Diners Club International has launched new MasterCard credit cards. The new cards include Diners Club Card Premier, Diners Club Card Elite and Diners Club Corporate Card. The cards are issued by BMO Harris Bank and feature chip and signature. The Diners Club Card Premier has a $95 annual fee and cardholders earn one Club Rewards point for every eligible dollar charged. Diners Club Elite Card holders earn three Club Rewards points per dollar charged for gas, groceries and at drugstores and one point elsewhere. There is a $300 annual fee but cardholders have access to more than 500 Diners Club airport lounges worldwide. Both cards do not have a foreign transaction fee.
Club Rewards members can spend their points on merchandise, gift certificates, through the Self-Booking Travel Tool for flights or car rentals, travel credit for flights with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. Members can also exchange Club Rewards points for miles/points with Aeroplan, Delta, British Airways, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others, most at a 1:1 transfer basis. Members can also use their Club Rewards points to transfer to hotel points with Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest, Hilton HHonors, Hyatt Gold Passport, among others. If members earn 50,000 or more points, they can design their own award. Visit http://www.clubrewardsus.com to learn more.
Bottom line: Diners Club is not offering a signup points bonus with these cards and they do not offer a first-year fee waiver. However, at $300 per year including airport lounge access, the Diners Club Card Elite is one of the cheaper ways to access airport lounges. A Prestige Membership in Priority Pass, which comes with free lounge visits for a year, is $399. The $450 annual fee Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard offers Admirals Club membership while United’s MileagePlus Club card is $395 per year. Along with benefits like car rental discounts and identify theft assistance, Diners Club cardholders can take advantage of cardmember promotions like special amenities at participating hotels, free room upgrades at partner hotels and other special members-only offers.
