Diners Club Card

Pauline Hatch

Pauline is a personal finance expert at CreditCard.com.au, with 8 years in money, budgeting and property reporting under her belt. Ask Pauline a Question about this card.

The Diners Club Card

Offering an alternative to a standard credit card, the Diners Club Card is a charge card that earns points on the Diners Club Rewards program. Aside from providing cardholders the opportunity to earn points, the card also offers an array of extras, including complimentary travel insurance and purchase protection, airport lounge access, discounted shipping from the US, and great deals on wine via Diners Club’s Cellar Door.

What we love...

First up, let’s talk about how the Diners Club Card works as a charge card. Unlike a regular credit card, a charge card has no pre-set spending limit – and there is no interest, as you pay your account balance in full with each statement. Allowing you to manage your finances more carefully, this type of account could save you from falling into a cycle of revolving debt, while still providing you with access to credit when you need it.

It’s fair to say Diners Club does not offer the same acceptance as say, Mastercard. However, Diners Club cards are accepted at more than 135 Million Merchant Locations and 1.3 Million ATMs around the world. If you decide you need the extra accessibility of Mastercard, you could opt for the Diners Club Card + World Mastercard for a higher annual fee.

So, what does the Diners Club Card have to offer? One of the great things about this card is the opportunity it provides cardholders to earn rewards on the Diners Club Rewards program. As a cardholder, you will earn 1 Rewards Point per $1 spent, providing you with unlimited points, and no expiry on the points you earn.

As a flexible rewards option, the Diners Club Rewards program allows users to redeem points for vouchers and merchandise, similar to most other rewards programs. Cardholders can also redeem points with Diners Club travel partners, including more than 14 international partner airlines and hotel partners.

What about those extras? The Diners Club Card goes fairly big on extras, which may go some way to making up for its more limited acceptance.

• Lounge Access: Helping to make travel a lot more comfortable and productive, this card provides free access to 700 Diners Club Airport and Members Lounges, offering the perfect space to work or relax.
• Diners Club Shipping: Allowing you to save on shipping when buying online from US sites, Diners Club Shipping is powered by MyUS.com – the largest and most trusted package-forwarding service in the world.
• Diners Club Cellar Door: This feature gives you access to a range of quality wines at special prices, with no obligations, commitments or minimum purchases. Simply choose from the range, and your wine will be delivered across Australia directly to your door.
• Diners Club Privileges: Diners Club Membership provides you access to a host of offers and benefits worldwide, including accommodation, dining and shopping discounts.
• Complimentary Insurance: Travel insurance is offered in the form of International Travel Insurance, Interstate Flight Inconvenience Insurance and Transit Accident Insurance. Purchase protection is offered in Extended Warranty Insurance, Purchase Cover Insurance and Guaranteed Pricing Scheme. Read the PDS for full info.

What’s not so great...

Bearing in mind the Diners Club Card is a points-earning card packed with features, you need to be aware of the fees you will pay to keep it in your wallet. While the annual fee is not super high, it does charge an additional Rewards Fee and an additional cardholder fee as well. To work out whether the total cost of the card is worth it, calculate the value of the points you will earn combined with the extras you will make use of.

Why should you choose this card?

The Diners Club Card is designed for cardholders who want to earn rewards while enjoying some nice extras on the side. Backed by excellent customer support available 24/7, this card could work well for cardholders who like to travel, offering lounge access and complimentary travel insurance. It may also be a great choice for those who like to shop online from US merchants.

If you like the idea of a charge card rather than a credit card, the Diners Club Card would be well worth considering. The card provides up to 44 days interest free on purchases, and you can avoid getting into a cycle of revolving debt by paying off your balance each month by the due date.

Overall Rating

Offering charge card flexibility, the Diners Club Card earns uncapped points on the Diners Club Rewards program, alongside extras such as access to Airport and Member Lounges, and a full suite of complimentary insurance covers.