If you’re a frequent traveller or simply want a reliable miles-earning card, the DBS Altitude remains a popular option in Singapore. Following its 2023 refresh, the card now offers higher earn rates for local and foreign currency spend, although its once-generous bonus categories for flight and hotel bookings have been discontinued.

Key highlights include:

• No expiry on miles: DBS Points earned with Altitude never expire, so you can build up rewards at your own pace without worrying about a deadline.

• Solid earn rates for everyday use: Earn a consistent 1.3 mpd on local spend and 2.2 mpd on overseas spend.

• Accessible entry requirements: The minimum income is just S$30,000 for Singaporeans/PRs (S$45,000 for foreigners), making it one of the most accessible miles cards at this level. 

• First-year fee perks: The annual fee of S$196.20 is waived in year one. If paid later, you receive 10,000 bonus miles.

• Airport lounge access: The Visa version includes a Priority Pass Digital Membership with 2 free lounge visits per year.

• Welcome miles offer: Use promo code and spend S$800 within 60 days to earn up to 38,000 bonus miles, including an optional 10,000 miles for paying the annual fee. 

• Simplified general‑spend card: Offers consistent miles and fuss-free use, no category tracking needed.

The DBS Altitude is a reliable general spend miles card with non-expiring points, decent earn rates, and lounge access for the Visa version. However, the lack of bonus categories and limited transfer partners reduce its appeal compared to alternatives like the UOB PRVI Miles or HSBC TravelOne. It’s a good entry-level choice, but not the most rewarding option for frequent travellers.

• Sign up by 31 Aug 2025 and spend a minimum S$800 within 60 days of Card Approval Date to claim up to 38,000 miles with promo code “ALT38”.

• From 1 Aug to 30 Sep 2025, purchase 150,000 DBS Points and later redeem rewards from shopping and dining vouchers to offset your spends or convert your miles.

Rewards and perks

Fees

Eligibility

Variants of the DBS Altitude

The Visa version is generally preferred for its lounge benefits.

The DBS Altitude was introduced in 2016 as Singapore’s first miles card accessible to those earning the MAS-mandated minimum of S$30,000 a year, making it a milestone for the local credit card market. Previously, miles cards required annual incomes of S$80,000 or more, so the Altitude reshaped competition and forced rivals to lower their requirements.

Initially, it was highly rewarding with 3 mpd for online travel bookings and boosted rates for Expedia and Kaligo. However, from 2023 to 2024, these bonuses were progressively removed. Today, the card offers steady earn rates and practical perks like non-expiring points, but without the headline benefits that once set it apart.

• DBS Points earned do not expire.

• DBS Points pool across cards but are forfeited if the Altitude is cancelled without redemption.

• Instant transfers via Kris+ are possible but at a 15% value reduction.

• Foreigners can still apply with S$45,000 annual income or by placing a S$10,000 fixed deposit with DBS.

DBS Altitude cardholders earn DBS Points, which can then be converted into frequent flyer miles or other redemption options. Here’s how the mechanics work:

• Local spend: Each transaction is divided by 5, multiplied by 3.25, and rounded down to the nearest whole number.

• Foreign currency spend: Each transaction is divided by 5, multiplied by 5.5, and rounded down.

• Points are credited within 1–3 working days after the transaction posts.

This calculation means you can earn miles with relatively small transactions — as low as S$1.54 locally or S$1.00 overseas. DBS Points never expire, but once transferred to KrisFlyer or other airline programmes, those miles will typically expire in 3 years. 

But take note that since only whole DBS Points can be awarded for your transaction, points can be ‘rounded down’. This means that you can lose on the mpd.

For example, take a $37.99 local transaction:

• S$37.99 rounds down to 37.

• 37 ÷ 5 = 7.4 × 3.25 (local purchase) = 24.05.

• 24.05 rounds down to 24.

• So you earn 24 DBS Points, equivalent to 48 miles, which works out to 1.26 mpd (below the advertised rate of 1.3 mpd).

Pooling is another benefit: points from your Altitude card can be combined with points from other DBS cards. However, if you cancel the Altitude card, unused points tied to that card are forfeited.

Earn rates at a glance

• Local spend: 1.3 miles per dollar

• Foreign currency spend: 2.2 miles per dollar

• Conversion: 3.25 DBS Points per S$5 local, 5.5 DBS Points per S$5 FCY (1 DBS Point = 2 miles)

Bonus spend categories

Special travel bonuses, previously offered through online flight/hotel bookings, as well as through partners like Expedia and Kaligo, have been discontinued. Currently, there are no ongoing evergreen bonus categories on Altitude.

Comparison to other cards

DBS Altitude sits mid-pack among general spend miles cards, with competitive but not market-leading earn rates.

Bonus opportunities

DBS periodically runs short-term promos, often around June and December travel periods, that boost FCY earn rates (for example, 5 mpd on select in-store overseas spend with caps and registration). These are time-limited and may come with country restrictions, minimum monthly spend and enrolment quotas, so always check the latest promo mechanics. 

