AWB number format
Every airline air waybill number has the same shape: 11 digits, made of a 3-digit airline prefix, a 7-digit serial number and a check digit. Once you know the pattern, you can tell which airline a shipment is with and catch most typos before you track it.
The three parts
| Part | Digits | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | 176 | The issuing airline's 3-digit IATA code (176 = Emirates). It decides where you track the shipment. All prefixes. |
| Serial | 4815162 | The airline's sequence number for this waybill. |
| Check digit | 3 | The serial divided by 7 leaves a remainder. That remainder is the check digit. |
You will see the same number written several ways: 176-48151623, 176 4815 1623, 17648151623. They're all the same AWB. Airline tracking forms usually want the prefix in one box and the 8 remaining digits in another.
How to check an AWB number by hand
- Drop the 3-digit prefix:
176-48151623. - Take the next 7 digits:
4815162. - Divide by 7 and keep the remainder: 4,815,162 ÷ 7 = 687,880 remainder 2.
- Compare with the last digit. Here the last digit is 3, not 2, so
176-48151623contains a typo. The valid number would be176-48151622.
The check digit is always 0 to 6. A last digit of 7, 8 or 9 means the number is wrong. The check catches most single-digit typos, but not every swap of two digits.
Check a number now
Numbers that don't fit the pattern
- House air waybills from freight forwarders use the forwarder's own format, often letters and digits. They can't be tracked on airline sites. See house vs master air waybill.
- Courier "AWB" numbers (FedEx, DHL Express, UPS, Blue Dart and so on) are courier tracking numbers. Use the courier's own tracking page.
- Booking or reference numbers from a forwarder or airline booking system aren't AWB numbers. Ask for the AWB once the shipment is booked.
Questions
How many digits is an air waybill number?
Eleven: a 3-digit airline prefix followed by an 8-digit serial number whose last digit is a check digit.
Can two airlines share a prefix?
No. Each prefix belongs to one carrier. Some airlines hand off cargo sales or handling to a partner, though. In that case the prefix can lead to the partner's tracking system, and our airline pages note it.
Why does my number show "not found" on the airline site?
Usually the airline hasn't received the cargo yet, the number is a house AWB, or there's a typo. Check the last digit with the tool above.