Post Office advises sending holiday packages early
| • | Suggested holiday mailing dates |
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
It's that most hectic time of the year.
With the holiday mailing rush under way, the U.S. Postal Service is again advising residents to start mailing their out-of-state Christmas packages early. But there's even more reason to mail early this year.
With airlines suspending about 20 percent of their flights after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, there will be less air cargo space to transport mail, said Postal Service spokeswoman Nancy Wong. All first-class, priority and express mail to and from Hawai'i is transported by air.
"Hawai'i has adequate air transportation to mail out, but throughout the nation, many areas are still dealing with air availability," Wong said. "For example, it's taking a couple extra days getting mail from the East Coast to here. So it's probably another reason people should mail early."
Wong said the number of Hawai'i parcels mailed out traditionally triples between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. Hawai'i's post office system handled 60 million pieces of mail last Christmas season. Nationally, the Postal Service expects to handle 20 billion pieces of mail this holiday season.
Despite irradiation machines being installed at a small number of mailing facilities on the East Coast to fight anthrax, Wong said Americans should feel comfortable mailing holiday items such as film and cookies.
"We want to ensure the American public that the mail remains a safe, secure and reliable way to send the holiday cards, letters and packages," said Wong in light of the anthrax scare. "We're doing everything we can to keep the mail safe."
Wong warned that Monday, Dec. 17, is expected to be the busiest day at post offices. That's when everyone mails gifts at the last minute in hopes of getting them to loved ones on time.
Other tips for package mailing are:
• Use a sturdy cardboard box or container large enough to secure the items being mailed.
• Prevent damage by using newspapers, polystyrene or bubble wrap plastic to cushion the contents.
• Prior to sealing, insert the mailing address on a slip of paper inside the package. Also include return address on the outside of package.
• Secure the package with filament-reinforced tape. Do not use cellophane tape or tie with twine or cord.
For more information about holiday mailings, call (800) ASK-USPS.
Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.