DBS Points features

• No expiry: DBS Points earned on the DBS Altitude Card never expire, making it easy to accumulate them over time and plan redemptions without pressure.

• Pooling: DBS Points can be pooled with other DBS cards (e.g., Altitude and Woman’s World Card) so you can consolidate balances and redeem more efficiently.

• Cancellation impact: If you cancel your Altitude Card, any unredeemed points linked to it will be forfeited, even if you hold other DBS cards. Always transfer or redeem your points before cancelling.

DBS Points conversion

• Transfer minimum: Transfers must be done in blocks of at least 5,000 DBS Points (10,000 miles).

• Transfer fees: Each transfer costs S$27.25. Alternatively, an annual auto-conversion programme costs S$43.60, converting points quarterly into KrisFlyer miles.

• Partners and transfer time: Points can be transferred to four airline partners — KrisFlyer miles, Asia Miles, Qantas Points or Air Asia Points. KrisFlyer transfers typically take 1–3 working days, while Asia Miles, Qantas, and AirAsia may take up to 10 working days.

How DBS Points are credited

• Credit timeframe: Points usually appear in your account 1–3 working days after a transaction.

• Points calculation method:

• Local spend → (Transaction ÷ 5) × 3.25 DBS Points, then round down.

• Foreign currency spend → (Transaction ÷ 5) × 5.5 DBS Points, then round down.

• Non-rounded transactions: Unlike some cards that round to S$5 blocks, Altitude calculates on the actual transaction amount. This allows smaller spends to earn miles — for example, S$1.54 is the minimum local spend required to earn points.

DBS Points expiry

• Non-expiring points: DBS Points earned with the Altitude Card never expire.

• KrisFlyer miles expiry: Once converted, KrisFlyer miles are valid for three years. It’s usually best to transfer points only when you are ready to redeem flights.

Points accumulation examples

This indicates that DBS Altitude's calculation method can sometimes outperform competitors like the UOB PRVI Miles, particularly on smaller transaction sizes.

Other important details

• Formula for calculating points:

• Local spend = ROUNDDOWN((X/5) × 3.25, 0)

• Foreign currency spend = ROUNDDOWN((X/5) × 5.5, 0)
  where X = transaction amount.

• Expiry policy during redemption: DBS uses points that are closest to expiry first. This ensures your transferable miles or vouchers are always used up on older points before tapping into non-expiring Altitude points.

Transfer partners

DBS Points can be converted into four airline loyalty programmes — KrisFlyer miles, Asia Miles, Qantas Points or Air Asia Points.

Conversion ratios

Transfer costs

• Per transfer fee: S$27.25 per conversion.

• Auto conversion fee: S$43.60 annually for quarterly automatic transfers to KrisFlyer.

If you only transfer points once or twice a year, the per-transfer model is cheaper. If you convert more frequently (three or more times per year), the auto-conversion programme may offer better value.

Minimum transfer amount

A minimum of 5,000 DBS Points (10,000 miles) is required per KrisFlyer transfer. Transfers must be made in blocks of 10,000 miles. The minimum block drops to 500 DBS Points (1,000 miles) under the KrisFlyer Miles Auto Conversion Programme, making it easier for small balances to be utilised.

Transfer time

• Official timeframe: DBS quotes 1–2 weeks for transfers, though in practice KrisFlyer transfers usually complete within 1–3 working days.

• Instant transfers via Kris+: You can move points instantly by converting 100 DBS Points to 170 KrisPay miles via the Kris+ app, then transferring them to KrisFlyer at a 1:1 ratio.

The standard method is suitable for planned redemptions, especially since you preserve the full value of your DBS Points at the usual 1:2 conversion ratio. Using instant transfers, the trade-off is a 15% value haircut, plus the risk of miles getting stuck in Kris+ if not transferred within seven days. In practice, standard transfers are best for larger redemptions, while Kris+ should only be used for emergencies or small top-ups.

Auto conversion programme

The auto conversion programme costs S$43.60 per year and automatically converts DBS Points to KrisFlyer miles every quarter. Its main advantage is the lower transfer block of 1,000 miles instead of 10,000, and it eliminates the per-transfer fee. The downside is that once miles are transferred, the three-year KrisFlyer expiry period starts immediately, which reduces flexibility for those who don’t redeem often.

Points expiry

• DBS Points: Never expire as long as they remain in the DBS system.

• KrisFlyer miles: Once converted, miles expire after three years, regardless of account activity.

Transfer issues to watch out for

If DBS Points are converted into KrisPay, they must be moved to KrisFlyer within seven days or they become locked in KrisPay, where they expire in six months. In addition, if you spend even a small portion of KrisPay miles at Kris+ merchants, the entire batch will be stuck in Kris+ and can no longer be transferred to KrisFlyer.

