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International transport

AWB or air waybill: what it is and what it is for

The AWB (air waybill) is the transport document an airline issues for a load: it identifies the load, its route, its weight and the parties involved, and serves as the contract of carriage.

Each consolidated load travels under an AWB number. That is the number customs and the airline use to locate the load; individual parcels are linked to it through the manifest.

The AWB is also the reference for claims against the airline in case of damage or loss of the load.

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How AWB works in our operation

In MailAmericas' operation the seller does not manage the AWB: the airline issues it in MailAmericas' name for each departure. The seller follows the parcel with the tracking number, which is internally linked to the AWB of its load.

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Frequently asked question

Is the AWB the same as the tracking number?

No. The AWB identifies a whole load; the tracking number identifies one parcel inside that load.

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