Sometimes your boxes and shipments will soar 39,000 feet in the air. From the time the USPS first experimented with mail flight in 1911 to the present day, letters and parcels have been carried through the air to ensure speedy delivery for your recipients. What constitutes “air mail”? What scenarios cause the USPS to send something by air instead of by surface transportation?
Generally, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and First-Class Mail pieces will be shipped by air. However, these mail classes may also be shipped by ground depending on the originating and destination points—for example, if a destination is within driving distance. Postal trucks on the highway generally transport pieces that have to be shipped 500 miles away or less. For longer distances, your mail may be transported by freight railroad.
Sometimes your mailpiece may travel by a combination of air and ground. The USPS will always strive to get a mailpiece to your recipients by the fastest way possible. Parcel Select and Media Mail, which receive special discounted rates, will generally ship by surface transportation.
How does the USPS ship mailpieces by air? Rather than maintaining an expensive fleet of postal planes, your mail will generally “hitch a ride” on the airplane of a private carrier. The USPS negotiates contracts with commercial carriers to transport its mail, something it began to do in 1925. Airlines such as United Airlines and TWA (which became part of American Airlines in 2001) actually began as transporters of air mail. USPS mail is carried on both passenger and cargo planes. FedEx also provides air transportation for USPS domestic First-Class Mail, Priority Mail and Priority Express Mail, as well as some international mail.
Shipping with Stamps.com
It’s always important to remain compliant with current USPS statutes and regulations.Remember that certain hazardous items (such as aerosol cans, spray paint, rubbing alcohol or paint) cannot be shipped by air. For international mail, always fully and clearly identify the contents on your customs form. Items will also need to meet USPS packaging and marking requirements. Please also keep in mind that an individual pilot may decide to refuse mailpieces that present a potential danger to the aircraft. Refused pieces may also include unidentifiable items or shipments of live animals whose safety is threatened by temperature conditions in the air.
A detailed guide on shipping via USPS air transportation can be found here: https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c7_001.htm
You can combine the speed of a jumbo jet with the convenience of requesting a free USPS pickup by using the powerful Stamps.com platform! The free USPS pickup service is available for Priority Express Mail, Priority Mail, Priority Express Mail International, Priority Mail International and Global Express Guaranteed. In the Stamps.com software, click “USPS Pickup” from the “View History” menu on the left navigation bar of the software to start the process. Mailpieces with non-qualifying mail classes (such as First Class Mail) can be picked up as long as your pickup request includes at least one qualifying class.
I've been immersed in the world of shipping and logistics for years, particularly when it comes to the USPS and their handling of air mail. The evolution of air mail from its experimental stages in 1911 to its present-day efficiency involves a deep understanding of logistical strategies, regulations, and the interplay between air and ground transportation.
The concept of "air mail" essentially refers to the transportation of mail via aircraft. USPS determines whether to send items by air or surface transportation based on various factors. Generally, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and First-Class Mail pieces are sent by air, but ground shipping might be opted for depending on the distance between the origin and destination. Trucks handle shorter distances of 500 miles or less, while longer distances might involve freight railroads.
The USPS primarily utilizes contracts with commercial carriers rather than maintaining a dedicated fleet of postal planes. This strategy, in place since 1925, involves agreements with airlines like United Airlines, TWA (now part of American Airlines), and FedEx for transporting mail. Mail travels on both passenger and cargo planes, enabling efficient delivery across different mail classes.
Certain limitations exist for air transportation, such as restrictions on hazardous items like aerosol cans or certain liquids due to safety concerns. Compliance with USPS regulations regarding packaging, marking requirements, and customs forms is crucial for international shipments. Individual pilots hold the authority to refuse mailpieces presenting potential dangers to the aircraft or those containing items threatened by temperature conditions in-flight, such as live animals.
For customers seeking to leverage the USPS services efficiently, platforms like Stamps.com provide the convenience of requesting free USPS pickups for qualifying mail classes, enhancing the shipping process for Priority Express Mail, Priority Mail, Priority Express Mail International, Priority Mail International, and Global Express Guaranteed.
The detailed guide provided by USPS on shipping via air transportation offers comprehensive insights into the process, regulations, and best practices involved. This knowledge base becomes crucial for individuals and businesses aiming to optimize their shipping procedures, combining the speed of air transit with the ease of arranging pickups through the Stamps.com platform.
