Air India launched its Gift Cards a few months ago, which is at par with Vistara when they integrated. The airline is now running a new promotion to encourage people to buy these gift cards, which could be reasonable.
Air India Gift Cards at 5% Off
Air India is running a new promotion: if you buy Air India Gift Cards from AirIndia.Com, you get a 5% Discount. For instance, if you purchase vouchers worth INR 1000, you will get them for only INR 950.
The 5% discount is available when you enter a promo code, AIFEST05, and is applicable only through November 15, 2024. But the exciting part comes now.
Air India’s Gift Card is billed by Air India, not QwikCliver, the prepaid card issuer. So, if you use a MasterCard/Visa/RuPay credit card, which rewards you extra for air travel, such as Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card and Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card, you are in for a treat.
You can buy gift cards worth INR 2,00,000 per transaction, valid for one year. Remember, the gift cards are issued only in INR, so you must use the GCs only on the Air India (Indian) website.
The following credit cards could be a great idea to buy these gift cards:
- Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card (5 EDGE Miles/INR 100 equivalent to 10 airmiles when transferred, apart from milestones)
- Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card (5 EDGE Miles/INR 100 equivalent to 5 airmiles on spends at airline websites)
You could also use the Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card if you want to buy these gift cards for a significant amount because you get the Accelerated EDGE Rewards for spending over INR 1.5 Lakhs in a month.
The current ongoing Marriott co-brand card promotion does not work because the Diners Club Card does not work on the gateway, nor do the 10X points on the American Express Platinum Card for Air India.
Here are some critical T&Cs for you to know before you go for the promotion:
- Air India is the issuer and redeeming entity for Gift Cards.
- Gift Cards can be purchased through Air India and redeemed only in Indian currency (INR).
- Gift Cards can be used to buy Air India tickets and ancillary products on the Air India website and mobile app. They cannot be used to purchase travel insurance, upgrades, or goods and services offered by any third party other than Air India.
- Gift Cards are fully transferable but cannot be resold.
- You can purchase the Gift Card between INR 1,000 and INR 2,00,000 in any denomination.
- Gift Cards cannot be redeemed through any offline channel, such as an airport ticketing centre.
- Gift Cards cannot be redeemed for group travel.
- Gift Cards are for individual use only. If travel agents are found purchasing or using the Gift Card, the booking will be cancelled, and no refund will be issued.
- In case of a transaction failure, while making the payment through an Air India Gift Card, the amount will be automatically refunded to the same Gift Card balance within twenty-four (24) hours of the failure of such transaction.
- A Gift Card can be combined with any offer, such as a discount, cash back, or promotion, offered on Air India’s website, www.airindia.com.
- Other modes of payment, such as credit cards, can be used to redeem Gift Cards, but they are limited to the Air India website and mobile app.
- Multiple Gift Cards (up to a maximum of three (3)) can be combined and used in a single transaction.
- In case of cancellation of purchase made using the Gift Card within the validity period, the amount deducted from the Gift Card will be reversed to the same Gift Card used when making the respective purchase.
- In cancellations where the Gift Card validity has already expired at the time of initiation of the cancellation process or when processing a refund, no refund will be processed for the amount paid through the expired Gift Card.
- If an amount is refunded to the Gift Card, users must save the Gift Card number and pin code to utilise this refunded amount under the Gift Card, as Air India cannot reissue a new Gift Card number.
Bottomline
You can buy Air India Gift Cards with a 5% Discount through November 15, 2024. You can combine these with specific credit cards such as Axis Bank Atlas and Axis Bank Magnus to get a large number of points along with your spends.
What do you think of this promotion, and would you partake?
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Can these gift cards be used partially? Let’s say the value on gift card is 1000 bucks and the ticket costs 500 – will the remaining 500 be usable in future or does the balance expire? The FAQs on AI website mention “depends on the gift card”.
@R, I think somewhere in the t&C it is fully mentioned. The smaller ones need to be used in full and the larger ones (for instance INR 2L), will be a carry forward.
Well, I purchased a GC for 2 lacs figuring I’ll get a nice discount, and well to my complete lack of surprise, the geniuses at AI have no method to redeem the card, not on the App, not on the website. C’est la vie.
@Split, you redeem the card during the purchase flow. I’ve used these from time to time, and I think on the app, after the screen of selecting your flight and inputting passenger names, either on the same screen at the bottom or the next one, you will see the spot to input GC number and PIN. After it collects the GC value, the rest has to be paid via other payment media.
Yes, that’s the process, but at least since last 36 hours, the option isn’t there, either on site or app. I spoke with customer service, they acknowledged the issue as well.
@Split, the voucher option turns up right above where you do the credit card/UPI payments. Says “Do you want to use a voucher?”. Just checked with a dummy booking
Yes, it appears now – customer service called me and confirmed as well. I guess the whole thing of spending a couple of lacs, and then seeing no option to utilise set me off.
Dont think Atlas 5x will work, as clicking on GV redirects to Qwikcilver site!
@bravothemaverick, Everyone reading LiveFromALounge.com is obliged to you for your opinion to counter what is a fact.
Would this work with the AMEX 10X multiplier for the Plat Charge Card?
Tanmay addressed in the main article already