Radisson Rewards
VS
Skywards
Emirates Airlines
Radisson Rewards vs Skywards: which loyalty program wins?
We score Radisson 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
Radisson Rewards is best for Frequent flyers, while Skywards is best for Frequent flyers.
Skip Radisson Rewards if Occasional hotel guests, and skip Skywards if Domestic flyers.
Overall rating
| Radisson Rewards | Skywards | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 2.8 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 3.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Network | 3.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 3.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 2.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
Earning structure
| Radisson Rewards | Members earn Radisson Rewards points on every paid stay at participating Radisson Hotel Group properties globally. Earn rates vary by tier: Club (entry, default) earns 9 points per USD spent on eligible room charges (excluding taxes and fees); Premium earns 27 points per USD; VIP earns 36 points per USD. Points also accrue on hotel incidentals charged to the room at participating properties. Members can also earn through Radisson promotional offers and the unique Discount Booster (2026) which trades fewer points for a higher instant discount (up to 20%) on the stay. Points can be purchased (up to 250,000 per year) but purchased points don't count toward elite status qualification. There are no Radisson Rewards credit cards available - co-brand cards were discontinued globally. | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
| Radisson Rewards | Points redeem for award nights at any Radisson Hotel Group property worldwide. Standard room award nights start from 9,000 points, or 5,000 points with the Points + Cash option for partial payment. There are no blackout dates on standard room redemptions. Uniquely, members still receive elite benefits (room upgrades and late checkout) when booking with points — unlike some hotel chains. Award pricing is increasingly dynamic since 2022, though some sweet spots remain on the award chart. Members can also redeem for gift cards, merchandise, travel experiences, and donations to charity. Limited airline and travel partner transfer options exist but generally offer poor value due to the compressed point value (~0.25 cents USD per point industry valuation). | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
| Radisson Rewards | Skywards | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 3 | 4 |
| Top tier | VIP | Platinum |
| First-tier qualification | 3 stays | 25,000 points |
| Point expiry | 24 months inactivity (reset on earn) | 36 months inactivity (reset on earn) |