Even though the name suggests the DBS Altitude Card to be a travel focused card, the mediocre earn rates along with the removal of bonus categories leaves much to be desired.
Key Features:
*Insert an infographic of DBS Altitude Card*
+Introduction
When the DBS Altitude Card was first introduced, it was designed as a travel card. Previously, cardholders could earn 3 mpd on up to S$5,000 of air tickets and hotel bookings per month. Although there was a cap, this was better than the alternatives as cardholders are not restricted to just booking on OTA portals.
However, when this was removed in August 2023, the DBS Altitude Card became just another general spending card with the only hint of travel related perks being the 2 free priority pass lounge visits for the Visa version of the card and the slightly higher miles per dollar on overseas spend.
Before we jump into the nitty gritty of the DBS Altitude Card, you have to know that the DBS Altitude Card comes in the Visa and the AMEX version. While the benefits are similar, there are subtle differences between the two which will be shared across in the review below.
+Eligibility Requirements
-Qualification by Salary
| Minimum Annual Salary Requirements | |
| Singapore Citizens and PR | S$30,000 |
| Foreigners | S$40,000 |
The minimum salary requirements for the DBS Altitude Card is the minimum required by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and hence, is non-negotiable.
-Qualification by Fixed Deposit
If you are unable to meet the salary requirements, DBS provides individuals between the age of 21 and 75 with the option to get a secured card by maintaining a SGD Fixed Deposit Account with a minimum of S$10,000 placement. If you have further questions, you may wish to head to any DBS branch to check with the DBS staff.
+Fees
+Annual Fee
| 1st Year | Subsequent years | |
| Principal Card | Free | S$196.20 |
| Supplementary Card | Free | S$98.10 |
The DBS Altitude Card has an annual fee of S$196.20 for the principal card and an annual fee of S$98.10 for the supplementary card. Similar to most entry level cards, the first year annual fee is waived.
In subsequent years, the annual fee can be waived with a minimum of S$25,000 in retail spend charged to your card.
-Applying for Fee waiver
If you do not qualify for the automatic fee waiver, you may apply for a fee waiver once the annual fee has been charged to your card. Application for fee waiver can be done via the DBS digitbot (available on both DBS mobile app and DBS website) or phone banking.
DBS Website
- To access the digibot on DBS website, click on the message icon with the “May I help you?” speech bubble at the bottom right of the webpage
- Type Fee Waiver into chat
- Click on “Fee Waiver” followed by “Authenticate me”
- Complete the authentication process using either iBanking Login or Card & Pin
- Select Credit Cards Fee Waiver
- Select the Type of Fee Waiver you wish to apply for
- Select the Credit Card to be waived
- Review and confirm the details and click on confirm
DBS Mobile App
- Log in into DBS Digibank app
- Tap on the question mark icon at the top right of the application
- Scroll all the way down and tap on the “Ask Digibot” option
- Type Fee Waiver into chat
- Tap on “Fee Waiver” > “Proceed” > “Credit Card Fee Waiver” > “Annual Fee” > Select Credit Card
- Review details and tap on confirm
Phone Banking
- Dial 1800 111 1111 (from Singapore) or (+65) 6327 2265 (from Overseas)
- Press 1 for English > Enter your NRIC > Authenticate through SMS OTP > Press 1 for Fee waiver request > Press 1 for Credit Card Fee Waiver
+Foreign Currency Transaction Fees
| Card | Foreign Currency Transaction Fees |
| DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card | 3.25% |
| DBS Altitude Amex Express Card | 3% |
The DBS Altitude Card charges a foreign currency transaction fee of 3.25% for the Visa version and 3% for the Amex version. This comprises the conversion factor levied by Visa/Amex and the administrative fee charged by DBS.
*Insert Table of Foreign Currency Transaction Fees*
+Rewards program
| SGD Transactions | Foreign Currency Transactions | |
| DBS Points | 3.25 DBS point per S$5 spent | 5.5 DBS point per S$5 spent |
| Effective Miles Per Dollar | 1.3 mpd | 2.2 mpd |
With every DBS point being worth 2 airline miles, the earn rate for SGD transactions is 1.3 mpd and 2.2 mpd for foreign currency transactions. While it is not amazing by any stretch, these are above average earn rates in the market of general spending cards although it is certainly not the best.
*Insert Table of General Spending Card*
+Rewards Program Information
DBS points for transactions on the DBS Altitude Card are credited when the transaction posts.
While it could be mistaken that DBS points are credited in S$5 spending block due to the terms and conditions, the actual policy is more generous.
