Amex Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer vs DBS Altitude Credit Card Comparison 2024

Table of Contents: American Express SIA KrisFlyer vs. DBS Altitude Visa

• Summary: Amex SIA KF vs. DBS Altitude
• Comparison of Rewards Rates

• Local, overseas & category boosted rewards rates
• Miles expiration details
• Auto-conversion programmes, transfer fees & processing times

Comparison of Travel Perks

• Lounge access & travel insurance
• Limo transfers, golfing privileges & more
• Card privileges programmes

Comparison of Card Fees & Requirements

• Annual fees, spend-based waivers & bonus miles
• Foreign transaction fees
• Minimum age & minimum income requirements

• Comparison to Similar Travel Cards
• Additional Resources

Comparison of Competitive Travel Cards in Singapore by Dollar Value

Based on an average monthly spend of S$2,000, we analysed some of the most competitive travel cards on the market to estimate returned value-to-consumer after 2 years, accounting for rebates and netting out annual fees. As a note, dollar value is heavily dependent on spending habits; intangible benefits (like free travel insurance and airport lounge access) are valuable but difficult to quantify.

Comparison of Competitive Travel Cards in Singapore by Estimated 2-Year Dollar Value

Overview	Rewards Rates	Travel Perks
Fees & Reqs	Similar Cards	Add'l Resources

• Overview: Amex SIA KF vs. DBS Altitude
• Comparison of Rewards Rates
• Comparison of Travel Perks

• Comparison of Fees & Reqs
• Comparison to Similar Cards
• Additional Resources

Table of Contents

• Summary: Amex SIA KF vs. DBS Altitude
• Comparison of Rewards Rates
• Comparison of Travel Perks
• Comparison of Card Fees & Requirements
• Comparison to Similar Travel Cards
• Additional Resources

Comparison of Competitive Travel Cards in Singapore by Dollar Value

Based on an average monthly spend of S$2,000, we analysed some of the most competitive travel cards on the market to estimate returned value-to-consumer after 2 years, accounting for rebates and netting out annual fees. As a note, dollar value is heavily dependent on spending habits; intangible benefits (like free travel insurance and airport lounge access) are valuable but difficult to quantify.

Comparison of Competitive Travel Cards in Singapore by Estimated 2-Year Dollar Value

Overview: Amex Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer vs. DBS Altitude Visa

		Apply Now Apply Now

While both quite competitive amongst travel credit cards, American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card and DBS Altitude Visa Card are actually quite different from one another. The former offers beginners an easy way to earn hassle-free miles, while the latter provides an affordable balance of competitive miles rates and luxury perks. To help you better understand these differences, we've analysed how each card compares across key details and provided a thorough analysis below.

Summary Table: Amex SIA KrisFlyer vs. DBS Altitude Visa

Rewards Rates: Amex SIA KrisFlyer vs. DBS Altitude Visa

The rewards value of American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card and DBS Altitude Visa is largely based on whether you prioritise convenience or flexibility. Amex SIA KF Card is somewhat easier to use. Rewards are earned directly as KrisFlyer miles, which are credited to the cardholder's KrisFlyer frequent flyer account. As a result, consumers don't need to enrol in auto-conversion programmes, pay for transfers, or worry about protracted processing times. DBS Altitude Card, on the other hand, does require additional redemption efforts. Cardholders earn in DBS Points which must be converted to miles at a rate of S$25.6/transfer. While consumers can enrol in an auto-conversion programme which waives such transfer fees, they'll still need to pay a S$42.8 annual participation fee and wait 1-2 weeks for processing. As a result, Amex SIA KF Card is a better match for people who want a straightforward miles card.

DBS Altitude Card may be slightly less convenient, but it offers far more attractive and flexible rewards rates. Unlike Amex SIA KF, which limits boosted rates to spend with SIA brands, DBS Altitude offers higher year-round rates in nearly ever category, with a special boost for online travel bookings. Surprisingly enough, a SIA loyalist who books online can earn more with DBS Altitude than with Amex SIA KF Card. It is worth mentioning, however, that DBS Altitude's online travel boost applies only to the 1st S$5k category spend, maxing out at 15k miles/month.

