SAS EuroBonus Gold needs 45,000 level points or 45 flights in 12 months. Here is what Gold gives you, a realistic plan to reach it, and how an SAS Amex Elite card does a big part of the work.
Long check-in queues. A crawling security line. A crowded gate with no free socket and a 90 SEK sandwich. Now picture the other version: you skip the queue, walk through Fast Track and wait for your flight in the lounge with a coffee. That is EuroBonus Gold, and in 2026 you no longer need to live on a plane to get it.
In this guide: Gold benefits · Requirements · The Amex shortcut · A realistic Gold plan · Invitation bonus · Other ways to top up · Keeping Gold · FAQ
EuroBonus Gold benefits
Gold is where EuroBonus really starts to pay off. Silver gives you a nicer trip; Gold changes how you travel.
- Lounge access in SAS lounges and over 750 SkyTeam lounges worldwide, plus Singapore Airlines lounges.
- Fast Track through security and priority check-in, boarding and baggage.
- Two extra checked bags.
- 50% more bonus points on your flights, and 10% off award trips paid with points.
- SkyTeam Elite Plus, so you get the same treatment on Air France, KLM, Delta and the rest of SkyTeam.
- A guaranteed seat on sold-out flights when you book in time.
- Give away a membership to someone close to you, and a path to Lifetime Gold.
EuroBonus Gold requirements
You need 45,000 level points or 45 qualifying flights within your personal 12-month qualifying period. The period follows your own membership year, not the calendar year, so check your dates in the SAS app.
Forty-five flights a year is a lot for most people. Level points are the smarter route, because you can now earn them on the ground as well as in the air. For all levels, from Silver to Diamond, see our SAS EuroBonus guide.
The Amex shortcut: SAS Amex Elite is your Gold engine
SAS Amex Elite earns 6 level points for every 100 SEK you spend, with no cap. That is the highest level-point rate of any personal SAS card. Every grocery run, bill and holiday you pay with the card moves you closer to Gold.
| Yearly spend on Elite | Level points | Share of Gold | Also earns you |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150,000 SEK | 9,000 | 20% | 30,000 bonus points and one 2-for-1 voucher |
| 300,000 SEK | 18,000 | 40% | 60,000 bonus points and two 2-for-1 vouchers |
| 450,000 SEK | 27,000 | 60% | 90,000 bonus points and two 2-for-1 vouchers |
The card does more than earn level points. You also get 20 bonus points per 100 SEK, two vouchers a year that let two people fly for the points of one (even in Business), and travel insurance for trips of up to 120 days.
A realistic plan to reach Gold in one year
You don’t need 45 flights. Here is one way to reach Gold with a single long-haul trip.
| Source | What you do | Level points |
|---|---|---|
| SAS Amex Elite | Put 300,000 SEK of yearly spending on the card, about 25,000 SEK a month | 18,000 |
| SAS Mastercard Premium | Use it for a small purchase every month | 6,000 |
| One long-haul trip | A return trip to New York in SAS Business | About 12,000 |
| Hotels | 15,000 SEK of Scandic nights booked via SAS | About 5,250 |
| ChangeMakers | Ten sustainability actions in the SAS app | 5,000 |
| Total | About 46,250 |
Swap the pieces to fit your life. More flying means less spending, and a business owner with the SAS Executive card starts the year with 20,000 level points. Want to try your own numbers? Use the SAS Amex points calculator on our front page.
Start with up to 65,000 bonus points: apply through an invitation
American Express promises that invited friends always get the highest current welcome bonus, whenever they apply. Same card, same fee, same terms, just more points.
- Up to 65,000 bonus points with SAS Amex Elite, 20,000 with Premium and 7,500 with Classic.
- Bonus paid in two parts, in month 7 and month 13, as long as you use the card every month.
- Three invitations of your own every year once you have the card, worth at least 135,000 bonus points a year with Elite, according to Amex.
With 65,000 welcome points and the Elite voucher you unlock at 150,000 SEK of spending, two people can fly one-way to New York in SAS Business and earn level points toward Gold on the way. The offer is for people who have not held an American Express card in the past 12 months.
Other ways to top up your level points
- Fly long-haul in a higher cabin. Business and Premium earn far more level points than Economy. A one-way SAS Business flight to New York earns about 6,000, and to Tokyo, Bangkok or Los Angeles about 9,000. Book during SAS sales to make it cheaper.
- Fly SkyTeam partners. Air France, KLM, Delta, Virgin Atlantic and others all earn level points. Always add your EuroBonus number.
- Status match. Since 14 October 2026, elite members of 84 airlines outside SkyTeam can match to Gold for €199, for up to 23 months. It is the fastest Gold there is if you already have status elsewhere.
- Hotels. Scandic booked via SAS gives 35 level points per 100 SEK, other Hotels by SAS bookings 15.
- Car rental. Avis gives 500 to 750 level points per rental, Hertz 500 to 1,000, Europcar at least 250.
- Buy the last few. Just short at the end of your period? 1,000 level points cost 1,000 SEK or 10,000 bonus points. Check SAS’s terms first.
What about other SAS cards? Among the personal cards, only SAS Mastercard Premium also earns level points: 25% of your bonus points, at least 500 a month. It makes a good partner to Elite, but SAS Amex Elite earns about 60% more level points per krona (6 versus about 3.75 per 100 SEK) and is the only one with the 2-for-1 voucher. Our comparison of SAS Mastercard, Lunar and Executive covers the rest.
How to keep EuroBonus Gold
The hardest year is the first. After that, your Amex card keeps feeding you level points every month, even in years when you fly less.
- Check your qualifying period in the SAS app three months before it ends, and plan a trip, a hotel stay or a points purchase if you are short.
- Keep your Elite spending steady. 25,000 SEK a month on the card is 40% of Gold every year.
- Put everything on Elite and give your partner a free extra card. Their spending earns points in your account too.
- Fly Business when the price is right. One long-haul Business return can be worth a quarter of Gold.
- Go for Lifetime Gold. Hold Gold for ten years in a row and it is yours for life. One missed year resets the count, so steady card spending is your insurance.
- Pay in full every month. Interest cancels out the value of your points.
EuroBonus Gold FAQ
How many level points do you need for EuroBonus Gold?
45,000 level points, or 45 qualifying flights, within your 12-month qualifying period.
Can you get EuroBonus Gold with a credit card alone?
In theory, yes: about 750,000 SEK a year on SAS Amex Elite. In practice, most people combine the card with a trip or two and some hotel nights, as in the plan above.
What is the fastest way to EuroBonus Gold?
If you already have elite status with another airline, the SAS status match gives you Gold for €199. Otherwise, SAS Amex Elite plus one long-haul Business trip covers more than half of Gold.
Is Gold or Diamond better?
On other SkyTeam airlines they give the same Elite Plus benefits. Diamond adds 75% more bonus points, 30% off award trips and points that never expire, but needs twice the level points.
What is EuroBonus Lifetime Gold?
Hold Gold for ten years in a row and you keep it for life, without having to requalify.
Your Gold year starts with one card
Lounge access, Fast Track, extra bags and 50% more points, with your everyday spending doing the heavy lifting. Apply for SAS Amex Elite through an invitation and start with up to 65,000 bonus points.
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