Introducing Saudia and the AlFursan Loyalty Programme

This article is sponsored by Saudia

Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s quickest-growing tourist destinations. The country is targeting 150 million visitors by 2030, and it feels like we’re constantly receiving press releases about new hotels or travel destinations opening in the country.

Naturally, Saudia (formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines) is a key player in this growth, being the country’s original flag carrier and flying since 1945.

We haven’t given much attention to Saudi Arabia on Head for Points in the past, but with huge ambitions it is hard to ignore.

Rob also recently reviewed, and was impressed by, the new Saudia lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4 and you can read his review here.

Where does Saudia fly to in the UK?

Saudia is bigger than you think, with over 140 aircraft serving 100+ destinations worldwide.

As you would expect, that includes substantial coverage in the UK. Whilst the airline’s main hub is in Jeddah, it currently also operates services to and from Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

Saudia operates a substantial UK network, with 240 flights a week including direct flights from:

• Birmingham to Jeddah (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays)
• London Gatwick to Jeddah (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays)
• London Gatwick to Neom Bay (Thursdays and Sundays)
• London Heathrow to Jeddah (2x daily)
• London Heathrow to Riyadh (3x daily)
• Manchester to Jeddah (daily)

In addition, commencing in November 2025, the airline will launch a new direct route between King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and London Heathrow Airport – operating three times weekly.

These services are typically operated by modern Boeing 787 Dreamliners or Boeing 777s, offering a comfortable onboard experience with lie-flat Business Class seats and a halal-certified meal service throughout all cabins. The service is now competitive with regional rivals thanks to significant investment over the past few years.

Beyond Saudi Arabia, these flights open up efficient one-stop connections to South Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, often with very attractive pricing versus other Middle Eastern carriers.

To explore Saudia’s flight options, visit their website here.

Part of the SkyTeam airline alliance

Saudia is one of 19 SkyTeam member airlines. Now that Virgin Atlantic is also a member that means you can earn and burn Virgin Points on Saudia flights, as well as earn tier points.

Saudia redemptions are bookable on the Virgin Atlantic website which makes it easy to find availability.

Saudia redemptions are priced on Virgin Atlantic’s SkyTeam distance-based chart. Flights are 15,500 Virgin Points in economy and 40,000 points in business class for a one-way trip between London and Jeddah, with taxes and fees paid on top (approximately £180 in economy and £300 in business class for a return trip, although the return leg is just £35 in either class!)

Saudia’s AlFursan loyalty scheme

Of course, you can also redeem for Saudia flights via the airline’s own loyalty scheme. This is called AlFursan with full earn and burn across its own metal as well as its SkyTeam partners. It also has partnerships with Etihad, China Southern and ITA Airways.

AlFursan remains a mileage-based system and redemptions are well priced following a permanent 50% cut in prices back in 2022. For a trip from London to Saudi Arabia, you can expect to pay:

• 12,000 points in economy
• 44,000 points in business class
• 62,500 points in first class

…. each way. More seats are made available under a scheme called ‘Reward+’ which are priced at double the amount shown above.

In addition, AlFursan has just launched a new “Cash + Miles” booking option allowing frequent flyers to reduce the cost of their cash ticket by redeeming miles alongside. This is a common feature of airline loyalty programmes and adds additional flexibility for AlFursan members to redeem miles.

The new payment method offers greater flexibility, allowing guests to book without any seat limitations on each flight, and also modify their itineraries or request refunds through the “Manage My Booking” feature, available on Saudia’s official website and mobile applications.

The introduction of this option is part of Saudia’s broader strategy to expand payment flexibility and deliver leading guest-centric services. These efforts align with Saudia’s strategic objective to elevate every aspect of guests’ journeys, from planning and booking to managing reservations and accessing post-sale support.

The AlFursan Loyalty Programme rewards members with miles when flying with Saudia, flyadeal, or SkyTeam alliance partners, along with access to a growing selection of offers and exclusive privileges. The programme remains focused on delivering a first-rate loyalty experience, supported by strategic partnerships and advanced digital solutions that meet evolving member expectations.

Conclusion

Hopefully this gives you a taste of what Saudia has to offer. Whilst it might not have the same name brand recognition in the UK as Qatar Airways or Emirates, the last few years have seen it invest heavily in its onboard experience and recent feedback indicates a well-rounded experience marked by comfort, quality service, and attention to detail.

Redemptions to Saudi seem particularly keenly priced both via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Saudia’s AlFursan programmes, with cheap points and fees for flights to the Middle East. Even if Saudi Arabia doesn’t interest you, it could make a good starting point for exploring the wider region or further afield.

You can find out more about Saudia on their website here.