Credit Card Choice (Diners Vs Westpac Black)

glasswaterbottles on 09/04/2017 - 21:01

Hello

I'm actually looking to apply for a credit card that offers a bit more to complement my existing Bankswest Platinum zero.

My wishlist is (not in any particular order):

  1. Worldwide lounge access (as I am about to travel)
  2. No or minimum annual fees
  3. Full suite of domestic and international travel insurance

The following would be good to have:

  1. Signup bonus such as points
  2. Ongoing rewards

At the moment, I have finalised the following 2 cards so was wondering if you can give me some pros and cons or suggest something else:

  1. Westpac Altitude Black
    https://www.westpac.com.au/personal-banking/credit-cards/rew…

It has no annual fee for first year, has only international insurance, provides Qantas Club access x 2 and AMEX lounge x 2, and has a signup bonus (dont know how much that is worth though)

  1. Diners Club Qantas
    http://www.dinersclub.com.au/individuals.htm

It has a $150 fee, domestic and international insurance, and has a great access to a lot of lounges (better than the one ANZ black provides as they I have heard are declining), inc one in Brisbane international. It also has rewards but does not have signup bonus and I'm not sure how acceptable it is.

I would love to see your ideas.

Thank you.

Financial

Comments

  • kipps on 09/04/2017 - 21:37
    +1

    Paying $150 per annum for a Diner's card seems a bit OTT given how low its acceptance is.

    Your two Qantas Club passes won't get you very far.

    ANZ Qantas Black used to offer first year free and also included domestic insurance.

    • glasswaterbottles on 09/04/2017 - 21:41

      Thanks mate. Is Diners really hard to be accepted? I'm not sure on that. I'm just thinking its got great lounges. I'm not into Qantas club passes to be honest its just some food and drink. I think ANZ Black is still fee free for first year?

  • Peck on 09/04/2017 - 22:42

    I had a Diners Club card for several years, just for the lounge access. Then it was about $130 per year. It was fantastic for the lounge access. The level of lounge access is not quite as good as Priority Pass, but almost. I never used the DC for purchases though. If I remember correctly it was owned and run by Citibank.

    • glasswaterbottles on 09/04/2017 - 23:35

      Yeah their basic cards are by Citibank. Dont know who runs their Qantas version though.
      By the way, which cards give me priority pass access? Thanks.

      • bluedufflecoat on 10/04/2017 - 07:04

        Citibank signature card gives free priority pass… 2x entries for you a year for free.

      • Peck on 10/04/2017 - 09:20

        Amex Platinum Charge Card @ $1200 pa gives unlimited PPass.
        BTW Diners Club excludes a few PPass lounges - I don't know which, but for example, excludes P.Pass Lounge KLIA2 Landside - Level 2M, near the Food Court Area.

  • crentist on 10/04/2017 - 02:02
    +3

    diners club is still around? I've only ever seen it in faded stickers next to old checkout terminals

  • bion83 on 10/04/2017 - 08:48

    I have corporate diners card a lounge access network is pretty good (priority pass) but quality lounges varies by location.

    Even its not accepted everywhere you can also ask for supplementary mastercard which works quite well.

  • cimrak on 10/04/2017 - 16:13

    Re: Westpac Altitude Black

    There are two versions of this, you select which one you want during signup - The Qantas Rewards version or the Altitude Rewards version. The Altitude Rewards version gives you Priority Pass (similar to the Diners card you linked).

    Keep in mind that if you want the Qantas Club passes, then you are only eligible AFTER making a suitable spend with Qantas. From the "details" tab of the page you linked to :

    Qantas Club Lounge Invitations: To be eligible for the two complimentary Qantas Club Lounge invitations, you must register at loungepass.altitudeblack.com.au and then use your Altitude Black Card in Australia to purchase selected Qantas products and services. Selected Qantas products and services are the following items purchased directly from Qantas: Qantas passenger flights (with a QF flight number), Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Club membership joining and annual fees. Excludes Jetstar, Qantas Holidays, Qantas branded non-airfare products and any Qantas products and services not purchased directly from Qantas.

    • endgame on 14/04/2017 - 07:21

      Also: you can switch from Qantas Rewards to Altitude Rewards after earning the signup bonus. Although the cards have similar ongoing earn rates in either option, the signup bonus is half as good because of the transfer rates (50K Qantas or 50K Altitude = 25K Velocity).

      It looks like the Altitude Platinum has similar insurances to the Altitude Black, but you don't get the lounge passes. Strangely, the signup bonus and min spend is the same.

      Oh, and: Westpac hasn't made their move to handle interchange rate changes. If this image from AusBT is any guide, expect to lose the Amex.

  • coolsteps on 13/04/2017 - 23:53

    try and get a diners club card that has a low or nil fee through a affinity partner as it will offer you unlimited visits to overseas lounges they are nearly the same access to most priority lounges. i got a no annual fee business liquor land diners card which i think they dont issue anymore. if i dont use it for for a purchase they try and close my account. had to reinstate it twice it was hard just have to remember to put $1 through it every year so i can keep the benefit of unlimited visits to overseas lounges

    • Peck on 14/04/2017 - 10:18

      'diners club card that has a low or nil fee' Ozbargain of the year if you can find one.

    • peterw1 on 15/04/2017 - 10:32

      if you shop at coles/woolies, myer/ dj, HN and most petrol stations you can use the diners club card with no additional fee. It also comes with free travel insurance, if you purchase tickets directly through the airline website(some airlines charge a fixed fee irrespective of which card you use).

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