Here’s how the DBS points are calculated when they are credited.
| SGD Transactions | Divide the transaction amount by 5 and multiply by 3.25, then round down to nearest whole number |
| Foreign Currency Transactions | Divide the transaction amount by 5 and multiply by 5.5, the round down to the nearest whole number |
The way DBS points are calculated means that you are getting 1 mile every ~S$1.54 for local transactions and 1 mile every ~S$0.91 for foreign currency transactions. Hence, the minimum transaction size to earn miles are S$1.54 for local transaction and S$0.91 for foreign currency transaction.
-> Validity of DBS points
DBS points earned on the DBS Altitude Card never expire which is both a good and bad thing.
The good thing is that you are able to accumulate miles at a leisure pace given the lack of expiry.
The bad news is when redeeming DBS points for miles, the DBS points earned on the DBS Altitude Card will never be fully cleared given DBS points with earlier expiry dates will be consumed first. This will not be an issue if you are keeping your DBS Altitude Card indefinitely but if you are not making any transactions on your card, you may run the risk of getting rejected for an annual fee waiver and be put into a situation where you are forced to cancel the card.
Transfer Partners
DBS points are pooled for the purpose of redemption and the points with the earliest expiry dates will be consumed first. You are able to convert all your DBS points across all cards at one shot and be able to pay just a single conversion fee. For example, if you have 13,000 DBS points on your DBS Altitude Visa Card and 12,000 DBS points on your DBS Women’s World Mastercard, you are redeem all 25,000 DBS points by paying just a single conversion fee.
DBS points can be transferred to Singapore Airlines, Cathay, Qantas & AirAsia frequent flyer programs with the ratio in the table below.
| Transfer Program | Rate (UNI$ : Partner Programme) |
| Krisflyer (Singapore Airlines) | 5,000 : 10,000 |
| Asia Miles (Cathay) | 5,000 : 10,000 |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 5,000 : 10,000 |
| AirAsia | 500 : 1,500 |
Disregarding the AirAsia option (because converting to AirAsia is a waste), you are able to transfer DBS points in blocks of 5,000 at a rate of 1:2. Each transfer will cost the cardholder S$27.25 irregardless of the amount of DBS points being transferred.
DBS also offers an “auto conversion programme” for Krisflyer transfers if you own a DBS Insigna, DBS Black Treasures Elite or DBS Altitude card. This cost cardholders S$43.60 per membership year and DBS points will be automatically converted to Krisflyer miles every quarter in blocks of 500. Unless you have a reason to convert DBS points more than twice in a year, the auto conversion programme is not worth it. Additionally, the 3 year expiry clock for Krisflyer miles starts ticking once the DBS points are transferred.
DBS states that processing time for miles transfer are as follows:
- First-time Transfer: up to 10 working days
- Subsequent Transfers:
Krisflyer Miles, Qantas Points and Air Asia Points: Up to 5 working days
Asia Miles: Up to 7 working days
-Krispay
If you ever find yourself needing Krisflyer miles immediately, Krispay allows you to transfer DBS points to Krisflyer miles in a 2 step process at a rate of 100 DBS points to 170 Krisflyer miles.
- Transfer UNI$ to Krispay miles
- Transfer Krispay miles to Krisflyer miles (must be done within 7 days or else they would be stuck as Krispay miles)
While the pros of this method is the instantaneous transfer and lack of fees, the lowered conversion ratio of 1 DBS points to 1.7 Krisflyer miles compared to the 2 Krisflyer miles you get for the normal rewards program signifies a 15% haircut which is often not worth it. However, the small block of 100 DBS points would be useful for orphan balances if you are looking to cancel your card.
Priority Pass (Visa Exclusive)
Principal card owners of the DBS Altitude Visa Cardholders are given complimentary Priority Pass Digital Membership with 2 free lounge visits every membership year. The membership year is dependent on when you apply for your Priority Pass Digital Membersip. For example, if you applied for your Priority Pass Digital Membership on 01 Apr, the membership year will be from 01Apr to 31Mar the following year. Renewal of the Priority Pass Digital Membership is automatic after the initial registration, contingent on renewal of the membership year of the DBS Altitude Visa Card.
You may register via this link (Priority Pass & DBS | Priority Pass).
+Summary
Compared to the past, DBS Altitude card has certainly lost its glamour. It currently fills the purpose of being a general spending card and even then, the earn rates on the DBS Altitude card is dwarfed by other general spending cards in the market. The only redemption point is the 2 free visit to Priority pass lounges offered on the Visa version.
So would you include the DBS Altitude card in your arsenal of cards?