Still Value in Diners?

[TonyHancock]

This is becoming more complicated than a Fred Perry tasting menu........but dare I say more interesting!!

So.....I think there is still some value left in Diners. :shock: :shock: :shock:

The Amex Plat charge is my go to card for restaurants, 3 points per $, travel 2 points per $ and overseas transactions 2 points per $, and now ATO with a paltry 0.5 points per $.

Diners 2 points per $ works at Supermarkets, Petrol Stations, and anywhere else where Amex only offers 1 point per $.

The MasterCard that comes with diners is only of use where neither Amex or Diners is accepted.

This is based on transfer to SPG and then on to BAEC.

Am I missing something? I must be.

 

[Happy Trails]

I find mine is handy for accessing the Miracle lounges at BKK of a morning when the CX lounge is full of BA gold types.

 

[TonyHancock]

I find mine is handy for accessing the Miracle lounges at BKK of a morning when the CX lounge is full of BA gold types.

Touche!!! Mind you I am not a fan of those dreadful Gold Types either. At least they can't get into the CCR unless flying F.

 

[drron]

Ouch.I am about to embark on my quest for BA gold.
My DC is fee free with a free partner card.If it wasn't it would go.
There are though occasional places that accept DC but not Amex plus the lounge access is sometimes useful if a crowded airline lounge or no longe for the carrier you are flying.

 

[andye]

Isn't it 2 to 2.5 DC points to 1 airmile
Its marginally better than a standard Amex for an SPG transfer which is what you are after of course
The MC earn is very low but prob still the only Australian way to get BA miles via SPG
Personally I'd get an Amex Explorer instead of the Diners (potentially 1 SPG/$ if also hold a Charge (unless that quirk has changed))

 

[TonyHancock]

Isn't it 2 to 2.5 DC points to 1 airmile
Its marginally better than a standard Amex for an SPG transfer which is what you are after of course
The MC earn is very low but prob still the only Australian way to get BA miles via SPG
Personally I'd get an Amex Explorer instead of the Diners (potentially 1 SPG/$ if also hold a Charge (unless that quirk has changed))

I'll investigate the explorer.

 

[andye]

Just refreshed my knowledge of the Explorer. The 1 SPG/$ is standard and doesn't depend on holding another card (some people have managed to get the reward program linked to their Ascent rewards which means they earn 1 KF/CX/EK etc as well)
Also earns fully for utilities and insurance.
Would go for it myself but my Veda score is in rehab

 

[Simo]

Does any where accept DC anymore??? I guess the lounge would be very quiet if this for DC customers only...

 

[TonyHancock]

Does any where accept DC anymore??? I guess the lounge would be very quiet if this for DC customers only...

BP, Coles, Woolworths, Hilton, Holiday Inn, BA, QF. It generated more than 100k in BA points for me last year. (Via the SPG route.)

 

[FromTheRail]

Does any where accept DC anymore??? I guess the lounge would be very quiet if this for DC customers only...

Anywhere that has a big mother company or is just a big company will generally take it, eg Repco, Myer, David Jones, outside of that I have had limited success, one restaurant I go to accepts it but added a 3% surcharge so wasn't worth it, so just used the MC but as it has Citi on the front you could still use the Citi free bottle of wine promo

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Isn't it 2 to 2.5 DC points to 1 airmile

Yep - 2:1 with most airlines (so 1 FF per $1) and 2.5:1 with SPG & AA (0.8 SPG/AA per $1).

Sweet spot is the 1.5:1 conversion to VA which gives 1.33 Velocity points per $1, and if you wait to transfer your points during one of the regular 15% transfer offers, that basically becomes 1.533 VA per $1 on all Diners spend (excl. government).

Convert 1.533VA/$1 to SQ and that's 1.135 SQ per $1 spent by taking the DC:VA (15%) + VA:SQ (1.35:1) route, as opposed to 1.0 SQ per $1 if you converted direct to KrisFlyer.

Explorer obviously better than that with 1.5 FF per $1 regular earn rate (VA, SQ, CX, EK, EY, TG, MH), or 1.725/$1 with Velocity if you wait to convert during a 15% promo.

No BA earn via AMEX though unless you push through SPG.

 

[global_nomad]

Am I missing something here? I just logged into Diners Rewards and it still has 2:1 for AA & SPG with the comment "Extended by popular demand".

Did they revert the changes?

 

[andye]

Am I missing something here? I just logged into Diners Rewards and it still has 2:1 for AA & SPG with the comment "Extended by popular demand".

Did they revert the changes?

Mine has the "extended by popular demand" but still has 2.5:1 .
0.375 SPG/$ on the MC and 1 SPG/$ on the DC would at least have been competitive enough to consider

 

[global_nomad]

Strange... I can't imagine why mine would be different. SPG looks the same.

 

[TonyHancock]

Strange... I can't imagine why mine would be different. SPG looks the same.

View attachment 102013

That is what I get.

 

[albyd]

I called Diners to cancel today. They put me through to retentions and was offered 2000 points which was then increased to 5000. Was told they wouldn't be refunding pro rata annual fee (4 months to go) so thought I'd take the small number of points then cancel at anniversary date.

 

[Renato1]

I just linked into this thread from today's AFF Gazette.

As best I can read it from going to the Diner's Club site, I can get a Frequent Flyer Diners Club Card for $95 a year, and have access to 450 airport lounges overseas?
Or do I also have to pay the $55 Rewards fee, bringing the total to $150 a year?

For me, the Rewards Fee would be a waste as I spend most of my money at supermarkets where the Amex Edge card delivers the best point per dollar value at the moment. Anyhow, what are the lounges like? Do you consider them worth the $95 or $150 a year to have access to them?
Regards,
Renato

 

[andye]

Not sure if you can have the card without the rewards any more
The lounge network is not too bad but not much in Australia. Its a bit less than Priority Pass.
There is a searchable list on the DC website

 

[albyd]

Just jumped on the mobile site. Looks like the only option is DC with companion MC. Was planning to downgrade to basic card as I have a decent shadow limit and would just warehouse it to keep the limit and maybe re-activate it should they improve their offering again. Looks like I'll have to cancel it at my anniversary date. Shame.
Edit: have just checked main site and the solo DC card still showing in the feature comparison table. Card fee has increased from <$100 I think to $135.

 

[Renato1]

Not sure if you can have the card without the rewards any more
The lounge network is not too bad but not much in Australia. Its a bit less than Priority Pass.
There is a searchable list on the DC website

Thanks for your thoughts.
Regards,
Renato