The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is home to some of the world’s most renowned airlines, offering unparalleled service, connectivity, and travel experiences. Alongside them are their loyalty programs, designed to reward travellers and enhance their journeys.
Whether you’re a business traveller flying frequently across continents, or a leisure traveller looking for great deals and upgrades, these programs provide opportunities to earn points, unlock exclusive perks, and enjoy a more seamless travel experience.
1. Emirates Skywards
Emirates’ loyalty program, Skywards, is known for its generous earning potential and expansive redemption options. Earn miles on flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and shopping, and redeem for flights, upgrades, and exclusive experiences.
You can also spend your miles instantly at the airport when you earn them. The program partners with flydubai, broadening its reach.
Pros:
- Emirates Skywards has a “My Family” feature, allowing families to pool miles and redeem rewards faster.
- Tiers include: Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, offering increasing benefits like lounge access and bonus miles.
Cons:
- Higher redemption thresholds compared to some competitors.
Fun fact: Emirates Skywards frequently partners with pop culture events, allowing members to redeem miles for exclusive tickets to concerts and sports events.
2. Etihad Guest
Etihad’s program offers great flexibility and is highly regarded for its wide array of non-flight redemption options. Etihad Guest’s “Reward Shop” includes everything from electronics to unique experiences, redeemable with miles online through the app.
Pros:
- Earn miles not only on Etihad flights but also on partner airlines like Air Canada and Turkish Airlines.
- Redeem miles for flights, upgrades, shopping, and even cash.
- Tiers: Guest, Silver, Gold, and Platinum with benefits like priority check-in, extra baggage, and lounge access.
- Etihad Guest has a “MilesBooster” feature, allowing you to double or triple your earned miles for a small fee.
Cons
- Miles can expire relatively quickly if the account is inactive.
Fun fact: Members can use miles for carbon offsets, supporting sustainable travel initiatives.
3. Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Known for being part of the Oneworld Alliance, Privilege Club offers excellent global connectivity and exclusive perks. The program lets you earn ‘Avios’ which can be combined from other programs enhancing redemption flexibility.
Pros:
- Avios as currency, which can be shared or transferred to British Airways’ program.
- Qatar Airways offers exclusive Privilege Club promotions during major events like the FIFA World Cup.
- Tiers include: Burgundy, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with perks like award flight discounts and enhanced baggage allowances.
Cons:
- Relatively high taxes and fees on award tickets
Fun fact: Avios can be used for partial payments, making them highly versatile.
4. Saudia AlFursan
Saudi Arabia’s flagship carrier offers the AlFursan loyalty program, designed for domestic and international travellers. Saudia AlFursan offers unique rewards for Hajj and Umrah travellers, like extra baggage allowances and discounts.
Pros:
- Earn miles on Saudia and SkyTeam partner airlines.
- Access to luxurious Alfursan lounges for Gold and Silver members.
- Redeem miles for upgrades, tickets, and excess baggage.
- AlFursan members enjoy priority boarding and exclusive discounts on Saudia Holidays packages.
Cons:
- Limited non-flight redemption options.
Fun fact: Saudia AlFursan partners with major banks in the region, allowing credit card users to transfer points to AlFursan miles.
5. Royal Jordanian Royal Club
A member of the Oneworld Alliance, Royal Jordanian’s loyalty program is perfect for frequent regional travellers. Royal Club offers seasonal promotions with double or triple miles on select routes.
Pros:
- Earn miles on flights and with select partners.
- Redeem for free flights, upgrades, and lounge access.
- Royal Club members can pool miles with family members for quicker redemption.
- Bonus miles are available during special occasions, such as national holidays and anniversaries.
- Tiers include: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Family.
Cons:
- Smaller network compared to other regional carriers.
Fun fact: You can gift your miles to friends/family or donate to special causes.
6. Oman Air Sindbad
Sindbad is Oman Air’s loyalty program, offering simplicity and flexibility for regional and international travellers.
Pros:
- Earn Sindbad Miles on Oman Air flights, hotel stays, and with retail partners.
- Redeem miles for flights, upgrades, and partner services.
- Tiers: Sindbad Blue, Silver, and Gold, with benefits like extra baggage, priority services, and lounge access.
- Sindbad members can use miles to shop duty-free onboard Oman Air flights.
Cons:
- Smaller network of airline partners compared to larger carriers.
Fun fact: Sindbad frequently offers promotions with bonus miles for flights booked during specific periods, as well as a joining bonus of 1,000 miles on your first flight.
7. Middle East Airlines Cedar Miles
MEA’s Cedar Miles program is ideal for frequent travellers to and from Lebanon and across the Middle East.
Pros:
- Earn miles on MEA flights, SkyTeam partners, and with select non-airline partners.
- Redeem miles for award tickets, upgrades, and excess baggage.
