AWB Basics
The short version
AWB
Air Waybill
The airline-issued number most people track. Parcels uses the first three digits to choose the right cargo tracker.
MAWB
Master AWB
The carrier-level document used for the main air shipment. This is usually the number you want first.
HAWB
House AWB
A forwarder-issued number inside a consolidation. Helpful for customer service, but not every airline tracker accepts it.
Number Format
How to read an AWB
A standard AWB has eleven digits. The first three digits are the airline prefix, the next seven are the serial number, and the last digit is a check digit.
176-12345678
The `176` prefix points to Emirates SkyCargo. That is why Parcels can send the request to the Emirates tracker before it tries anything else.
Useful Prefixes
Common airline prefixes
176
235
369
406
607
729
