Saudia Airlines is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia and a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. They operate domestic and international flights to more than 85 destinations in the: Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.
Check out our list of the best credit card bonuses here.
Alfursan is Saudia’s frequent flyer program. Members from the United States can build up points by transferring from partner loyalty programs, flying with Saudia, or with any of their partner airlines. However, redemption options are limited to award flights and upgrades.
Read below for more information on what they have to offer.
Alfursan Quick Facts
| Airline Alliance | SkyTeam |
| Hubs | Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam |
| U.S. Destinations | Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C. |
| U.S. Credit Cards | None |
| Transfer Partners | Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy |
| Redemption Options | Flights, upgrades |
Alfursan Elite Status
When you join Alfursan, you automatically become a Blue member. Above Blue are two status tiers: Silver and Gold. To move up a tier, you need to collect a certain amount of Status Miles or fly a certain number of international sectors in one calendar year:
| Status | Status Miles | Sectors |
| Silver | 25,000 | 20 |
| Gold | 50,000 | 40 |
Once you unlock a tier, you have that status for the end of the following calendar year, and you’ll enjoy the following benefits:
| Silver | Gold | |
| Miles bonus | 25% | 50% |
| Rapid check-in counter | Business | First |
| Priority wait listing & airport standby | Higher | Highest |
| Seat selection | Yes | Yes |
| Additional baggage allowance | 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Priority baggage | Business | First |
| Lounge access | Yes | Yes |
| Priority boarding | Higher | Highest |
| Priority call handling | Yes | Yes |
Earning Alfursan Miles
Compared to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Delta SkyMiles and other frequent flyer programs based in the United States, earning Alfursan Miles is not easy for all Americans. Check out all the ways for you to build up on Alfursan Miles:
Transfer Partners
The best way to earn Alfursan Miles is with transfer partners. Marriott Bonvoy members will be able to convert their points to Alfursan Miles at a three to one ratio. With a 5,000 mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points they transfer.
 The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Card renewal year, get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. With this card, you'll earn: • 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. • 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. • 2X points on all other eligible purchases. • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide. A Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at participating hotels for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member. Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck. $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card. Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Certain hotels have resort fees. This card comes with a $650 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees) Furthermore, enjoy unlimited airport lounge visits when you enroll in Priority Pass Select membership. Terms Apply. |
 The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers 3 Free Night Awards up to a 150,000 Total Point Value (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • Up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy • 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. • 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchase • 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend. You gain an automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year. You'll receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year & an additional Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary. This card does carry a $95 fee; there are no foreign transaction fees. |
 The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card offers 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • Up to 14X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy • 2X points for all other travel purchases • 1X points per $1 spent on all other purchases This card comes with no annual fees or foreign transaction fees and you'll get 15 elite night credits each calendar year! |
 The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card offers 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate. You can enjoy a complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. You'll earn: • 6x Marriott Bonvoy Points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. • 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. • 2x points on all other eligible purchases. You'll receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Certain hotels have resort fees. This card does carry a $125 annual fee. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
Hilton Honors members can also convert their points to Alfursan Miles. However, it has a less attractive rate of 10,000 points to 1,000 miles.
Flights
Earn Alfursan Miles when you fly with Saudia and the following airline partners:
- Aeroflot
- Aerolineas Argentinas
- AeroMexico
- Air Europa
- Air France
- Alitalia
- China Airlines
- China Eastern
- Czech Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- Garuda Indonesia
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- MEA Airlines
- TAROM
- Vietnam Airlines
- Xiamen Airlines
Other Ways
Other ways that U.S. residents can earn Alfursan Miles include:
- Booking accommodations with hotel partners, such as Hilton, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Shangri-La, Marriott and Radisson.
- Booking accommodations with Rocketmiles, Kaligo and more.
- Booking car rentals with Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt and more.
There are more options to earn Alfursan Miles, but they’re not relevant to those living in the United States.
Redeeming Alfursan Miles
Most Alfursan members use their miles for award flights with Saudia and partner airlines, which covers over 1,150 destinations in 175 countries. Award fare depends on flight zone and booking class. See the miles redemption table here.
The only other option is to redeem for a one-class upgrade on domestic and international Saudia flights.
Alfursan Miles Expiration
Alfursan Miles are valid for three years from the end of the calendar year in which they were earned. Miles do not extend with earn and burn activity, so use them within three years or lose them.
Alfursan Tips & Tricks
Family Member Program. This miles-pooling benefit is extremely generous. It allows the head of a household to pool miles with up to eight other members, including not only immediate relatives and children over two, but also private drivers and housemaids.
Booking considerations. Please note, Alfursan does not allow any stopovers. One-way awards cost 60% of roundtrip flights, and change fees are low, just $27 for domestic itineraries and $67 for international.
Sweet spots. The following routes are great deals for your Alfursan Miles.
| From | To | Class | Miles |
| East Coast | Europe | Economy | 50,000 |
| Hawaii | Australasia | Business | 80,000 |
| United States | South America | Business | 90,000 |
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Conclusion
There are lots of other frequent flyer programs that offer more value than Saudia Airlines Alfursan. Membership can be useful if you fly within the Middle East or if you have lots of Marriott Bonvoy points. However, be sure that you remember that your redemption options are limited to award flights and upgrades only.
For a frequent flyer program with more ways to redeem, check out Emirates Skywards.
