Post Office decks your box with boughs of mail

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dawn M. Weber
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  

For U.S. military postal customers stationed in the United Kingdom mailing packages stateside, the following dates are recommended to ensure delivery by Christmas:
  • Space Available Mail (SAM) Nov. 26
  • Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) Dec. 3
  • First Class/Priority Mail Dec. 10
  • Priority Mail Express (Express Mail) Dec. 17
For quicker delivery, customers should consider using first class or priority mail express. The costs of shipping are higher, but these classes of mail are preferred and expedited, said Staff Sgt. Christopher Smith, 48th Communications Squadron custodian of postal affects.

Customers are reminded that packages are handled numerous times while in transit, so proper packaging is important to ensure a safe delivery. 
  • Pack items with newspaper, bubble wrap or foam peanuts, and pack tightly to avoid shifting.
  • Always use tape that is designed for shipping, such as pressure-sensitive, nylon-reinforced, paper or glass-reinforced pressure-sensitive tape.
  • Pack lithium batteries inside toys and other electronic items.
  • Don't use gift-wrapping paper, string, masking tape or cellophane tape.
  • Print or type addresses clearly with a pen or permanent marker. It expedites mail through United States Postal Service automated equipment.
  • Use express mail and priority mail boxes, envelopes and tubes that your post office provides.
More up-to-date software has been provided to the Royal Air Force Lakenheath Post Office by the USPS. The new processing systems will help postal clerks provide more efficient customer service. Customers can also avoid the long lines at the post office by using the new Click-N-Ship option on the USPS website to fillout customs forms, determine the approximate weight of packages and print necessary shipping labels, said Senior Airman Victor Olubiyi, 48th Communications Squadron postal clerk.
The post office will offer extended holiday hours Dec. 2-24, for more convenient mailing times:
  • Monday-Friday -- Finance: 9:00a.m.-5:00p.m. -- Parcel Pickup: 9:00a.m.-8:00p.m.
  • Saturday -- Finance: 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m. -- Parcel Pickup: 9:00a.m.-3:00p.m. (Open until midnight Dec. 24)
For more information, contact post office customer service at DSN 226-3548.