If you wondered why you’ve started to see Christmas cards in the shops already it’s because Royal Mail have just announced the last recommended posting dates for Christmas 2015 for international economy surface mail services. If you want cards (or letters and parcels) to arrive around the globe to arrive in time for Christmas time is running out.
Royal Mail has been planning Christmas since April; but for the UK postal operator, Christmas kicks off on the 28th of September this year as the first recommended latest posting date for surface mail to the far away destinations of Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia, South America, Russia and the Caribbean.
This is followed by the recommended date of Tuesday 29 September 2015 for surface cards and parcels to the Middle East, and the Far East.
For the USA, Canada Singapore, Hong Kong and South Africa the latest recommended posting date is Tuesday 13 October 2015.
Surface mail to Eastern Europe, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Malta and Iceland must be in the Royal Mail system by Tuesday 3 November 2015, if parcels and cards are to arrive in time for Christmas Day.
Surface mail to the rest of Western Europe should be posted by Tuesday 17 November 2015 to arrive in time for the festive season.
David Cunnington, Head of International at Royal Mail, said; “Surface mail products provide value for money for those sending cards, letters and parcels to far away destinations. In the modern world, it is easy to forget that it can still take a long time to reach some destinations by land and sea. We don’t want anyone to be disappointed if they are waiting for Christmas mail. As always, we urge customers to post early as Royal Mail builds up to its busiest time of year”
Airmail recommended posting dates for around the globe are typically in early December and will be announced at a later date.