DBS Vantage Card brings back limited-time 4 mpd on dining

When the DBS Vantage Card launched in June 2022, one exciting feature it brought to the table was a 4 mpd earn rate on dining and petrol, capped at S$2,000 per month. 

This was positioned as a “limited-time bonus” that would run till the end of 2022, and while there was some hope that DBS might extend it further, 1 January 2023 came and went with no joy. 

However, DBS has now brought back the 4 mpd rate for dining, albeit on a promotional basis for targeted customers only. And perhaps not a moment too soon, because many cardholders who signed up in the first wave will soon be facing the “keep or cancel” question.

DBS Vantage offering 4 mpd on dining

From 1 June to 31 August 2023, targeted DBS Vantage Cardholders can enjoy 4 mpd on local and overseas dining, 

This consists of the usual 1.5/2.2 mpd for local/overseas spending, plus a bonus 2.5/1.8 mpd. 

Bonus points can be earned on a maximum of S$2,000 dining spend per calendar month.

Registration is required, and can be done via the DBS PayLah! app. Login and tap on the “Rewards” tab at the bottom. If you’ve been targeted, you’ll see it under the “More Promotions” section. 

Dining consists of the following MCCs:

Note the exclusion of MCC 5814 (Fast Food Restaurants), because apparently no DBS Vantage Cardholder would be caught dead at a KFC! 

Seriously though, the exclusion of 5814 has the potential to cause some problems even if you don’t care for fast food. XNAP payments for hawker centres and coffee shops, for example, code as 5814, as does Aston’s, Coffee Bean, LeNu Noodle Bar, Salad Stop and Stuff’d. Apparently, even fine-dining hub Alkaff Mansion codes as 5814, for whatever reason!

Fortunately, you can look up the MCC of a given merchant before spending using either of the methods listed below:

• HeyMax
• DBS digibot

When will bonus points be credited?

Cardholders will earn the usual 1.5/2.2 mpd for local/overseas spend initially.

The additional 2.5/1.8 mpd will be credited by the 15th day of the following calendar month. If the 15th day is not a working day, the bonus will be awarded the next working day. 

Terms & Conditions

The T&Cs for this offer can be found here.

Overview: DBS Vantage Card

Apply
Income Req.	S$120,000 p.a.	Points Validity	3 years
Annual Fee	S$594	Min. Transfer	5,000 DBS Points (10,000 miles)
Miles with Annual Fee	25,000	Transfer Partners	SIA Cathay Pacific Qantas Air Asia
FCY Fee	3.25%	Transfer Fee	S$27
Local Earn	1.5 mpd	Points Pool?	Yes
FCY Earn	2.2 mpd	Lounge Access?	Yes: 10x Priority Pass
Special Earn	N/A	Airport Limo?	No
Cardholder Terms and Conditions

The DBS Vantage Card has an annual fee of S$594, and offers benefits such as: 

• A Priority Pass membership with 10 free lounge visits per year (which can be used by the main cardholder or his/her guests)
• Accor Plus Explorer membership with Accor Silver status, up to 50% off dining and one complimentary hotel night at selected Asia Pacific hotels
• Dining discounts via Dining City

While the card’s annual fee cannot be waived in the first year, it will be waived subsequently when you spend at least S$60,000 in a membership year. Should the fee be waived, you will not receive the 25,000 miles, though you will receive the rest of the benefits like the Accor Plus membership and lounge passes. 

DBS Points earned on the DBS Vantage expire in three years, and can be converted to any of the following frequent flyer programmes with a S$27 admin fee. 

Frequent Flyer Programme	Conversion Ratio (DBS Points: Miles)
	5,000: 10,000
	5,000: 10,000
	5,000: 10,000
	500: 1,500

Conclusion

The DBS Vantage Card has brought back 4 mpd on dining for targeted cardholders from June to August 2023. If you’re a cardholder, do check your PayLah! app to see if you’re in luck.

Does this make the Vantage Card worth renewing? That’s a much trickier question, especially given how competitor cards (most notably the UOB Visa Infinite Metal Card) are stepping up their game.

I’ll be sharing more thoughts on this in the next few weeks, so stay tuned.

(HT: rockhaus)