Diners Club and Airport Lounges

[Nonchalance]

Jan 11 update: This topic is moot because it turns out consumer Diners Club is unavailable in US. People, however, enjoy posting about Priority Pass, and I'm not stopping you.

Jan 10 original: Does anyone use a Diners Club premier card? I never have, but, unlike conventional credit cards, I can use it fee-free for my monthly housing coop dues. I don't care if I use it for nothing else. Other than that benefit, the other advantage to me is airport lounge access. They're non-specific if the card gives free access to lounges, or just allows you to pay a reduced fee. Has anyone used the Diners Club airport lounge benefit in US and other airports, and what was your experience? Thanks.

[Lastrun]

Plenty of info for me on the Diner's Club website.

Looks like a Priority Pass membership with restaurants, based on what came up for my home airport.

https://www.dinersclub.com/help-center/?s=faq-section

[adamthesmythe]

Diner's Club- that takes me back. I'll have some jello-mold salad with my martini.

I have no experience with Diner's Club but the possibly similar Priority Pass has been spotty; not all airports HAVE a lounge with access and the ones that do may limit access, with credit card access having the lowest priority.

[Nonchalance]

Original poster here. Thanks for the comments so far, and it's more than I had initially found, but they're cagey and not saying airport lounges can be free, instead they say, "To determine Member fees, please contact your Diners Club card payment provider regarding your card features and benefits, including any applicable airport lounge fees." I don't know what a Diners Club card payment provider is. I already have Priority Pass from another program, and that allows lounge access for $35 per visit. Looking for actual experience from others to see if this is better. Thanks.

[Chardo]

Diners Club? That's still a thing? What about Carte Blanche?

[rich126]

I had a diners club card many years ago and regret giving it up since you can't get it in the US. Sorry can't help with recent use of it.

[Nonchalance]

I had a diners club card many years ago and regret giving it up since you can't get it in the US. Sorry can't help with recent use of it.

You are right. It's funny, their website is quite plump, yet it turns out they stopped accepting US applicants in early 2024. Topic closed, I suppose.

[Prokofiev]

I already have Priority Pass from another program, and that allows lounge access for $35 per visit.

What lounge charges $35? PP pass lounges are free for members.

[THY4373]

You are right. It's funny, their website is quite plump, yet it turns out they stopped accepting US applicants in early 2024. Topic closed, I suppose.

Not 2024 more like 2015 was when they stopped taking applications (unless the reopened them briefly at some point but that seems unlikely as their website with the note about consumer cards not being open for applications looks exactly the same as it did in 2015). The background on this is the Elite card earned 3x DC points on grocery store purchases and these could be transferred to a number of different airlines but most notably, at least at the time was Alaska. This combination turned out to be extremely popular on some circles and BMO was really not able to deal with that and basically closed many users of the cards and killed the applications at the same time. The cards also were PIN not signature priority which was quite useful for international travel before tap to pay was common. In any event I wouldn't expect them to ever to open applications at this point.

[yules]

Does anyone use a Diners Club premier card? I never have, but, unlike conventional credit cards, I can use it fee-free for my monthly housing coop dues. I don't care if I use it for nothing else. Other than that benefit, the other advantage to me is airport lounge access. They're non-specific if the card gives free access to lounges, or just allows you to pay a reduced fee. Has anyone used the Diners Club airport lounge benefit in US and other airports, and what was your experience? Thanks.

I have access to airport lounges through my AMEX card,and I will say it’s been a lifesaver. Highly recommend, especially if you are a nervous flyer like I am

[Prokofiev]

I already have Priority Pass from another program, and that allows lounge access for $35 per visit.

What lounge charges $35? PP pass lounges are free for members.

[THY4373]

I already have Priority Pass from another program, and that allows lounge access for $35 per visit.

What lounge charges $35? PP pass lounges are free for members.

I think there are different levels of membership. The Amex Hilton Surpass card offered a Priority Pass membership several free visits annually and then you had to pay $35 per visit after that. That got killed I think during a recent refresh of the card.

[Prokofiev]

I have access to airport lounges through my AMEX card, and I will say it’s been a lifesaver. Highly recommend,
especially if you are a nervous flyer like I am

What does being nervous have to do with lounge access? Do you drink heavy prior to boarding? I suppose that makes sense.

[MtnTravel]

I have access to airport lounges through my AMEX card,and I will say it’s been a lifesaver. Highly recommend, especially if you are a nervous flyer like I am

I’d say it depends on the lounge. Most domestic lounges are overcrowded these days because so many people get access with credit cards.

But even the traditional airline clubs that you can’t get into with credit cards are bad. I went into one of the new “larger” United Clubs on a random weekday at an Off-peak time recently and there was still almost no seating.

It’s honestly more relaxing to sit at an empty gate with your headphones in.

