Posted on: Friday, November 26, 2004

Big surge expected in holiday mailings

Advertiser Staff

Thanksgiving, that great harbinger of the approaching Christmas season, has passed, taking with it the last excuse for procrastination where mailing packages is concerned.

"People are starting to think about the holidays now," said Honolulu postal spokesman Duke Gonzales.

"The main concern is usually the Mainland mail."

In that case, gift-givers are urged to send priority-mail parcels by Dec. 16; first-class postage letters and cards by Dec. 17. After that, they may be looking at express-mail options to play it safe.

But the clock is ticking more loudly for those who hope to send yuletide packages to members of the military stationed overseas.

The U.S. Postal Service recommends that military mail going by Parcel Airlift Mail — which goes a lot faster than surface mail for only a small added fee — be en route by Wednesday.

Otherwise, first-class letters and cards, and parcels going by priority mail, should be posted by Dec. 8.

To everyone who has been plunged into a sea of panic, postal authorities toss a life preserver: The suggested mailing dates are more guidelines than true deadlines.

Unless unusual holiday problems arise, odds are good that items mailed a little later will still make their destinations by Christmas.

But, officials said, nobody can predict volume or weather with complete confidence, so it's still a good idea to follow the guidelines.

Of course, the news is a little grim for those following other holiday traditions.

Hanukkah procrastinators, for example: You're already sunk. That holiday begins this year at sundown Dec. 7, so you'd better rely on the express mail people.