- Tiers: Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with benefits such as priority services and free lounge access.
- Earn bonus miles when flying to Lebanon during the holiday season.
Cons:
- Limited destinations and non-airline partnerships for earning miles.
Fun Fact: MEA’s Cedar Miles has a unique “Gift Miles” feature, allowing members to gift miles to friends and family.
8. Gulf Air Falconflyer
Gulf Air’s Falconflyer program is tailored for both leisure and business travellers, offering a variety of rewards and perks.
Pros:
- Earn miles on Gulf Air flights, codeshare partners, and with select non-airline partners.
- Tiers: Blue, Silver, Gold, and Black with increasing benefits like extra baggage, lounge access, and priority check-in.
- Redeem miles for flights, upgrades, and shopping.
- Flying Flacon Gold gets you 250% on your miles.
- Black tier members receive a complimentary chauffeur service in select destinations.
- Family memberships allowing you to gain miles quicker.
Cons:
- You can’t earn miles on codeshare flights with partners.
Fun fact: Falconflyer members enjoy double miles promotions during special occasions and Gulf Air anniversaries.
9. EgyptAir Plus
EgyptAir Plus is EgyptAir’s frequent flyer program, offering generous benefits for regional and international travellers. For business travellers, the program offers a corporate plus tier to make the most of frequent business travel.
Pros:
- Earn miles on EgyptAir and Star Alliance member flights.
- Tiers: Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum with perks such as lounge access, priority boarding, and extra baggage.
- Platinum members enjoy complimentary upgrades on select flights.
- Redeem miles for award tickets and upgrades.
Cons:
- Higher mileage thresholds for certain rewards.
Fun fact: EgyptAir Plus frequently offers exclusive redemption offers during Egyptian holidays.
10. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
As one of the most globally connected airlines, Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles program is perfect for travellers seeking worldwide benefits.
Pros:
- Earn miles on Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance member flights.
- Redeem miles for award tickets, upgrades, and shopping.
- Tiers: Classic, Classic Plus, Elite, and Elite Plus with increasing perks like lounge access and additional baggage.
- Miles&Smiles members can redeem miles for hotel stays and car rentals worldwide.
Cons:
- Relatively high fees on award redemptions for some routes.
Fun fact: Elite Plus members receive a personal greeting service at select airports.
11. Flynas naSmiles
Flynas’ naSmiles program is tailored for budget-conscious travellers in the Middle East, offering straightforward earning and redemption options.
Pros:
- Earn Smile Points on Flynas flights and with select partners.
- Redeem Smile Points for flight discounts, upgrades, and add-ons like extra baggage.
- Points can also be earned on Flynas holidays packages.
Cons:
- No tier levels.
- Limited benefits compared to full-service carrier programs.
Fun fact: naSmiles members often receive exclusive discounts during seasonal promotions.
12. Kuwait Airways Oasis Club
Oasis Club is Kuwait Airways’ loyalty program, designed for frequent travellers seeking regional and international perks.
Pros:
- Earn miles on Kuwait Airways flights and with select global partners.
- Tiers: Blue, Silver, and Gold with increasing privileges such as extra baggage, lounge access, and priority check-in.
- Redeem miles for award flights and upgrades.
- Gold tier members receive complimentary lounge access for their guests.
Cons:
- Limited global airline partnerships.
Fun fact: Oasis Club members earn bonus miles when travelling to or from Kuwait during national holidays.
13. Air Arabia AirRewards
Air Arabia’s AirRewards program is the first individual loyalty program by a low-cost carrier in the region, offering simple and accessible rewards.
Pros:
- Earn points on Air Arabia flights and add-ons like baggage and seat selection.
- Redeem points for discounts on future bookings.
- Regular exclusive offers on flights and services for members.
Cons:
- No tier levels so no VIP rewards for frequent fliers.
- Limited benefits compared to full-service carriers.
Fun fact: AirRewards points can be shared with up to 8 family members.
5 Tips to maximise your miles in the MENA region
- Choose the right program: Select a program based on your travel patterns. For example, if you frequently travel to Europe or the Americas, consider programs with strong international partnerships.
- Use co-branded credit cards: Many MENA airlines have partnerships with banks, offering co-branded credit cards that accelerate miles accumulation.
- Leverage promotions: Keep an eye out for promotions offering bonus miles or discounts on redemptions.
- Explore non-flight redemptions: Many programs let you redeem miles for hotel stays, shopping, or even cash, increasing their value.
- Pool miles: Programs like Etihad Guest and Royal Club allow family pooling, enabling quicker rewards.
MENA’s airline loyalty programs are as diverse as the region itself. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or an occasional traveller, these programs offer an array of benefits that can make your travels more rewarding. By understanding their features and maximising your usage, you can unlock a world of perks and memorable experiences.
