Bonus points vs Level points in EuroBonus, explained

This is the part of EuroBonus that trips up almost everyone, including people who have been members for years. The program tracks two completely separate numbers, and they do completely different jobs.

The short version

• Bonus points are money. You spend them on flights, upgrades and rewards.
• Level points are a scoreboard. They decide your status tier and you cannot spend them.

That is the whole idea. Everything else is detail.

Why there are two numbers

Before late 2025 the program used different names for these, which caused endless confusion. SAS renamed them so the purpose is clearer: one set of points is for spending, the other is purely for status qualification.

When you earn, most activity gives you both at once but at different rates. Roughly, Level points are earned at about half the rate of Bonus points on a given activity. So a trip might add a chunk to your spendable balance and a smaller amount to your status counter.

What Bonus points do

Bonus points sit in your account as a balance you draw down. Book an award flight and the points leave your account. Spend them on an upgrade or a hotel night and the same thing happens. The more you have, the more you can book. Simple.

The thing to watch is expiry. Bonus points do not last forever. They generally expire some years after you earn them unless you keep your account active, and Diamond members are exempt from expiry entirely. Check the exact dates in your own account rather than trusting a round number.

What Level points do

Level points only exist to move you up the tiers. You start as a Member, then climb to Silver, Gold and Diamond as you accumulate Level points during your qualification period. When that period ends, the Level point counter resets and you start earning toward the next year’s status.

Because they reset, there is no point hoarding Level points. They are a yearly target, not a savings account.

Why the difference matters in practice

Two things follow from this split.

First, a fat Bonus point balance does not buy you status. You could have enough points for a Business Class trip and still be a basic Member if you have not flown enough. Status comes from Level points only.

Second, status quietly makes your points worth more. Higher tiers earn an earning bonus on Bonus points (25 percent at Silver, 50 percent at Gold, 75 percent at Diamond), so the same flight feeds your balance faster once you climb. Status and points are linked, just not in the way most people assume.

The takeaway

When you are planning a trip, look at your Bonus point balance. When you are deciding whether to credit a flight to EuroBonus or chase a tier, look at Level points. Keep the two straight in your head and the program stops feeling random.

Once you know how many Bonus points you have, the next question is where you can actually use them. Bonussøk checks live SAS award availability so you can match your balance to real, bookable dates.