Buy a PIA Gift Card in Pakistan: Valid 1 Year, No Refund, Name Must Match CNIC
Buy a PIA Gift Card on the website or app and email it to a relative. Valid 1 year, no refund, no travel agents. See the 10 steps and 5 rules to check first.
A PIA Gift Card is bought online or in the PIA app, arrives by email, and pays for flights on the PIA website, the PIA app or at a PIA ticket office. It is valid for one year from issue. It cannot be refunded, transferred or replaced, so check the details before you pay.
You want to send a cousin in Dubai a ticket home for Eid, but you do not know which date suits them. A gift card solves that. The terms are strict, though. We read PIA's gift card page and its terms on 11 October 2026. Here is how to buy one, how the receiver uses it, and the five rules that can cost you money.
A PIA Gift Card works like prepaid money for PIA flights
The card holds a fixed amount of money. The receiver spends it on PIA tickets or related PIA services. You pick the amount from a list of set values shown at checkout. PIA does not publish that list on the page, so the values you see may change.
The card is digital. PIA sends the code by email to you and to the person you are gifting. There is no plastic card.
PIA says the card pays for flights, upgrades and other PIA services. It does not list hotels or tours. If you need the full list of what counts as a related service, ask the PIA Contact Centre on 111-786-786 before you buy.
Buy a PIA Gift Card in 10 steps
Buy the card on the PIA website or in the PIA mobile app. The steps below follow PIA's own list. Have the receiver's name, mobile number and email ready, because a wrong email sends the code to the wrong person.
- Open the PIA website or the PIA mobile app.
- Go to the Gift Card section and tap Purchase Gift Card.
- Choose a card design or theme.
- Choose a currency and an amount. Add a personal message.
- Enter your own details as sender: name, phone and email.
- If you are buying for a family member or friend, choose that option.
- Enter the receiver's name, phone and email.
- Check every detail on the review screen.
- Pay with one of the payment methods shown.
- Wait for the confirmation email. PIA sends the card to you and to the receiver.
One detail catches people. PIA says the name entered must match the receiver's CNIC exactly. Type the name as printed on the CNIC card, not a nickname. If you are unsure of the spelling, ask before you pay. Real tickets are just as strict about names, as the PIA booking and refund steps show.
The receiver redeems the card at payment, online or at a counter
The receiver enters the unique card code when they pay for a ticket. There are two ways to do it, and both are covered by PIA's terms.
On the website or app
Search for a flight and go through the booking steps. On the payment page, choose the Gift Card or Voucher option. Enter the code. The balance comes off the fare. If the fare is higher than the card, the receiver pays the rest by credit or debit card. PIA says a card is currently the only extra method that can be combined with a gift card.
At a PIA ticket office
Go to an authorised PIA ticket office and give the staff the code. They enter it as the payment method. Pay any balance at the counter.
Travel agents cannot take the card. PIA states that gift cards cannot be redeemed through travel agents. A receiver who always books through an agent must book directly, or let you book for them.
| Rule | What PIA says |
|---|---|
| Validity | 1 year from the date of issue |
| Cancel or refund the card | Not allowed once bought |
| Expired card | No reactivation, extension or refund |
| Transfer to another person | Not allowed |
| Buy another gift card with it | Not allowed |
| Lost or stolen card | No replacement, PIA not liable for misuse |
| Cash value | Cannot be exchanged for cash or credit |
| Unused balance | Stays on the card until it expires |
Five rules that can cost you money
The card is easy to buy and tight in its terms. These are the five points where a buyer or receiver is most likely to lose value.
One year is the limit. The clock starts on the day PIA issues the card, not the day the receiver opens the email. If the receiver is slow, tell them the date. Expired cards are dead.
No refund on the card itself. If plans change, you cannot cancel and get your money back.
Ticket rules still apply. A ticket bought with a gift card follows normal PIA fare, refund and cancellation rules. A cheap non-refundable fare stays non-refundable.
Refunds go back to the buyer. If an eligible ticket refund includes money that came from the card, PIA credits the refundable part back to the card account of the buyer. If the card has already expired, no refund or credit is possible. That is an odd result for a receiver who is not the buyer, so agree on it in advance.
Keep the code private. PIA is not responsible for a code that is lost, stolen or shared. Treat it like cash and do not post a screenshot. A stranger who asks you to send a gift card code is trying to steal it. The signs of a fake job offer include the same demand for money first.
Who should buy one and who should not
A gift card suits a gift where the receiver chooses the date and the city. It works well for a relative overseas, or a student who will travel in the next twelve months.
It is a poor choice if the receiver cannot use PIA. Check that PIA flies where your receiver needs to go. The PIA London winter schedule shows one route that has more flights. For other airlines, see the domestic baggage allowance comparison.
It is also a poor choice for last-minute use. For a trip next week, a normal ticket is simpler and faster.
Common questions
How long is a PIA Gift Card valid?
It is valid for one year from the date PIA issues it, unless the card says otherwise. An expired card cannot be reactivated, extended or refunded.
Can I get my money back if I do not use the PIA Gift Card?
No. PIA says a gift card cannot be cancelled or refunded once it is bought, and it cannot be exchanged for cash.
Can I use a PIA Gift Card through a travel agent?
No. PIA says the card cannot be redeemed through travel agents. Use the PIA website, the PIA app or a PIA ticket office.
What if the ticket costs more than the card?
The receiver pays the difference by credit or debit card. PIA says a card is currently the only method that can be combined with the gift card.
Does the name on the card have to match a CNIC?
Yes. PIA says the name entered at purchase must be exactly as on the receiver's CNIC. Check the spelling before you pay.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 11 October 2026. Every rule above comes from the PIA Gift Card page and its terms and conditions, which we opened on that date. PIA says it can change the terms at any time without notice, so read the live page before you buy. The set amounts and the exact list of eligible services are not shown on the page. For help, call the PIA Contact Centre on 111-786-786.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
