Holiday mailing deadlines

For those of you having to mail cards, letters or packages overseas to military members, please keep the following mailing dealines in mind so they arrive by Christmas:


FPO/APO to CONUS (USA)
Priority & First Class letters/cards:
- Addressed from 093XX / 964XX locations: 6 Dec 08
- Addressed from 098XX locations: 10 Dec 08
Parcel Post / Space Available Mail (SAM): 19 Nov 08

CONUS (USA) to FPO/APO
Priority & First Class letters/cards:
- Addressed to 093XX / 964XX locations: 4 Dec 08
- Addressed to 098XX locations: 11 Dec 08
Parcel Airlift (PAL): 1 Dec 08
Parcel Post / Space Available Mail (SAM): 21 Nov 08

The following information was listed on http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2007/09/military_holidaymail_deadlines_070913w/

Some tips from the Postal Service:
* Packages must be addressed to an individual service member. Mail cannot be delivered to “any service member.” Use the member’s full name, military organization or unit and APO/FPO address.
* Do not include the country name in any part of the address when using an APO/FPO address.
* Choose a box strong enough to protect its contents, and use plenty of cushioning material such as popcorn or newspapers.
* Consider using the Postal Service’s free Military Kit — eight boxes of three different sizes popular for mailing to military personnel, along with mailing labels, tape and U.S. Customs forms. Kits can be obtained by calling toll-free to (800) 610-8734. Choose option 1, and when a live agent responds, ask for Care Kit 4.
* Write the delivery and return addresses on one side of the package.
* Place a return address label inside the package.
If you miss the parcel post deadline, here are your options for getting mail to an APO/FPO address by Dec. 25 (subtract 21 days from these deadlines to ensure delivery in time for Hanukkah):
* Space Available Mail (SAM): Nov. 27.
* Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL): Dec. 4, except for ZIP codes starting with 093, which are all areas of contingency operations. The suggested deadline for those locations is Dec. 1.
* Priority Mail: Dec. 11 (093 ZIP codes, Dec. 4).
* First-class letters and cards: Dec. 11. (093 ZIP codes, Dec. 4).
* Express Mail Military Services: Dec. 18 (not available to 093 ZIP codes).