TIME RUNNING SHORT FOR HOLIDAY MAILINGS

Although the autumn leaves have hardly hit the ground, it's time to start thinking of Christmas especially if mailing parcels overseas is involved.

Shoppers still have 60 days of shopping left before Christmas, but time is running short for sending holiday gifts and greetings overseas in time for Christmas delivery, especially by surface mail.

"If you use airmail, you still have some time left," said Larry Shafer of the U.S. Postal Service.

But today is the deadline for mailing surface mail in time for Christmas.

"Oct. 25 is the final day to send gifts to Greenland, with a guarantee that it will arrive in time for Christmas," said Shafer. "Mail destined for Alaska, the Caribbean, Middle East and Central and South America should be mailed by Nov. 1."

Mail that goes abroad by surface transportation is less expensive for the mailer, but, for obvious reasons, takes longer to reach its destination, said Shafer. "To ensure timely delivery, it must be deposited much earlier than airmail.

With the exception of two areas, airmail parcels could reach their destinations before Christmas with early December mailings, noted Shafer. The Middle East and Africa are the exceptions, said Shafer. Middle East parcels should be in the mail by Nov. 15, and Africa, by Nov. 18.

Shafer said parcels destined for military personnel and families can be sent by air most economically by Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) and Space Available Mail (SAM).

"Packages weighing up to 30 pounds and measuring 60 inches in combined length and girth may be sent to military addresses by PAL," said Shafer. These packages are airlifted domestically to a U.S. gateway facility, then sent by air on a space-available basis to an APO (Army or Air Force Post Office) or FPO (Fleet Post Office).

SAM may be used for mailing parcels of up to 15 pounds and 60 inches in combined length and girth to military addresses overseas at regular parcel-post rates, said Shafer.

SAM mail is transported domestically to gateway facilities by surface vehicle, then flown to its destination abroad on a space available basis, said Shafer.

Most PAL and SAM mailings have to be made during November.

Following are mailing deadlines for surface overseas mail:

Oct. 25 Greenland.

Nov. 1 - Alaska, Caribbean, Middle East, Central America, South America.

Nov. 8 Southeast Asia.

Nov. 15 Australia.

Following are dates for airmail parcels:

Nov. 15 Middle East.

Nov. 18 Africa.

Dec. 1 South America.

Dec. 2 Australia, Europe, Far East, Greenland, Southeast Asia, Central America.

Dec. 6 Caribbean.

Dec. 9 Hawaii (APO)

Some of the PAL and SAM deadlines differ from regular airmail deadlines. Additional information concerning these mailings is available at the post office.