Postal experts share important holiday tips

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  With the holiday season now underway, the Aviano Air Base Post Office is facing its busiest time of the year.

The holiday months equal several hundred thousand pounds of mail resulting from thousands of online orders and care packages being processed in and out by the 31st Communications Squadron post office staff.

In order to make this year's trip to the post office as smooth and stress free as possible, the post office staff asks base members to follow a few simple guidelines.

"The holiday season is definitely our busiest time of the year," said Master Sgt. Sebastian Staten, 31st CS postmaster. "We just ask that customers be patient and follow the recommended guidelines."

The U.S. Air Forces in Europe recommended holiday mailing dates this year are:

First class mail (letters/cards): Dec. 11

Priority mail: Dec. 11

Parcel airlift: Dec. 4

Space available mail: Nov. 27

To troops serving in Iraq or Afghanistan: Dec. 4

In addition to meeting the target times for mailing specific types of packages, Sergeant Staten asks that customers be sure to properly pack parcels to ensure safe and timely delivery. These steps include securely packing items and using leak-proof containers (when necessary), printing both the shipping and return addresses clearly, properly filling out the correct customs forms and not wrapping the outside of packages with wrapping paper or string. Customers should also reference the customs of the country in which they are sending a package to ensure items are authorized.

The sergeant also noted that customers must bring cash or checks when shipping packages at this time as the facility's credit/debit machine is currently out of order.

In regards to incoming mail, the postmaster asks that customers please check their mail frequently, if not every day, as the facility has limited space to house the hundreds of packages it receives each day.

"Due to the volume of mail we receive, we need everyone to check their mail as often as possible," he said. "Once we run out of space, all mail processing stops. Please don't wait until the last minute to mail your presents either. Remember, there is no express mail service to and from the base."

Recently, customers were also introduced to a new e-mail package alert program, in which they could register to get e-mails when they have a package to pick up.

"We have had a lot of people register and the response has been very positive," said Sergeant Staten. "Everyone seems to like it and think it's a great idea. On that same note, we don't want people to assume that they don't have anything to pick up from the post office just because they haven't received an e-mail notification. The smaller packages and letters are placed directly into mail boxes and not processed through the Trackpad e-mail notification program."

Those base customers who have not yet registered with the program and would like to receive e-mail package notifications can do so by going to http://charlotte/APOnotify/default.aspx.

In accordance with the holiday season, the post office has also expanded its hours by 13 hours a week and is now open Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, call 0434-30-4086 or DSN 632-4086.