Are Hotel or Flight Points Halal? A Simple Guide for Muslim Travelers

If you love traveling but also want to make sure your rewards and perks align with Islamic values, you might be wondering: Are hotel and flight points halal? Let’s break it down in a simple and practical way!

What Are Hotel and Flight Points?

Loyalty programs, like those from airlines and hotels, reward customers with points or miles whenever they book flights, stay at hotels, or use specific credit cards. These points can be redeemed for free flights, hotel stays, upgrades, or even extra services. Sounds great, right? But the big question is whether they are halal.

Arinara Homestay
Your Gateway to IOI City Mall and Putrajaya

Are Loyalty Points Halal?

Most Islamic scholars agree that loyalty points are generally halal, as long as they meet certain conditions:

• Earned from halal transactions – Booking a flight or hotel directly is fine, but using an interest-based credit card to earn extra points could be problematic.
• Not involving gambling (maysir) or uncertainty (gharar) – If the program works like a straightforward rewards system, it’s halal. However, schemes where you bid for flights or enter contests using points may fall into gambling.
• No hidden riba (interest) – If you’re earning points without having to pay extra interest, you’re in the clear. 

What Do Islamic Scholars Say?

According to IslamQA (IslamQA ), a well-known Islamic jurisprudence platform based in Saudi Arabia, it is permissible to use points offered by airline companies to reduce the price of tickets. This is viewed as a form of discount or gift from the company to the customer, which is allowed in Islam. The key consideration is that these points should not be associated with any prohibited elements, such as interest (riba) or gambling (maysir).

Al Ebaa Hotel, Makkah
Stars: 4 
Rating: 8.6 (Very good)
Umrah Features
• No rooms with Kaaba or Haram views
• Haram in walking distance: 20 min walk (1,300 m)
• No Haram-connected prayer hall

Examples of Airline Loyalty Programs

Many airlines offer fantastic rewards programs, and the good news is that they are mostly halal if you’re earning them through direct spending. Here are some well-known ones:

1. Etihad Guest (Etihad Airways) – Earn miles when you fly with Etihad or partner airlines, book hotels, or shop with their partners. You can redeem points for free flights, upgrades, or even luxury experiences.
2. Emirates Skywards (Emirates Airlines) – Earn Skywards Miles by flying Emirates or partner airlines, booking hotels, or even renting cars. They offer flight redemptions, hotel stays, and lounge access.
3. Privilege Club (Qatar Airways) – Earn Qmiles for flights, hotel bookings, or car rentals. You can use them for free flights, excess baggage, or even shopping at Qatar Duty-Free.

If you’re earning miles simply by flying or booking a hotel, you don’t need to worry – it’s just a reward, much like a discount!

Al Mokhtara Diamond, Madinah
Stars: 3
Rating: 7.6 (Good) 
Umrah Features
• No rooms with Haram views
• Haram in walking distance 
• Men's section: 8 min walk (500 m) 
• Ladies' section: 15 min walk (1,000 m)
 

What About Hotel Booking Sites Like Trip.com and HalalBooking.com?

Trip.com does have a Trip.com Rewards Program , where you earn Trip Coins for bookings. These coins can be redeemed for discounts on future hotel stays, flights, or travel packages. Since this works like a straightforward rewards system, it falls under the permissible category, provided you’re not using interest-based financing.

Similarly, HalalBooking.com offers a HB Loyalty Club , where members earn Status Points and Cash Points for bookings. Status Points help users progress from Gold to Platinum and Diamond membership levels, unlocking increasing discounts and perks such as free upgrades, late check-out, and early check-in. Cash Points can be used to save money on future bookings. Additionally, HalalBooking.com has partnerships like Miles&Smiles , where users can earn airline miles for their bookings. Since these rewards are earned from standard bookings without interest-based transactions, they are considered halal.

Why You Should Use Loyalty Points

Beyond just being halal, these programs offer some amazing benefits:

• Save Money – Use points to get free flights, hotel stays, or discounts.
• Luxury Upgrades – Enjoy business class flights, better hotel rooms, and VIP treatment.
• Exclusive Perks – Get extra baggage allowance, priority boarding, and access to fancy lounges.
• More Travel for Less – Stretch your budget by redeeming points instead of paying full price.

Final Thoughts: Halal or Not?

For the most part, hotel and flight points are halal as long as:

• They are earned from permissible transactions (not linked to riba-based credit cards).
• They don’t involve gambling or excessive uncertainty.
• They function as a reward and not a financial obligation.

So, if you’re a frequent traveler, go ahead and enjoy the benefits of these loyalty programs while keeping your finances in line with Islamic principles!

Have you used airline or hotel points? Share your experiences in the comments!