IHG® One Rewards
IHG Hotels & Resorts
VS
Skywards
Emirates Airlines
IHG® One Rewards vs Skywards: which loyalty program wins?
We score IHG® One Rewards and Skywards 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
IHG® One Rewards is best for Frequent flyers, while Skywards is best for Frequent flyers.
Skip IHG® One Rewards if Anyone wanting predictable redemption costs or daily-spend earning, and skip Skywards if Domestic flyers.
Overall rating
| IHG® One Rewards | Skywards | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.2 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 3.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Network | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 3.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
Earning structure
| IHG® One Rewards | Members earn 10 base points per USD spent at most IHG brands. Extended-stay brands (Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites) earn 5 points/USD. Elite tier members receive bonus points: Silver +20%, Gold +40%, Platinum +60%, Diamond +100%. Saudi users do not have access to IHG-branded credit cards - the IHG Premier and Traveler cards from Chase are US-only. Members can also earn points through Hertz car rentals (1,500 bonus + 125-500 points/day), OpenTable dining reservations, and point purchases. | |
|---|---|---|
| Skywards | Members earn Skywards Miles by flying with Emirates and flydubai (with Tier Miles for status qualification) and through 30+ partner airlines including Air Canada (full partnership December 2025), JetBlue, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, S7, and others (Skywards Miles only - no Tier Miles from partners). Earning also extends to hotel stays with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and ALL Accor; car rentals; dining partners; and retail. Saudi residents can transfer points from BSF Jana (500-point minimum, up to 200,000 per conversion) and anb rewards via published conversion rates. Tier bonuses: Silver +30%, Gold +75%, Platinum +100%. Members can also purchase miles. The Emirates Skywards Mastercard from Citi is US/Europe market only. |
Redemption structure
| IHG® One Rewards | Points redeem for hotel stays at 6,300+ IHG properties in 100+ countries. Variable point pricing applies (no published award chart since 2018) - redemption costs shift based on cash rates. Members can also use Points + Cash flexibility, transfer to 30+ airline partners (typically poor 5:1 or 10:1 ratios), redeem for gift cards, merchandise, or Hertz car rentals. Platinum and Diamond Elite members get exclusive access to promotional Reward Night discounts. IHG dropped fixed award charts in favor of variable dynamic pricing, making redemption costs less predictable than competitors. | |
|---|---|---|
| Skywards | Miles redeem for award flights and upgrades on Emirates and flydubai, plus partner airlines (Air Canada, JetBlue, Korean, Cathay, Qantas, and 25+ more). Classic Rewards have fixed pricing; Flex Rewards have dynamic pricing with broader availability. Cash + Miles option allows partial payment for flights. Upgrade Rewards available on Emirates flights - particularly valuable on premium-cabin redemptions. First Class redemptions are restricted to Silver, Gold, and Platinum members (Blue members cannot book First). Members can also redeem for hotel stays via partners, car rentals, retail, sporting events, and cultural experiences. Fuel surcharges apply on most premium-cabin partner redemptions. Mile purchases available to supplement award costs. |
Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy
| IHG® One Rewards | Skywards | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 5 | 4 |
| Top tier | Diamond Elite | Platinum |
| First-tier qualification | 20,000 points | 25,000 points |
| Point expiry | 12 months inactivity (reset on earn) | 36 months inactivity (reset on earn) |