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With Christmas fast approaching it may be wise to post your cards and gifts as soon as you can to make sure they arrive in time.
With strikes still planned by some Royal Mail staff, post and deliveries are likely to be disrupted.
Royal Mail has listed the last Christmas posting times and here is what they advise.
When are the last Christmas 2022 posting dates?
Royal Mail has brought forward the last posting deadlines for Christmas.
The final date for second class deliveries is now Monday 12 December – six days earlier than it was in 2021. For first class the final date is 16 December.
The final posting date before Christmas is Special Delivery Guaranteed on 21 December.
The last posting dates in December are as follows:
- Wednesday 7 Royal Mail Bulk Mail Economy
- Monday 12 2nd Class, 2nd Class Signed For Royal Mail 48®
- Friday 16 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, Royal Mail 24®, Royal Mail Tracked 48®
- Monday 19 Royal Mail Tracked 24®
- Wednesday 21 Special Delivery Guaranteed®
Royal Mail Tracked 24® and Royal Mail Tracked 48® are not available to purchase at Post Office® branches.
Royal Mail advises people to allow “plenty of time for posting”.
It adds: “Please post items and gifts for Christmas early, particularly for International deliveries.”
You can find out more about Christmas posting at their Royal Mail’s live service updates.
More on Royal Mail
What about sending post and parcels internationally?
Unfortunately, if you are sending post internationally economy class the deadline for Christmas posting has passed.
However, if you are sending it internationally tracked or with a signature you may still be able to get your post off in time.
The deadlines in December are:
- Tuesday 6 Cyprus and Malta
- Thursday 8 Greece, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia) and Turkey
- Friday 9 Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA and Canada
- Saturday 10 Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
- Monday 12 Belgium, France, Luxembourg
For more information on other Christmas postage deadlines you can find them here.
When are the Royal Mail strikes?
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are planning national strike action in December on the following dates:
- Friday 9
- Sunday 11
- Wednesday 14
- Thursday 15
- Friday 23
- Saturday 24
The walkouts are the result of a dispute over pay and conditions.
Royal Mail says it is “sorry for the disruption” this is likely to cause adding: “We are doing what we can to keep services running.”
The CWU has called for a pay rise for its members that match the soaring cost of living.
Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail has said: “The CWU is striking at our busiest time, holding Christmas to ransom for our customers, businesses and families across the country.
“We ask our customers to post early for Christmas to help us deliver Christmas.”
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