The USA is forecast to be Royal Mail’s leading international airmail destination for festive greetings from the UK in 2015.
The top five international greetings destinations for airmail letters and parcels this Christmas are expected to be: United States, Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada and France.
The finding comes as Royal Mail reminds customers of the last recommended posting dates for international destinations to arrive in time for Christmas 2015. For those wanting to send cards or gifts to the United States, that is Tuesday 15 December 2015.
The earliest Airmail recommended posting date is to Africa and Middle East on 4 December 2015. The Republic of Ireland date is 16 December 2015 and mail to the Low Countries, Denmark, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland can be posted up to Friday 18 December 2015 to arrive in time for Christmas.
The last posting dates apply to both standard airmail services and those which have a tracking and signature required and are:
Friday 4 December Africa, Middle East
Monday 7 December Asia, Cyprus, Far East, Japan and Eastern Europe (ex. Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia
Tuesday 8 December Caribbean, Central and South America
Thursday 10 December Greece, Australia, New Zealand
Monday 14 December Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Poland
Tuesday 15 December USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden
Wednesday 16 December Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal and Spain
Thursday 17 December France
Friday 18 December Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Switzerland
In the UK, the latest recommended posting dates for Christmas 2015 are:
• 19 December 2015 for Second Class Mail
• 21 December 2015 for First Class Mail
• 23 December 2015 for Special Delivery Guaranteed