Post office shares tips for holiday season

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christine Griffiths
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  As the holiday season gets closer, more people pack the lobby of the post office hoping to make the deadline for package shipment. Customers stationed within U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa should note holiday mailing deadlines are as follows:
  • Space-available mail: Nov. 26, 2013
  • Parcel airlift: Dec. 3, 2013
  • First-class/priority mail: Dec. 10, 2013
  • Priority mail express: Dec. 17, 2013
"When the beginning of November comes around, it progressively gets busier," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Fritz, 100th Communications Squadron custodian of postal effects. "It gradually gets busier by the time Christmas comes around."

Team Mildenhall members are advised to come in ahead of shipment deadlines with packages, letters and cards to help prevent lines and wait times.

"Customers should grab boxes, customs forms and any labels they may need here at the post office," Fritz said. "They should also look at having their mail sent before these deadlines instead of scrambling, because this is going to be the busiest time to mail packages out."

To also help avoid long lines, the postal office is offering appointments to customers with five or more boxes, Monday to Friday from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m.

The time it takes for shipments to reach their destinations varies. The space-available mail service takes longer to arrive at end destinations. If customers want faster service, they should consider using priority-mail or priority-mail-express service. It costs more, but these classes of mail get preferred or expedited service.

The following U.S. Postal Service mailing tips are provided to help ensure packages arrive safely and undamaged:

The box:
Choose a box with enough room to include cushioning material around the contents. When reusing a box, cover up or black out any old labels and markings.

Cushioning:
Place cushioning around items. Close the box and gently shake it to see whether there is enough padding.

Sealing:
Tape the box shut and reinforce the seams with two-inch-wide tape. Use clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape or paper tape.

Size:
The weight of a package cannot exceed 70 pounds. When using priority-mail-express or priority-mail services for faster delivery, length plus girth (distance around the thickest part of the package) cannot exceed 108 inches. When using space-available mail, the total cannot be more than 130 inches.

Parcel-airlift mail is a service which provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for parcel post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in combined length and girth.

Correct address:
Using a complete and correct address is critical for timely delivery.

For any additional information, questions or to make an appointment, contact the RAF Mildenhall Post Office at 01638-542151.