As near as I can figure it looks like it used to be required (they had two different labels they supplied) but then the requirement was dropped. I could not find anything that said you can't use them. As long as there is still room for the customs form I don't know why it would be a problem.
In the UK we still have to put Airmail stickers on if you go to the Post Office and there isn't one on the envelope they will put one on
There is no distinctive "air mail" service in the USA. It was eliminated several years ago. It is called First Class International, First Class Package International, Priority Mail International, etc.
Every so often someone at the counter at the post office says something that annoys me, but then i get over it and go back to what i was doing. I rarely get the same story twice !
According to the postal manual, not only are airmail labels allowed, but they are required:
244.2 Markings
The following markings apply to First-Class Mail International items:
First-Class Mail International postcards, letters, and large envelopes (flats) must be marked “AIRMAIL/PAR AVION†or have PS Label 19-A, Par Avion Airmail, or PS Label 19-B, Par Avion Airmail, affixed to the address side of the mailpiece.
Ted
Really? I do believe you. I've heard some amazing things from postal clerks. I once took a Canadian stamp which hadn't been cancelled to a postal substation to get it cancelled. "Skips" — I think that's what they're called — are worthless for collecting as far as I'm concerned, and I wanted to include in a lot for a club auction. The clerk on duty told me that it was illegal for her to cancel it! Anyway, this is what I read on the Canada Post web site about airmail labels, which are called airmail etiquttes or just etiquettes; the quoted regulation refers to international mail:
"All letters and postcards must bear the words “AIR MAIL†and/or “PAR AVION†in black or blue on the address side of the item, in the upper left-hand corner, under the return address (when provided). The words “AIR MAIL†and “PAR AVION†can also be printed on a black or blue label, affixed in the same location."
" the clerk who looked at them and said "I can't take these, only USPS stamps no other labels allowed on mail""
Good catch, Ted.
Just to clarify. That regulation is not in the USPS Domestic Mail Manual. It is in the USPS International Mail Manual.
It was my understanding that the post offices no longer have that label. I had a few booklets of them, but they were long used up with all the international sales I used to get on StampWants.
I have been marking my envelopes for international shipments "First Class". Haven't had any trouble with them getting to where they need to go. I'm going to check at my post office to see if they have any of those labels.
" ... I've heard some amazing things from postal clerks. ..."
It's not just postal clerks. Have you scanned some of the debates on Facebook lately ?
Perhaps functional illiteracy, the inability to comprehend somewhat complex sentences has always been present, but to me it seems to be more prevalent. I remember the time that high school English class spent on diagraming compound sentences to eliminate confusion and enhance understanding of technical or abstract concepts.
.
I suppose I should not be surprised if things like that are accompanying cursive and simple math tables on the road to forgotten skills.
I have noticed that technical repair manuals seem to be written for idiots lately. People, and not just youths, cannot read an official document or regulation unless it is translated into simple declarative sentences. Maybe the professional function of scribes will be needed, sitting behind a desk at malls and on street corners, once more.
I suppose I should allow that I am just a bit more grumpy these days.
You're not grumpy, Charlie, you're just spoiled after hanging around with all your brilliant, intelligent, genius stamp friends. (heh heh heh !!)
Reminds me of one of Hubby's favorite sayings; "50% of the people have below average intelligence." True dat!
"Reminds me of one of Hubby's favorite sayings; "50% of the people have below average intelligence." "
"I can't take these, only USPS stamps no other labels allowed on mail"
I am not aware of proscriptions against etiquettes. The fact that air mail no longer exists as an optional fee-based service should not argue against putting on labels that request it. you get it or you don't.
"That's being FAR too generous, Theresa!"
I asked about the labels at my post office. I was told that they are no longer available since almost everything goes by air. I was not told that they cannot be used.
Call me odd or old, but I have always added Air Mail stickers or labels to my mail going overseas. I drop off a few letters to the clerk who looked at them and said "I can't take these, only USPS stamps no other labels allowed on mail" I know all mail is now sent via airmail, but I feel as if an envelope is not "dressed" right without it. Am I the only one? This is also the same clerk who told me my MPP was illegal and I WOULD be prosecuted!
