ANCHORAGE, AK — It’s not too late to mail those holiday cards and packages, but hurry you must.

The busiest week of the holiday mailing and shipping season is upon us with an expected 3 billion pieces of mail and packages forecast to be delivered nationwide, including more than 200 million packages.

In Alaska alone a record 1.8 million packages are projected to be delivered during the holidays – a 5 percent increase compared to last year.

For customer convenience, 22 Alaska Post Offices, including 8 in Anchorage, will again offer dutch-door package pick up service This Sunday for customers to pick up notified mail and packages which could not be delivered on the first attempt. (See list of Post Offices and hours at end of release)

The Postal Service, which delivers more online orders to residences than anyone, is expanding delivery hours in Alaska to handle the peak season's volume, with packages delivered early in the morning, evening and on Sundays.

Suggested mail-by dates for cards and packages destined for U.S. addresses are:

• Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail
• Dec. 20 – Priority Mail
• Dec. 22 – Priority Mail Express.

Suggested mail-by dates for International destinations

• Dec. 18 to 20 – Global Express Guaranteed depending on country

The Postal Service anticipates delivering more than 16 billion pieces of mail this holiday season, including a record breaking 900 million packages, which is a 5 percent increase compared to the same time last year. USPS expects to deliver more than 8 million packages each Sunday in December. Mail carriers will also deliver Priority Mail Express packages on Christmas Day in select locations.

Mailing and Shipping DO’s and DON’TS

• DO use the 24/7 Post Office in Your Home – Go online to usps.com/holiday to print postage-paid shipping labels and schedule a free pick up of your packages by your postal carrier the next day.
• DO use 24/7Self Service Kiosks – As easy to use as ATMs, the Kiosks make shipping 24/7, and are located in the lobby of 10 Alaska Post Offices, including 5 in Anchorage: Main Post Office, Lake Otis, Midtown, Spenard, Huffman. Kiosks are also located at the Eagle River, Wasilla and Palmer Main Post Office, the Juneau Mendenhall Station and Fairbanks College Station.
• DO NOT wrap packages in paper and don’t place string around the package as the paper and string can get caught in automated package processing equipment
• DO select a durable box to protect the contents. Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express boxes are free at local Post Offices
• DO properly address packages. Include both “to” and “from” information and only on one side
• DO Print addresses clearly and include all address elements, such as apartment numbers and directional information (ex: 123 S Main St. Apt. 2B)
• DO NOT guess a ZIP Code. Look up a ZIP Code at usps.com under Quick Tools.  NO ZIP is better than a WRONG ZIP
• DO place a card inside the package with delivery and return addresses. This helps postal employees deliver the item should the mailing label become damaged or fall off

The following 22 Alaska Post Offices offer dutch-door package pick up service every Sunday before Christmas for customers wanting to pick up notified mail or packages which couldn’t be delivered on the first attempt:

• Anchorage Russian Jack 801 Northway Drive – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Anchorage Spenard 1601 W Northern Lights Blvd – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Anchorage Sand Lake 2200 Strawberry Rd – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Anchorage Lake Otis 5855 Lake Otis Pkwy – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Anchorage Midtown 3721 B Street – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Anchorage Muldoon 2420 Muldoon Rd – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Anchorage Huffman 1221 Huffman Park Dr – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Anchorage Eastchester 800 Ingra St – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Wasilla Main 401 North Main St – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Wasilla Annex 626 N Bobby Day Circle – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Fairbanks Main 5400 Mail Trail Rd – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Fairbanks College 755 Fairbanks St – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Fairbanks North Pole, 325 S Santa Claus Lane – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Juneau Mendenhall 9491 Vintage Blvd – 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Ketchikan 3609 Tongass Ave – 10 a.m. to noon
• Sitka 1207 Sawmill Creek Rd – 10 a.m. to noon
• Eagle River 11471 Business Blvd – 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Palmer 500 South Cobb St – 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Homer 3658 Heath Street – noon to 2 p.m.
• Kenai 140 Bidarka Street – 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Soldotna 175 N Binkley Street – noon to 3 p.m.
• Kodiak 419 Lower Mill Bay Rd – noon to 3 p.m.

Additional news and information, including all domestic, international and military mailing and shipping deadlines, can be found at the Postal Service Holiday Newsroom at usps.com/holidaynews

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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