Well after using my DBS Visa Debit card for several weeks of my new life in Singapore, I decided to focus on which credit cards I should get – Amex of course! I looked around and there was a few on offer. What makes Singapore quite different is that all credit cards charge membership fees – which is something the UK market is trying to introduce. It seems to work here in Singapore – although it is diluted when you get the first year free etc.
Anyway, there were a few options available:
 DBS Amex Altitude Card |
DBS Altitude Card (Amex) – you get 1.6 miles for every $1 spent and received 10k bonus miles each year. Complimentary DBS Altitude Butler Service – nice touch!
Annual Fee – S$192.60, waived for the first year. |
 DBS Visa Signature Altitude Card |
DBS Altitude Card (Visa Signature) – you get 1.6 miles for every $1 spent and received 10k bonus miles each year. Complimentary DBS Altitude Butler Service – again, nice touch! But the Visa card has Priority Pass lounge access for free for the first year, whilst the Amex card doesn’t…hmmm!!
Annual Fee – S$192.60, waived for the first year. |
 UOB Prvi Miles Amex Card |
UOB Prvi Miles Platinum Amex Card – you get 1.6 miles for every $1 spent locally and 20k bonus miles each year and unlimited airport limo service (VERY tempting).
Annual Fee – $256.80, waived for the first year. |
 UOB Singtel Platinum Card |
UOB SingTel Platinum Card – you earn up to 4% SMART$ (UOBs reward programme) on your SingTel bill and an additional rebate of 0.5% on all other spend.
Annual Fee – Free card for life (longing your charge the SingTel bill to the card). |
 Amex Krisflyer Gold Card |
Amex Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Card – 50% + 50% bonus KrisFlyer miles with 5k bonus miles upon the first use of the card.
Annual Fee – $110, waived for the first year. |
I ended up getting the DBS Altitude Card (both Amex and Visa), but I am very tempted to get the UOB Prvi Platinum Card (Amex) and the KrisFlyer one, but awaiting to see if there is an acquisition/marketing campaign before I do…I can stagger the sign-ups in any case – to maximise the first year annual free approach 🙂 haha!
