Mei symmetry and Mei conserved quantity of Appell equations for a variable mass holonomic system are investigated. Appell equations and differential equations of motion for a variable mass holonomic system are established. A new expression of the total first derivative of the function with respect of time t along the systematic motional track curve, and the definition and the criterion of Mei symmetry for Appell equations under the infinitesimal transformations of groups are given. The expressions of the structural equation and Mei conserved quantity for Mei symmetry in Appell are obtained. An example is given to illustrate the application of the results.