Oh How I love the postal service.
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
As near as I can figure it looks like it used to be required (they had two different labels they supplied) but then the requirement was dropped. I could not find anything that said you can't use them. As long as there is still room for the customs form I don't know why it would be a problem.
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
In the UK we still have to put Airmail stickers on if you go to the Post Office and there isn't one on the envelope they will put one on
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
There is no distinctive "air mail" service in the USA. It was eliminated several years ago. It is called First Class International, First Class Package International, Priority Mail International, etc.
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
Every so often someone at the counter at the post office says something that annoys me, but then i get over it and go back to what i was doing. I rarely get the same story twice !
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
According to the postal manual, not only are airmail labels allowed, but they are required:
244.2 Markings
The following markings apply to First-Class Mail International items:
First-Class Mail International postcards, letters, and large envelopes (flats) must be marked “AIRMAIL/PAR AVION†or have PS Label 19-A, Par Avion Airmail, or PS Label 19-B, Par Avion Airmail, affixed to the address side of the mailpiece.
Ted
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
Really? I do believe you. I've heard some amazing things from postal clerks. I once took a Canadian stamp which hadn't been cancelled to a postal substation to get it cancelled. "Skips" — I think that's what they're called — are worthless for collecting as far as I'm concerned, and I wanted to include in a lot for a club auction. The clerk on duty told me that it was illegal for her to cancel it! Anyway, this is what I read on the Canada Post web site about airmail labels, which are called airmail etiquttes or just etiquettes; the quoted regulation refers to international mail:
"All letters and postcards must bear the words “AIR MAIL†and/or “PAR AVION†in black or blue on the address side of the item, in the upper left-hand corner, under the return address (when provided). The words “AIR MAIL†and “PAR AVION†can also be printed on a black or blue label, affixed in the same location."
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
" the clerk who looked at them and said "I can't take these, only USPS stamps no other labels allowed on mail""
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
Good catch, Ted.
Just to clarify. That regulation is not in the USPS Domestic Mail Manual. It is in the USPS International Mail Manual.
It was my understanding that the post offices no longer have that label. I had a few booklets of them, but they were long used up with all the international sales I used to get on StampWants.
I have been marking my envelopes for international shipments "First Class". Haven't had any trouble with them getting to where they need to go. I'm going to check at my post office to see if they have any of those labels.
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
" ... I've heard some amazing things from postal clerks. ..."
It's not just postal clerks. Have you scanned some of the debates on Facebook lately ?
Perhaps functional illiteracy, the inability to comprehend somewhat complex sentences has always been present, but to me it seems to be more prevalent. I remember the time that high school English class spent on diagraming compound sentences to eliminate confusion and enhance understanding of technical or abstract concepts.
.
I suppose I should not be surprised if things like that are accompanying cursive and simple math tables on the road to forgotten skills.
I have noticed that technical repair manuals seem to be written for idiots lately. People, and not just youths, cannot read an official document or regulation unless it is translated into simple declarative sentences. Maybe the professional function of scribes will be needed, sitting behind a desk at malls and on street corners, once more.
I suppose I should allow that I am just a bit more grumpy these days.
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
You're not grumpy, Charlie, you're just spoiled after hanging around with all your brilliant, intelligent, genius stamp friends. (heh heh heh !!)
Reminds me of one of Hubby's favorite sayings; "50% of the people have below average intelligence." True dat!
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
"Reminds me of one of Hubby's favorite sayings; "50% of the people have below average intelligence." "
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
"I can't take these, only USPS stamps no other labels allowed on mail"
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
I am not aware of proscriptions against etiquettes. The fact that air mail no longer exists as an optional fee-based service should not argue against putting on labels that request it. you get it or you don't.
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
"That's being FAR too generous, Theresa!"
re: Don't put "Air Mail" stickers or labels on mail.....It's not allowed!! per my post office!!
I asked about the labels at my post office. I was told that they are no longer available since almost everything goes by air. I was not told that they cannot be used.