Have you faced this scenario? You have made a courier, and now you wish to check its progress. So you have got a tracking number and now, using that, you have typed it in, and... nothing. Nothing happens.
Your screen shows no results, no status, no clue where your parcel is. You try once again. But the same result shows again. Now, multiple thoughts are entering your brain.
But hang on, before you assume the shipment is lost, there is a simpler explanation: You are probably checking the wrong system.
India Post, which is the government-run postal service, and private international couriers like Atlantic International Express operate on completely separate networks. They have different booking processes, different tracking number formats, different websites, and completely different apps. A number that means everything on one system means nothing on the other.
So in a state of confusion, how to tell which one actually has your parcel, and exactly how to track it once you know? Here we explain in detail:
If you do not have clarity regarding whether your shipment went through India Post or a private courier, these three checks will settle it in under a minute.
Various companies have different ways of writing the tracking numbers.
India Post consignment numbers follow a strict pattern: Two letters, nine digits, two letters. For example, EE123456789IN. That trailing "IN" is a dead giveaway; it's part of the international postal standard India Post uses.
Private couriers, including Atlantic, use an Air Waybill (AWB) number instead. It is typically 10 to 12 digits and has no letters at all. If your tracking number is a plain string of numbers, you're looking at an AWB, not a consignment number.
India Post receipts clearly say "Speed Post," "Registered Post," or "EMS" (Express Mail Service). Atlantic receipts and booking confirmations say "Atlantic International Express" and list your AWB number clearly. Generally, it comes alongside a QR code or booking reference.
You can try to recall if you walked into a post office counter, handed over your parcel, and got a stamped receipt? Then that's India Post.
Did you book a door-to-door pickup, though online, over the phone, or via WhatsApp, and had someone collect the parcel from your home or office? Then that's a private courier booking, and if it was with us, that's Atlantic.
Once you know which system you have used for sending the parcel, the tracking takes seconds.
India Post has its own tracking infrastructure. It is entirely separate from private courier networks. If you have used India Post, then here is how to use it:
A quick note here: this section is purely informational. Atlantic does not process, control, or have visibility into India Post shipments. The two networks don't share data. If your parcel was sent via India Post, indiapost.gov.in is the only authoritative source for its status.
If your booking confirmation shows an AWB number rather than a 13-character consignment number, then that means you are on the Atlantic network. Here is how to check your shipment's status:
Lost your AWB number? If you do not have the AWB number, then please contact the branch office where you originally booked the shipment. It's also listed in the booking SMS or email confirmation you received at pickup.
Both services help you send a parcel from India abroad, but they are built for different priorities. Here's how they stack up:
Let's say, you are shipping a birthday gift and have no particular rush. Then India Post EMS can work well and is budget-friendly. But if you need speed, door-to-door convenience, real-time visibility, and someone actually to pick up the phone when customs asks a question, then that's exactly the gap Atlantic is built to fill.
If your requirement is for fast and convenient courier support that offers door-to-door service for international shipments, then opt for Atlantic. Our service is built to deliver seamless connectivity across the globe. Go to the website and get a quote now!
No. India Post is India's government postal operator. Atlantic International Express is a private.
No. India Post's tracking system only covers shipments booked through India Post itself, Speed Post, Registered Post, or EMS. Parcels sent via Atlantic must be tracked on atlanticcourier.net using your AWB number.
It likely means your parcel wasn't shipped through India Post in the first place. Check whether your tracking number matches the India Post format (13 characters, e.g., EE123456789IN) or looks more like an AWB number .
India Post EMS timelines vary by destination and postal volumes, and typically run slower than a dedicated private courier network. Atlantic offers faster transit times with door-to-door pickup.
Only your Atlantic AWB number. If you have an India Post consignment number instead, your parcel wasn't shipped with Atlantic and needs to be tracked at indiapost.gov.in.
"Item booked" simply means your parcel has been accepted at the post office counter and entered into the system. It hasn't yet moved into the sorting or transit process.
This depends on the courier and how far the parcel has progressed. Address changes are typically only possible before the shipment leaves origin customs or begins international transit.
Atlantic ships to a wide range of international destinations (180+ countries), including popular corridors like the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, and Australia. Availability and transit times vary by destination.