[criticalmass]

I already have Priority Pass from another program, and that allows lounge access for $35 per visit.

What lounge charges $35? PP pass lounges are free for members.

Not so fast. Priority Pass has various levels of membership. Some levels have a copay, some are free for several visits, then you pay a copay.

PenFed Pathfinder card has no free visits, you pay the standard Priority Pass copay (around $35). This is very useful at some lounges with walkup prices with a USD equivalent of $100+.

Altitude Connect Visa card has 4 free Priority Pass visits, then the standard copay (around $35)

The Chase Saphire Reserve and some Diners Club cards have the unlimited plan.

[criticalmass]

I have access to airport lounges through my AMEX card, and I will say it’s been a lifesaver. Highly recommend,
especially if you are a nervous flyer like I am

What does being nervous have to do with lounge access? Do you drink heavy prior to boarding? I suppose that makes sense.

I don't drink, but it's nice to have a safe RELAXING place with comfortable seating, tables, food, non-alcoholic beverages, sometimes clean bathrooms, sleeping areas, showers etc. No heavy drinking required, lounges are far more relaxing than Gate Z1009 or even an airside restaurant with unknown length of time table service.

[criticalmass]

Does anyone use a Diners Club premier card? I never have, but, unlike conventional credit cards, I can use it fee-free for my monthly housing coop dues. I don't care if I use it for nothing else. Other than that benefit, the other advantage to me is airport lounge access. They're non-specific if the card gives free access to lounges, or just allows you to pay a reduced fee. Has anyone used the Diners Club airport lounge benefit in US and other airports, and what was your experience? Thanks.

Many years ago, Diners Club US issued cards (now issued by Bank of Montreal) outsourced lounges to Priority Pass. Generally you will get Priority Pass lounge access BUT some locations are not available to Diners Club members at all times. For example, an Air France lounge may not be available during an Air France departure push time. You need to check which level of benefit you get for your particular card: unlimited no copay, sometimes a copay, or always a copay.
Generally the corporate cards include unlimited PP access, subject to limitations above. Check the DC lounge website for details.

[yules]

What does being nervous have to do with lounge access? Do you drink heavy prior to boarding? I suppose that makes sense.

I don't drink, but it's nice to have a safe RELAXING place with comfortable seating, tables, food, non-alcoholic beverages, sometimes clean bathrooms, sleeping areas, showers etc. No heavy drinking required, lounges are far more relaxing than Gate Z1009 or even an airside restaurant with unknown length of time table service.

Yup, exactly this. I get nervous/anxious, so I actually tend to get the airport very early for my flight. Just having a comfortable place to be with some snacks calms me down, and indeed, sometimes I have some long layovers, so showering and taking a nap really do help me.

[UpperNwGuy]

I already have Priority Pass from another program, and that allows lounge access for $35 per visit.

What lounge charges $35? PP pass lounges are free for members.

You are mistaken.

Priority Pass has three levels of membership if you purchase the membership directly through them.
1. Priority Pass Standard - there is always a co-pay.
2. Priority Pass Standard Plus - 10 free visits, after that a co-pay.
3. Priority Pass Prestige - unlimited free visits.

If you get your Priority Pass membership through a US credit card, you get:
4. Priority Pass Select - benefits are tailored by the card issuer and often include co-pays.

[f8andbethere]

Plenty of info for me on the Diner's Club website.

Looks like a Priority Pass membership with restaurants, based on what came up for my home airport.

https://www.dinersclub.com/help-center/?s=faq-section

Can confirm: the Diner’s Club benefit is Priority Pass.

My employer’s corporate expense card includes it as a benefit. Like the PP plan included on some Chase and Capital One cards it gets me free lounge access. My DC plan doesn’t include free guests but does still have the restaurant credits many travel cards seem to have cut. YMMV.

I get some weird looks when lounge staff swipe the card, but have never had an issue with access (beyond normal capacity restrictions).

[rich126]

I had a diners club card many years ago and regret giving it up since you can't get it in the US. Sorry can't help with recent use of it.

You are right. It's funny, their website is quite plump, yet it turns out they stopped accepting US applicants in early 2024. Topic closed, I suppose.

Actually they stopped taking US applications from consumers many years ago. They still had some corporate customers.
Apparently it was the original credit card.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/whatever ... 17151.html

Citicorp bought them in 1981 and Discover bought them in 2008. Oh, I believe I just saw that Cap One has bought Discover for ~$35B.

[02nz]

What lounge charges $35? PP pass lounges are free for members.

I think there are different levels of membership. The Amex Hilton Surpass card offered a Priority Pass membership several free visits annually and then you had to pay $35 per visit after that. That got killed I think during a recent refresh of the card.

And the standard membership that you can buy directly from Priority Pass is $99/year with no visits included, each visit is charged at $35.