Comparison Table: Miles Rewards & Redemption

Travel Perks: Amex SIA KrisFlyer vs. DBS Altitude

One of DBS Altitude Card's best features is how well it balances competitive rates with affordable luxury perks. Amex SIA Card, on the other hand, has far fewer benefits for travellers. To begin with, DBS Altitude cardholders receive 2 free lounge visits every year, which can be used for 2 separate cardmember visits or concurrently for a cardmember and 1 guest. Future visits are discounted to just US$32 per person. Amex SIA KF Card, on the other hand, does not grant lounge access.

Comparison Table: Travel Perks & Privileges

DBS Altitude Card also comes with discounted limo transfers worldwide, savings on green fees at 24 fairways across 12 countries in Asia Pacific, and free breakfasts and upgraded hotel rooms via Visa Digital Concierge. Amex SIA KF Card provides rental car privileges via Hertz Gold Plus Privileges and lifestyle & dining perks through American Express Selects, but these features are far less extensive. Even Amex SIA KF Card's travel insurance plan offers just a fraction of the coverage, though travel inconvenience is included.

Fees & Requirements: Amex SIA KrisFlyer vs. DBS Altitude

Finally, DBS Altitude Card is a bit more affordable than Amex SIA KF. This may seem counterintuitive at first, as Amex SIA KF Card's S$176.55 annual fee is lower than DBS Altitude Card's S$192.6 fee. However, DBS Altitude cardholders can access a full waiver with S$25k annual spend (about S$2,083/month), and those who spend less can alternatively receive 10,000 annual bonus miles (worth S$100+). Amex SIA KF Card's fee is waived just 1 year, and cardholders do not have access to further waivers or bonus miles. It is worth mentioning, however, that Amex SIA KF Card charges a much lower foreign currency transaction fee (though this still does not offset its comparatively lower overseas rewards rate).

Comparison Table: Requirements & Fees

Ultimately, the biggest perk associated with American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card is that it allows consumers to rapidly accrue a large amount of bonus miles within their 1st 6 months. Travellers without a strong sense of urgency, however, would be better off with DBS Altitude Card, both for its competitive rates as well as its affordable luxury benefits.

Comparison to Similar Travel Credit Cards

If you're considering a new travel card, you may want to look beyond American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Card or DBS Altitude. There are several competitive options on the market tailored to different spending behaviours. Read our reviews below to see if an alternative is a better match for you.

KrisFlyer UOB Credit Card: Affordable Miles for Young SIA Loyalists

Apply Now Apply Now	Boosted everyday miles w/ SIA perks & privileges Promotions: Read Our Full Review
Fees, Rewards & Perks Annual fee: S$192.6, 1-year waiver 3 mi/S$1 spend on SIA brands (SIA, SilkAir, Scoot, KrisShop) 3 mi/S$1 on dining, transport, online shopping & travel bookings w/ S$500 min. SIA spend/yr 1.2 mi/S$1 on general spend 10,000 annual renewal miles Scoot privileges, KrisShop rebate, fast-track to KF Elite Silver & more Analyst's Review KrisFlyer UOB Card is the best option on the market for young SIA loyalists who travel on a budget. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per S$1 on general local and overseas spend, which roughly aligns with Amex SIA KF Card. This rate is boosted to 3 miles per S$1 for spend with SIA, Scoot, SilkAir and KrisShop–notably higher than Amex SIA KF Card's corresponding rate. KF UOB Card really stands out, however, by boosting miles rates to 3 per S$1 on dining, transport, online shopping & travel bookings for consumers who spend S$500 with SIA annually. Essentially, loyalty to SIA fuels rapid miles accrual. Cardholders only receive their aggregated bonus at the end of the year, however, which may be less appealing for people planning an upcoming trip. For frequent SIA flyers, KF UOB Card may be more competitive than DBS Altitude Card. However, these cards are very different in terms of perks. While DBS Altitude provides affordable access to luxury, KF UOB Card simply adds a touch of convenience to budget-driven travel. Cardholders receive privileges with Scoot, SIA's low-cost carrier, such as free standard seat selection, baggage allowance upgrades, free priority check-in & boarding and booking flexibility waivers. Consumers don't receive lounge access, but higher spenders can expedite KrisFlyer Elite Silver status with S$5k annual SIA spend. Finally, KF UOB Card is quite affordable itself, with a S$192.6 annual fee that's waived the 1st year. While there isn't a spend-based waiver option for subsequent years, cardholders do receive 10,000 annual renewal miles–worth S$100+–which offset the fee. As a result, younger, budget-conscious travellers willing to exclusively fly with SIA brands will likely benefit more from KrisFlyer UOB Card than with any other option on the market.

