Any downsides on the Diner's Club Lounge access?

[troels]

Having lost my Gold status at Virgin I spotted the article on the front page of the site today which mentioned Diner's Club as a way to gain lounge access.

I've checked up the list of lounges and it seems pretty good (more than 850 at present?). I have no interest in claiming rewards as I am all in with Virgin right now. Anyway, $150 seems a good deal for what you get. Any downsides I should be aware of before I sign up?

I don't think I've used any of the lounges listed in the app - are they substandard or the same kind of thing as Virgin, Qantas etc? To be fair, Virgin's lounges aren't anything to write home about but it's nice to have access to a lounge.

I travel overseas on holiday 3 or 4 times a year, and domestically probably about the same or more, so would make good use.

 

[AustSerbKor]

Would love to get two more additional cards for the kids who are under 18. Any one know if they allow you to have two supplementary cards in the same name or just request a new extra card with printed initials and family name so that they match the boarding passes of the kids for free entry?

After being stung SGD$50 for my then 7-year old daughter to enter the lounge in SIN, I phoned Hyundai Card and asked if I could get an additional DC for my daughter. They asked her age and then laughed when I told them and said no. Academic now as Hyundai Card no longer issues DC. I guess you could make a mistake with your child's age as a mate of mine got a Gold AMEX (1990s) at 16 after catching his father with not his mother. Pretty sure they require ID now though.

 

[Bell21]

I have had a Diners Club card for nearly 30 years and have been grandfathered fee free for life I have used many, many DC lounges esp OS for free and they have ranged from average to above average Now I see Adl, Syd, and Mel have Rex lounges that I can access. Also all my fee free supplementary card holders can access the lounges for free as well. I have 4 supps

That's a good set-up - can supps gain access without main card holder present? (ie, one their own)

 

[kpc]

That's a good set-up - can supps gain access without main card holder present? (ie, one their own)

Absolutely

 

[p--and--t]

Doesn’t Diners charge an annual fee for each supplementary card holder?

There is an annual "rewards fee" for each supplementary cardholder - $55.

For a couple the card fee plus 2 rewards fee = [Edit] $205

 

[AIRwin]

I saw the eligibility list and it indicated free for Australia, so I'll definitely check my next statement...

No charges for my visit in SIN...

 

[p--and--t]

No charges for my visit in SIN...

Yes you earn points and all the listed lounges are free for the individual cardholder and unlimited use per annum IF the cardholder has paid the annual rewards fee.

No guests allowed. Each person entering needs their own card. That can be a supplementary card on the same account. No need for each person to have their own account.

 

[whughes3]

No guests allowed. Each person entering needs their own card. That can be a supplementary card on the same account. No need for each person to have their own account.

Not so it appears! Twice in the last week I have visited a lounge using DC and have been allowed one guest, and without any additional charge (well so far!).

 

[p--and--t]

Not so it appears! Twice in the last week I have visited a lounge using DC and have been allowed one guest, and without any additional charge (well so far!).

Wow, which lounges were these?

I have used lounges in about 8-10 airports in US and Europe so far and they have all required each guest to have their own access method/separate card.

 

[whughes3]

Wow, which lounges were these?

I have used lounges in about 8-10 airports in US and Europe so far and they have all required each guest to have their own access method/separate card.

I was at MNL (PAGSS lounge) and TPE(Plaza Premium); maybe Asian airports take a more permissive view!

 

[whughes3]

Not so it appears! Twice in the last week I have visited a lounge using DC and have been allowed one guest, and without any additional charge (well so far!).

Just a follow-up on this: I have since been charged for both these guest visits; about US$30 each (as per the DC website) which is not too bad.

 

[p--and--t]

Just a follow-up on this: I have since been charged for both these guest visits; about US$30 each (as per the DC website) which is not too bad.

Ah yes. That makes sense.

Diners don't usually provide for guests.

Looks like the lounge has accommodated the guest and charged you for it.

If the extra person(s) held a secondary card off the account holder's account and paid the annual benefits fee of AUD55, then they would receive unlimited lounge access for 12 months in lieu the $30 (or whatever the lounge fee is at the time) per visit.

 

[whughes3]

If the extra person(s) held a secondary card off the account holder's account and paid the annual benefits fee of AUD55, then they would receive unlimited lounge access for 12 months in lieu the $30 (or whatever the lounge fee is at the time) per visit.

Useful to know but probably not a lot of use for me: this was one of the very rare occasions where I was in Y on an airline where I have no status (CI) and came out of an unforeseen last-minute situation. I rarely use the DC lounge access these days but it is comforting to know it is still there as a backstop.

 

[sergej77]

Good morning everyone.
What if you just get a Diners Card for 95$, without signing 55 Rewards fee? Will you be able to visit lounges?
It may be a good deal, as theoretically Reward program is just getting Qantas points for dollars spend.

 

[edcba]

Good morning everyone.
What if you just get a Diners Card for 95$, without signing 55 Rewards fee? Will you be able to visit lounges?
It may be a good deal, as theoretically Reward program is just getting Qantas points for dollars spend.

Yes, you can visit lounges without paying the rewards fee.

 

[ajd]

Yes, you can visit lounges without paying the rewards fee.

Except I don't think you can get the QF DC without paying the rewards fee, and the non-QF DC now has a base fee of $135 which is only $5 lower than the QF DC with rewards fee.

 

[Myztikal_]

Anyone know if the Citibank companion diners club uses up one of the free Priority Pass visits given with the Citibank Signature?

If not, it would be pretty much unlimited visits?

 

[AIRwin]

Anyone know if the Citibank companion diners club uses up one of the free Priority Pass visits given with the Citibank Signature?

My recent visit to the HND lounge with my Citibank companion Diners Club did not use up one of the free Priority Pass entitlement under my Citibank Signature card...

 

[coolstepslg]

My recent visit to the HND lounge with my Citibank companion Diners Club did not use up one of the free Priority Pass entitlement under my Citibank Signature card...

can some one confirm that you can use Citibank companion diners club for free lounge entry? i was under the impression that you couldn't and may incur a later charge on the account? got an upcoming trip with the kids who are minors thus ill need to find a way to get them in with another card so that they don't charge my account for guests. one kid has the same first name initials as me. so i wonder if i can order another supplementary card in my name with just the first initial and last name printed on the card for my business diners card account? i guess another option would be to present my diners card and then just give the staff one of my priority passes to cover the kids entry.

 

[andye]

can some one confirm that you can use Citibank companion diners club for free lounge entry? i was under the impression that you couldn't and may incur a later charge on the account? got an upcoming trip with the kids who are minors thus ill need to find a way to get them in with another card so that they don't charge my account for guests. one kid has the same first name initials as me. so i wonder if i can order another supplementary card in my name with just the first initial and last name printed on the card for my business diners card account? i guess another option would be to present my diners card and then just give the staff one of my priority passes to cover the kids entry.

Mstr andye2 is a very tall 16 year old who shares a first initial with mrs andye. I have found this useful with a standard diners card

 

[sergej77]

Thanks for your replies.
Ive actually gave them a call. And call centre told me that it is possible to get a card wwithout rewards program fee.

Sounds like a good deal just to get a lounge access