Riyadh Air 2026 Launch: How to Position Your Points for the New Carrier

American Express UK dropping Etihad Guest as a 1:1 transfer partner this month left a massive hole for anyone stockpiling points for trips east. The timing of Riyadh Air launching its daily London Heathrow to King Khalid International flights in Q2 2026 is perfect. You cannot transfer Amex points directly to them yet, but you do not need to. There is already a backdoor way to book their brand-new business class suites using points you probably already hold.

For UK flyers, the landscape has radically shifted. The inaugural flights are complete, the reviews are out, and the focus has now shifted entirely to the loyalty mechanics. Here at Points Uncovered, we have been running the numbers on exactly how to extract the best value from this new player.

How the Amex and Etihad split changes the game

The removal of Etihad Guest from the UK Membership Rewards roster in June 2026 forced a massive rethink for UK points collectors. Amex added Accor in its place, but hotel points do not get you to the Middle East in a flatbed. Readers sitting on large Amex balances need a new high-value redemption avenue.

We are currently facing high British Airways surcharges and near-impossible Qatar Airways Qsuite availability out of London. Avios is getting incredibly crowded, especially with Philippine Airlines joining Oneworld and BA pushing heavily into Avios-only flights. Riyadh Air stepped into this void with a brand-new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. They are aggressively courting the UK premium market, pulling transit traffic away from Doha and Dubai. If your Amex points are currently sitting idle, this is the new route you need to be watching.

Booking Riyadh Air using Virgin Points

Because Riyadh Air and Saudia share the same Saudi aviation ecosystem and have an active Memorandum of Understanding, Saudia’s SkyTeam membership is your immediate route to booking. You can link your Virgin Red and Flying Club accounts to use Virgin Points for Riyadh Air codeshares.

Based on Saudia’s current pricing chart, expect to pay around 55,000 Virgin Points for a one-way business class seat from London Heathrow to Riyadh. The real leverage here is the current Virgin Points promotion. Virgin is running a 70% buy-points bonus until 7 July 2026. This brings the cost-per-point down to roughly 0.89p. Buying the points outright to redeem for a £3,000 LHR-RUH business class seat yields exceptional value right now. I rarely recommend buying points speculatively, but if you have firm dates to travel this autumn, the maths is undeniably in your favour.

Claiming the 10,000-point launch bonus and status match

Riyadh Air is offering a flat 10,000-point sign-up bonus for accounts created and verified before the end of July 2026. Airline launches are rare, and the initial loyalty promotions are always the most generous. You should take five minutes to register today.

They are also running a highly targeted status match right now. If you hold British Airways Executive Club Gold or Silver, or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold, you can match to their equivalent top tier. This gives you lounge access at RUH and priority boarding valid through the end of 2027. Even if you do not plan to fly them this month, locking in equivalent top-tier status is a free insurance policy for future travel. Historic data shows early adopters of Middle Eastern airline programmes get targeted for the best promotions down the line.

The reality of the new business class product

Riyadh Air operates a two-class configuration on their Boeing 787-9s, completely skipping First Class. The focus is entirely on the new 43-inch pitch, fully enclosed Business Class suites and a premium-heavy Economy cabin.

The hard product easily beats the current British Airways Club Suite. You get native Bluetooth audio, sharp 4K screens, and a genuinely spacious footwell. The soft product is where opinions will divide. Riyadh Air is a completely dry airline. No alcohol is served in any cabin or in their RUH lounges. This is a major differentiator from regional rivals Emirates and Qatar Airways. If a glass of vintage champagne is a non-negotiable part of your premium cabin experience, you will want to look elsewhere. For a six-hour daytime flight, I find the superior seat comfort easily outweighs the lack of a wine list, but your mileage will vary.

Comparing Riyadh Air against Avios options

British Airways currently charges between 50,000 and 60,000 Avios plus roughly £350 in surcharges each way for LHR-RUH in Club Suite. Riyadh Air offers a superior seat and far better award availability right now.

Qatar Airways wins on network size and Oneworld connectivity, plus their extensive food and beverage programme. The problem with Qatar is actually finding two Qsuite seats out of London on the dates you want. Riyadh Air’s launch means wide-open award space while the rest of the market catches up. If you are flying point-to-point to Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air is the logical choice. If you are trying to reach Asia, the Avios route via Doha remains superior.

Practical advice for your Amex points strategy

Do not preemptively sweep your Amex Membership Rewards into Avios just because the Etihad option disappeared. Keep your points fluid in your Amex account.

If Riyadh Air announces a direct transfer partnership to capture the lost Etihad market, you want liquid points ready to move. For now, keep an eye on the SkyTeam integration and use Virgin Points as your primary booking vehicle. Here is the exact strategy to follow this month:

• Hold your Amex Membership Rewards balance steady instead of transferring to Avios.
• Link your Virgin Red and Flying Club accounts to access SkyTeam inventory.
• Register for the Riyadh Air loyalty programme before the end of July 2026 for the 10,000-point bonus.
• Match your BA or Virgin status immediately to secure lounge access through 2027.

The honest verdict on flying Riyadh Air in 2026

The hardware is undeniably excellent. A 43-inch pitch enclosed suite on a brand-new Dreamliner is a fantastic way to spend six hours. The status match is a no-brainer if you hold BA Silver or Gold.

The part I keep coming back to is the network. As of June 2026, their routes are largely point-to-point between Riyadh and major Western hubs. Connecting traffic to Asia and Australia will not scale up until late 2026 or 2027 as more aircraft are delivered. If your final destination is Riyadh, book it immediately via Virgin Points. If you want to connect to Tokyo or Sydney, you will need to wait a few more months for the route map to mature. Ready to optimise your current balances? You can explore more guides on Points Uncovered.