September 15, 2014

2014 Holiday Shipping Dates

With the holiday season approaching, we are reminding friends and families to mail early to ensure delivery of their holiday cards and packages, especially to APO/FPO/DPO destination addresses, by December 25. Deadlines for mailing to specific APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Codes vary according to the specific classes of mail being sent to them. They are listed below.

We also remind mailers that all mail addressed to overseas military/diplomatic Post Offices is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling.

Those restrictions are listed by individual APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Code in each Postal Bulletin. To access this listing on the Internet, go to pe.usps.com, click Postal Bulletins in the blue navigation bar, and then select the Pull-Out Information section.

* Priority Mail Express postage refund eligibility is adjusted for shipments mailed Dec. 22-25

** See additional information below

¹ PMEMS: is available to selected military and diplomatic Post Offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.

² PAL: is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Standard Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight and 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface price of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

³ SAM: parcels are paid at Standard Post prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.

***GXG Notes 1) Cutoff date does not take into account time needed for customs clearance

2) Should allocate extra transit day(s) for delivery outside major cities.