House air waybill vs master air waybill
If your air waybill number doesn't work on any airline site, you're probably holding a house air waybill. Here's the difference between a house air waybill (HAWB) and a master air waybill (MAWB), and how to track each one.
| Master air waybill (MAWB) | House air waybill (HAWB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | The airline, or its agent | The freight forwarder or consolidator |
| Issued to | The forwarder (as shipper) | You, the actual shipper |
| Covers | The whole consolidated load on the flight | Your goods within that load |
| Number format | 11 digits, starting with an airline prefix (157-1234 5675) | The forwarder's own format, often letters and digits |
| Track it at | The airline's cargo site, or our AWB tracker | The forwarder's portal or customer service |
What is a master air waybill?
The master air waybill is the contract between the forwarder and the airline. The airline sees one shipment: so many pieces, so much weight, from one airport to another. It doesn't know about the individual customers inside. The forwarder is the shipper on the MAWB, and its agent or partner at destination is usually the consignee.
The MAWB number has the standard format: a 3-digit airline prefix, a 7-digit serial and a check digit. That's the number airline tracking systems recognise.
What is a house air waybill?
The house air waybill is the contract between you and the forwarder. It names your company as shipper and your buyer as consignee, and describes your goods only. When the load reaches the destination airport, the forwarder's agent breaks the consolidation down and releases each customer's goods against their house waybill.
How consolidation works
Consolidation is cheaper because the forwarder buys space by weight in bulk and passes some of the saving on. The catch is that you're one step removed from the airline's tracking.
How to track a house air waybill
- Use the forwarder's tracking. Most forwarders have a portal or a tracking link in the booking email. It shows your HAWB plus milestones such as pickup, export customs and arrival.
- Ask for the MAWB number. Forwarders can give you the master AWB (and often the flight). Enter it in the AWB tracker to see the airline's own status updates.
- Read the airline status correctly. The airline's pieces and weight are for the whole consolidation, not your goods. Statuses like "arrived" or "notified for delivery" mean the load has reached the forwarder's agent, not that your goods have cleared customs.
Questions
Can I track a HAWB on the airline's website?
No. Airlines only know the master waybill. Use the forwarder's tracking, or ask the forwarder for the MAWB number.
Is the HAWB number on my invoice the one customs uses?
Customs in many countries uses both: the MAWB to identify the flight consignment and the HAWB to identify your goods within it. Your broker will ask for both.
Does every shipment have a house waybill?
No. If you book directly with an airline, or the forwarder ships your cargo on its own ("back to back"), there may only be a master air waybill.