PIA offers a range of baggage services for Economy, Economy Plus, and Business Plus passengers. This section provides helpful information about baggage allowances, as well as a list of restricted items and advice on items that should be packed in your checked baggage.

BAGGAGE RULES AND RESTRICTIONS

For the safety of our passengers and aircraft, passengers are prohibited from carrying the following items in either checked or hand baggage:

• Explosives, munitions, fireworks, and flares
• Security-type cases/boxes incorporating goods such as lithium batteries or pyrotechnics
• Compressed gases (flammable, non-flammable, or poisonous) such as butane, propane, aqualung cylinders, lighter fuels, or refills
• Oxidizing substances such as bleaching powder and peroxides
• Flammable liquids such as paints and adhesives
• Flammable solids such as safety matches and articles which are easily ignited
• Disabling devices such as mace or pepper sprays, with irritant properties
• Poisons such as arsenic, cyanides, or insecticides
• Radioactive Materials
• Corrosive materials such as mercury (which may be contained in thermometers or blood pressure gauges,) acids, alkalis, and wet cell batteries
• Any other substances which, during a flight, present a danger not covered above, such as magnetized, offensive, or irritating materials

Lighters (butane, absorbed fuel, electric, battery-powered, and novelty lighters) are not to be carried in the carry-on and checked baggage. This ruling by The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) applies to all passengers arriving into or departing from United States of America.

In addition, passengers are not allowed to carry the following items in their hand baggage for passengers’ safety and security reasons. To minimize inconvenience, you are advised to check in or put these items in your checked baggage instead

• Knives (including hunting knives, swords, and pocket knives)
• Scissors and any other sharp/bladed objects (e.g. ice-pick, nail clippers) considered illegal by local law. For further details, click here

Do ensure that all your bags are properly labeled, both inside and outside. Include your full name, home and destination addresses and telephone contact information, and remove old destination tags and labels.

Revised Baggage Allowance

New security rules at various airports have compelled PIA to revise its free baggage allowance for Europe and US destinations to improve baggage service to its valued customers in current scenario.

• Checked baggage allowance to and from Canada has been revised to 32 Kgs. per piece, two pieces per person; overall dimentions not to exceed 62 inches (L+W+B) allowed from March 16,2008.
  Infant permitted 32kgs / 1 piece not to exceed 45 inches
  Carry on baggage - 1 piece not to exceed 7 kgs
   
• Checked baggage allowance to and from USA has been revised to 32 Kgs. per piece , two pieces per person allowed from March 16,2008, although the passengers ticketed till 31st July,2007 shall be allowed a baggage allowance of 28kg per piece.

Mishandled Baggage and Lost Baggage Tracking

PIA believes in, and strives to provide its customers with the most convenient service. But despite our efforts, in the rare case of your baggage being mishandled, we regret the inconvenience caused to you and assure you that the PIA Baggage Services, in collaboration with the Worldwide Tracking System, will track, retrieve and deliver* your lost baggage to your doorstep!

As soon as you are aware of your baggage getting lost, register a complaint in the Baggage services office at the station of arrival. You will be required to provide your baggage details to the Baggage Service officer who shall enter them into our computerized tracking system and issue you a receipt containing the tracking number and mandatory details of your baggage. Please ensure that your name, address, and bag details are correct, as this information will facilitate tracking and retrieval, enabling the Baggage service officers to return your baggage to you, as soon as possible.

Through the reference number on your receipt, you can also track your lost baggage yourself through our website. For tracking your baggage online, click here.

Baggage Claim

In case we are unable to recover your baggage, you shall be compensated for it as per the Airline’s policy.

PIA settles Baggage claims on weight liability basis and not on the basis of its contents. PIA shall also be not responsible for the damage of any fragile or perishable items and any valuables including money, jewellery, cameras, electronics equipment, silverware, business documents, antiques, paintings or medication. Our maximum liability for damaged or missing baggage is $20.00 US per kilogram for mishandled baggage on international flight and PKR500 for domestic flight.

PIA will not be able to settle the claim if the bag has been labeled with a ‘Limited Release Tag’ and it has been marked with any one of the following:

• Fragile or unsuitably packed.
• Packing inadequate.
• Perishables.
• Received damaged.

For further assistance and queries, you are free to contact the PIA Contact Centre at 111-786-786, round the clock.