I have been using airport lounges for 20 years with my Diners Card and have never had a problem.
For the 3rd (and last) time I used FNBs slow lounge 3rd Sep:
1) King Shaka. R250 - in retrospect good value as I had 2 hours to kill. Was billed as I wasn't aware of the Ts and Cs of R5k transactions on the card the month prior.
2) King Shaka. R250. NOT good value for one cup of coffee. This time I was charged because the transactions hadn't been made with the actual card but on the I/Net so didn't count (this is NOT made clear in the brochure but I let it go)
3) OR Tambo. Int Slow Lounge. Charged R500(!) for 2 glasses of wine. NOT good value (and they were closing but the very kind staff let me stay on for an additional 20 mins). On query, my banker agrees that I was eligible for use with my credit card - which I deliberately used as much as possible for the whole month before flying BUT it seems I presented my cheque card instead of my credit card. I defy anyone who wears reading glasses to tell the difference between the 2.
The fact is that this is not a benefit but a rip-off. I don't have the time nor the will to 'check' if I'm eligible or not. It is misleading and uncool.
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