DBS Altitude Card: Is This Once-Premium Miles Card Still Worth It?
The DBS Altitude card, once a top contender for general spending, has seen some changes. This review delves into whether it still offers enough value to keep in your wallet, now that key perks have been removed. The question is: Is it still a good option?
The MileLion’s Verdict
The card is now rated as take it or leave it
, with two complimentary lounge visits being a plus. According to the review, the card does little else to truly impress year-round. Occasional promotions for spending overseas are also welcome.
What’s Good and What’s Not
The Visa version provides two free lounge visits per year. Another benefit is non-expiring points which can be combined with other DBS cards. The card does provide occasional overseas spending promotions. Some downsides include earn rates that aren’t exciting and no bonus categories.
Income and Fees
To qualify for the DBS Altitude Card, a minimum income of S$30,000 per annum is required. The annual fee is S$196.20 for the primary cardholder. The first year fee is waived. Additional cards cost S$98.10 each. Cardholders receive 10,000 miles annually when they pay the principal card’s annual fee. The card also has a foreign currency fee.
Welcome Offers
New cardholders can currently receive a welcome bonus of 28,000 miles, if they meet the criteria. This offer requires a minimum spend of S$800 within 60 days of approval. This promotion applies to applications made between March 1 and August 31, 2025, and those approved by September 14, 2025.
Earning Miles: How It Works
For every S$5 spent in Singapore Dollars (SGD), cardholders earn 3.25 DBS Points. This equals an earn rate of 1.3 miles per dollar (mpd). On foreign currency (FCY) spending, you get 5.5 DBS Points per S$5, or 2.2 mpd. Therefore, overseas transactions on the DBS Altitude AMEX and Visa Cards are subject to a 3% and 3.25% FCY fee, respectively.
Point Calculation
DBS Points are calculated in a way that’s generally favorable. Local spending involves dividing the transaction by 5, multiplying by 3.25, and rounding down. For foreign currency spending, the transaction is divided by 5, multiplied by 5.5, and rounded down. The minimum spend to earn points is not S$5, but rather S$1.54 for SGD spending and S$0.91 for FCY spending.
DBS Points and How They Work
DBS Points don’t expire, unlike many other rewards programs. Points can be pooled across different cards for redemption. The conversion fee is S$27.25 per conversion, or S$43.60 annually for the Auto Conversion program, which converts points to KrisFlyer miles quarterly. DBS partners with four frequent flyer programs.
Transferring Points
While the standard conversion time is 1–2 weeks, transfers to KrisFlyer usually take 1–3 working days. You can also instantly transfer points via Kris+, which offers a 1:1 ratio. However, it does come with a 15% haircut. The minimum transfer block is 5,000 DBS Points, or 10,000 miles.
Other Card Perks
The DBS Altitude Visa offers two free Priority Pass lounge visits per membership year. The card often offers overseas spending promotions, typically around June and December. The most recent promotion offered 5 mpd for in-store foreign currency spending in Australia, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand. However, the promotional rate had to be a minimum of S$2,000 per month.
Data from a recent study shows that the average consumer in Singapore uses credit cards for approximately 60% of their spending, highlighting the importance of understanding card benefits (Statista).
In Conclusion
The DBS Altitude Card, once a top choice for general spending, has lost some of its appeal. While it still offers the Visa version with lounge visits and occasional spending promotions, it now lacks bonus categories. The card does remain a decent option, especially for its overseas promotions, but it may not be the best choice overall. The card earns points on CardUp transactions but excludes ipaymy transactions.