Apply Now Apply Now
Stand-Out: Boosted everyday miles w/ SIA perks & privileges Promotions: Read Our Full Review
Fees, Rewards & Perks Annual fee: S$192.6, 1-year waiver 3 mi/S$1 spend on SIA brands (SIA, SilkAir, Scoot, KrisShop) 3 mi/S$1 on dining, transport, online shopping & travel bookings w/ S$500 min. SIA spend/yr 1.2 mi/S$1 on general spend 10,000 annual renewal miles Scoot privileges, KrisShop rebate, fast-track to KF Elite Silver & more
Analyst's Review KrisFlyer UOB Card is the best option on the market for young SIA loyalists who travel on a budget. Cardholders earn 1.2 miles per S$1 on general local and overseas spend, which roughly aligns with Amex SIA KF Card. This rate is boosted to 3 miles per S$1 for spend with SIA, Scoot, SilkAir and KrisShop–notably higher than Amex SIA KF Card's corresponding rate. KF UOB Card really stands out, however, by boosting miles rates to 3 per S$1 on dining, transport, online shopping & travel bookings for consumers who spend S$500 with SIA annually. Essentially, loyalty to SIA fuels rapid miles accrual. Cardholders only receive their aggregated bonus at the end of the year, however, which may be less appealing for people planning an upcoming trip. For frequent SIA flyers, KF UOB Card may be more competitive than DBS Altitude Card. However, these cards are very different in terms of perks. While DBS Altitude provides affordable access to luxury, KF UOB Card simply adds a touch of convenience to budget-driven travel. Cardholders receive privileges with Scoot, SIA's low-cost carrier, such as free standard seat selection, baggage allowance upgrades, free priority check-in & boarding and booking flexibility waivers. Consumers don't receive lounge access, but higher spenders can expedite KrisFlyer Elite Silver status with S$5k annual SIA spend. Finally, KF UOB Card is quite affordable itself, with a S$192.6 annual fee that's waived the 1st year. While there isn't a spend-based waiver option for subsequent years, cardholders do receive 10,000 annual renewal miles–worth S$100+–which offset the fee. As a result, younger, budget-conscious travellers willing to exclusively fly with SIA brands will likely benefit more from KrisFlyer UOB Card than with any other option on the market.

Citi PremierMiles: Competitive Miles & Affordable Perks

Apply Now Apply Now	Earn 2mi/S$1 overseas, 2 free lounge visits/yr Promotions: Read Our Full Review
Fees, Rewards & Perks Annual fee: S$192.6, 1-year waiver 10,000 bonus annual renewal miles (worth S$100) 1.2 miles per S$1 local spend, 2 miles per S$1 overseas spend Miles earned never expire 2 free lounge visits & free travel insurance Analyst's Review Citi PremierMiles Card is one of the most popular travel cards on the market, and unsurprisingly so–cardholders earn at competitive rates while also enjoying a few perks and annual bonus miles. In fact, consumers earn 1.2 miles per S$1 locally and 2 miles overseas, and enjoy free travel insurance and up to 2 free lounge visits per year. There's a S$192.6 annual fee, but cardholders also receive 10,000 annual renewal miles (worth S$100+) which offset its cost. Overall, Citi PM Card is worth considering for average consumers seeking a simple and competitive travel credit card.

