First Sending Abroad, Couple Of Questions.

[Tomaldo]

Hi, This is my first time sending to the USA (from the UK) and I have a couple of questions I was wondering if you could help me out. I have enclosed the IRC's in the envelope. It's the 'outside' envelope that troubling me. I found this post by The Collector

http://www.fanmail.biz/mboard/viewtopic.php?t=8489

regarding weights and cost to send but:

Can I mix first and second class stamps to obtain the correct value?

Do/Can I write 'Airmail' on it if its not a proper Airmail Envelope?

And how much an effect does this have on delivery time and cost?

What will happen if it's not the correct postage value?

Thanks for your time
Tomaldo

[admin]

Hi Tomaldo

Can I mix first and second class stamps to obtain the correct value?

Yes

Do/Can I write 'Airmail' on it if its not a proper Airmail Envelope?
And how much an effect does this have on delivery time and cost?
What will happen if it's not the correct postage value?

Go to your nearest post office and ask

Fanmail

[Emma]

I sometimes handwrite airmail on and It works for me. I dont use proper airmail envelopes.

[barmy_army008]

As far as I know, it is fine to write Airmail in the top left corner. I'd done this and went to get a letter weighed, and the lady put a sticker on anyway, saying it helped for international letters to get picked out. There isn't a USA in the UK though, so it'll be picked out at some point regardless of weather theres a sticker or its handwritten.

I've never used an Airmail envelope - I think that they're just so people can write the address and not worry about stickers/writing airmail. They would only effect the cost in that they are small envelopes, so would probably weigh less. They aren't cheaper specifically for being airmail envelopes.

If you don't put enough postage on the letter, then it will be returned to the address on the back (yours). This hasn't happened to me, because usually if you make up the value with stamps, then you go over the cost anyway ie making up £1.05 with 1st class stamps would take you too £1.20.