (1,000 points = 70 SAR, deposited to account or credit card instantly via app or within 3 working days, 200 SAR minimum), Pay with ICSAB+ for SADAD and government payments directly through SAB, E-vouchers at 150+ merchants (1,000 points = 100 SAR — the highest-value path), Online Travel (flights, hotels, car rentals booked directly through the ICSAB+ portal, 1,000-point minimum), Charitable donations to Ehsan or Joodeskan (500 points = 50 SAR, no upper limit), and Points Exchange transfers to airline, hotel, and telecom partner programs. Travel redemptions cannot be cancelled or refunded once confirmed. Most other redemptions are also non-refundable. Redemption requires accepting program T&Cs on first use

Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy

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

Open in loyaup