Packages line shelves while waiting to be picked up at the base post office at RAF Mildenhall, England, in December 2012. Most deadlines for getting a package to the U.S. in time for this year's holiday season fall in December. ()
RAF MILDENHALL, England — Christmas may be almost two months away, but servicemembers and civilians stationed overseas should make plans now to get packages and cards in the mail in time for the holidays.
Customers planning to send mail by standard post should do so by Saturday, Defense Department officials said in a Navy release.
Most deadlines for faster mail services fall in early December with procrastinators able to ship packages via express mail as late as Dec. 17 from Europe and the Pacific, according to the Navy.
Officials in Europe said late shipping can mean longer waits in the post office and cost more money. Packages ready by Nov. 26 can be shipped via space-available mail for less.
“Space-available mail service takes longer to arrive to end destination and moves on a space-available basis once it arrives in the States,” said Lionel Rivera, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa postal operations branch public affairs officer, in a USAFE-AFAFRICA release.
Mail deadlines for APO AE Zip codes 090-098 and FPO AP 962-966:
Standard post – Nov. 8; Space-available mail – Nov. 26; First class/priority mail (this includes letters and cards) – Dec. 10; Dec. 3 for Iraq, Afghanistan and Middle East; Priority mail express – Dec. 17 (not available for Iraq, Afghanistan and Middle East).mathis.adam@stripes.com Twitter: @AMathisStripes