Foreign currency fees

• Amex: 3% FCY fee

• Visa: 3.25% FCY fee

This means cardholders effectively “buy” miles at around 1.45¢ (Amex) or 1.56¢ (Visa) per mile when spending overseas.

Note that in addition to FCY fees, card networks typically apply a spread of 0.2%–0.5% on currency conversion. This adds marginally to the cost per mile, especially for less common currencies.

Cost per mile for overseas transactions

• Calculation: With an earn rate of 2.2 mpd and FCY fees, the effective cost is ~1.45¢/mile on Amex and ~1.56¢/mile on Visa.

While these rates are standard, UOB PRVI Miles and HSBC TravelOne both achieve ~1.43¢/mile, making them slightly more cost-efficient.

Comparison of foreign currency fees by issuer

Among the major general spend cards, the UOB PRVI Miles and HSBC TravelOne deliver the best value for foreign currency transactions, both clocking in at about 1.43¢ per mile. The DBS Altitude Visa and Amex sit slightly behind, with effective costs of 1.56¢ and 1.45¢ per mile respectively. Overall, DBS Altitude is a solid performer but not the market leader for FCY spend.

Recommendations

While Altitude offers decent FCY rates, 4 mpd specialised cards (e.g., DBS Woman’s World Card, Citi Rewards, UOB Lady’s) often deliver a better return on overseas spend — provided your purchases fall into eligible categories like online shopping or dining.

Income tax payment facility

DBS Altitude cardholders are able to pay their income tax through the bank’s dedicated payment plans, such as DBS Payment Plans or the My Preferred Payment Plan. Unlike regular local spend which earns 1.3 miles per dollar, tax payments enjoy a slightly higher earn rate of 1.5 miles per dollar. However, this comes with a 2.5% processing fee applied to the transaction, which adds to the overall cost of using the facility.

Comparison with other providers

This shows that while DBS’s in-house facility is straightforward and slightly boosted at 1.5 mpd, third-party services like CardUp or ipaymy usually provide a cheaper cost per mile, especially during promo periods. High earn-rate cards such as the SCVI can bring costs down even further.

Priority Pass membership and lounge access

DBS Altitude Visa cardholders enjoy two complimentary lounge visits per membership year through Priority Pass. These visits can be used by the principal cardholder alone or shared with a guest, though sharing will use up both visits at once. Additional entries are charged at US$35 each. 

To use this benefit, cardholders must apply separately for a Priority Pass membership once the Altitude Visa is issued, as the pass is not automatically included. The complimentary visits are tied to the Priority Pass membership year rather than the credit card’s anniversary date, so timing of the application can influence how long the initial benefit lasts.

Compared to other general spend miles cards, this lounge perk is adequate but not outstanding. The UOB PRVI Miles Card provides four complimentary visits per year, while the Citi PremierMiles Card matches the Altitude with two. 

*The Amex version of the DBS Altitude does not include lounge access.

Other DBS Altitude benefits

• Travel perks: 

• 50% off travel bookings on Trip.com, Expedia, Cathay Pacific, and more.

• Up to 8% off for Traveloka.

• Additional 5% off bookings with StarCruises and Dream Cruises.

• Other perks: As a Visa Signature product, cardholders also enjoy selected travel and lifestyle privileges.

*As credit card benefits tend to be extensive, check the bank’s credit card page for a full list of rewards and offers.

Overseas spending promotions

DBS cardholders can usually expect two overseas spending promotions each year, timed to coincide with the peak travel periods in June and December. These campaigns typically boost the earn rate to as high as 5 miles per dollar on foreign currency transactions, providing strong value for holiday or business travel. 

To qualify, a minimum spend of around S$2,000 per calendar month is usually required, and the bonus miles are often capped, for example, on the first S$1,200 of in-store foreign currency spend.

Recurring promotions

In addition to seasonal offers, DBS also runs recurring promotions that provide enhanced earn rates, such as 4 miles per dollar on overseas purchases or 5 miles per dollar on selected travel-related bookings. While such promotions are not available year-round, cardholders can typically expect one or two opportunities each year to benefit from these elevated earn rates.

Because the mechanics, caps and categories can vary from campaign to campaign, it is advisable for cardholders to check for updates regularly to ensure they do not miss out on available offers.

In conclusion, the DBS Altitude Card is a “take-it-or-leave-it” option, because of its decent everyday earn rates (1.3 mpd local, 2.2 mpd FCY), non-expiring DBS Points, and useful lounge access, but also its lack of bonus categories, limited transfer partners, and average perks compared to rivals. 

It works best as a starter miles card for new-to-bank customers or those who want a simple, fuss-free option to accumulate miles over time. Frequent travellers and seasoned miles chasers, however, may find better value pairing it with specialised 4 mpd cards or higher-earning general spend cards like the UOB PRVI Miles.