Postal deadlines for gifts and holiday cards are rapidly approaching for people who want their mail delivered in time for Christmas, Dec. 25, Kwanzaa, Dec. 26-Jan. 1, and Hanukkah, Dec. 25-Jan. 2.
For shipping to military members in Europe and the Atlantic, those on ships in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa, Central and South America, Korea, the Philippines, and people on ships in the Pacific and Indian oceans – ground shipping should go out by Nov. 4, first class and priority mail by Dec. 9 and priority express by Dec. 16, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
For other mail delivered internationally before Dec. 25, like first class and priority mail to Africa and Central America, parcels should go out by Dec. 2, while Asia and the Pacific Rim, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East should go out by Dec. 9.
It will also likely cost more to mail gifts this year.
Price increases range from .30 cents to $16 based on things like how much a package weighs, whether it’s retail or commercial and how far a package is traveling.
The agency justified the temporary increase by saying it would “help cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful peak season.”