Apply Now Apply Now
Stand-Out: Earn 2mi/S$1 overseas, 2 free lounge visits/yr Promotions: Read Our Full Review
Fees, Rewards & Perks Annual fee: S$192.6, 1-year waiver 10,000 bonus annual renewal miles (worth S$100) 1.2 miles per S$1 local spend, 2 miles per S$1 overseas spend Miles earned never expire 2 free lounge visits & free travel insurance
Analyst's Review Citi PremierMiles Card is one of the most popular travel cards on the market, and unsurprisingly so–cardholders earn at competitive rates while also enjoying a few perks and annual bonus miles. In fact, consumers earn 1.2 miles per S$1 locally and 2 miles overseas, and enjoy free travel insurance and up to 2 free lounge visits per year. There's a S$192.6 annual fee, but cardholders also receive 10,000 annual renewal miles (worth S$100+) which offset its cost. Overall, Citi PM Card is worth considering for average consumers seeking a simple and competitive travel credit card.

UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card: Rapid Miles for High Spenders

Apply Now Apply Now	Up to 20k bonus miles & fee waiver w/ S$50k annual spend Promotions: Read Our Full Review
Fees, Rewards & Perks Annual fee: S$256.8, 1-year waiver, subsequently with S$50,000 annual spend 20,000 bonus annual renewal miles (worth S$200) with S$50,000 annual spend 1.4 miles per S$1 local spend, 2.4 miles per S$1 overseas spend, 6 miles per S$1 at major airlines & airports 8 free limo transfers & free travel insurance UOB PRVI Travel Butler & Amex Essentials Analyst's Review If you're a relatively high spender looking to rapidly accrue miles, UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card may be the best option for you. Cardholders earn at a highly competitive 1.4 miles per S$1 locally, 2.4 miles overseas and 6 miles for major hotel & airline bookings. Travel cards with similar rates typically charge S$488+ per year. UOB PRVI Miles Amex, however, costs just S$256.8 annually. Even better, those spending at least S$50k/year (about S$4,1667/mo) are not only completely exempt from this fee–they also receive 20,000 bonus miles (worth S$200+) as well. Clearly, this spend level is quite high, so UOB PRVI Miles Card may not be a match for average consumers; those with budgets closer to S$2k/month may be better off with DBS Altitude or Amex SIA KF Card. UOB PRVI Miles Amex may also not be the best fit for consumers who prioritise luxury perks. In fact, consumers do not receive lounge access, which is usually a main-stay amongst high-tier travel cards. Perks are limited to free travel insurance and up to 8 limo transfers/year (with a minimum of S$1k spend per quarter). DBS Altitude Card is more competitive in terms of privileges, and might be a better option for people who prioritise travel comfort and convenience.

Apply Now Apply Now
Stand-Out: Up to 20k bonus miles & fee waiver w/ S$50k annual spend Promotions: Read Our Full Review
Fees, Rewards & Perks Annual fee: S$256.8, 1-year waiver, subsequently with S$50,000 annual spend 20,000 bonus annual renewal miles (worth S$200) with S$50,000 annual spend 1.4 miles per S$1 local spend, 2.4 miles per S$1 overseas spend, 6 miles per S$1 at major airlines & airports 8 free limo transfers & free travel insurance UOB PRVI Travel Butler & Amex Essentials
Analyst's Review If you're a relatively high spender looking to rapidly accrue miles, UOB PRVI Miles American Express Card may be the best option for you. Cardholders earn at a highly competitive 1.4 miles per S$1 locally, 2.4 miles overseas and 6 miles for major hotel & airline bookings. Travel cards with similar rates typically charge S$488+ per year. UOB PRVI Miles Amex, however, costs just S$256.8 annually. Even better, those spending at least S$50k/year (about S$4,1667/mo) are not only completely exempt from this fee–they also receive 20,000 bonus miles (worth S$200+) as well. Clearly, this spend level is quite high, so UOB PRVI Miles Card may not be a match for average consumers; those with budgets closer to S$2k/month may be better off with DBS Altitude or Amex SIA KF Card. UOB PRVI Miles Amex may also not be the best fit for consumers who prioritise luxury perks. In fact, consumers do not receive lounge access, which is usually a main-stay amongst high-tier travel cards. Perks are limited to free travel insurance and up to 8 limo transfers/year (with a minimum of S$1k spend per quarter). DBS Altitude Card is more competitive in terms of privileges, and might be a better option for people who prioritise travel comfort and convenience.

Travel Credit Card Comparison Tables

Additional Resources to Help You Find the Best Credit Card