Some advice on the site suggested choosing APO AP or AE based on which is nearer to you, but is there a way of knowing which one a contact is, short of requesting their full address?  I have requested two addresses today, both of which turned out to be AP, and would rather ship to AE but now can't request any more until tomorrow.  Help?

Thanks,

Cheryl

Hi Humanist

Great to see more and more Supporters from Michigan here!

The zip code is included with each posting. Noting the zip code might be sufficient.  It’s been my experience that the zip codes that begin with 0 are APO AE and FPO AP zip codes begin with 9.  Someone can correct me if they’ve seen the exception.  Alternately, you could look up each zip code before requesting the address...that’s a tedious alternative

If you are sending flat rate priority mail packages which location--APO AE or FPO AP--will make little difference in terms of time (or cost $8.95) to destination both will travel airmail on commercial airlines.  Beyond the Army or Freight Post Office until it reaches the soldier will vary based on the soldier’s location.  I’ve never known shipping to an FPO AP address to take longer than an APO AE address to reach a contact.  I’ve had both arrive as soon as 6 days. 

However, if you cannot send using either of the flat rate boxes or must send Parcel Post the charges are significantly different with FPO AP being more expensive to ship to from Michigan than APO AE.  So if you can fit your items in a flat rate box go ahead and send them.  Otherwise, perhaps you could send along a letter (same cost/same time) to the contacts you have while you wait to select new contacts for packages.  If it’s any consolation the 2-a-day limit clock resets on the calendar day not 24 hours after your last request ;-)

Helpful? 

-betc

 

Yes, very helpful!  Thank you betc.

Cheryl

Right below each contact's name are several bits of information,to include their APO/FPO.  This was added for the reason you state, so that you don't have to request the address only to find out they are on the opposite shore....

Hope this helps.

Ok I am showing my true stupidity, though I had a family member in service

 

What is the difference? APO vs. AE - meaning, what difference or impact does it have as to sending something? Please educate me :) not that it will change me picking one at random, just curious

 

thanks

 

AE stands for American Europe.  I am not sure what the AP is for.  It used to be APO NY. 

If using flat rate boxes no matter, but FPO if not flat rate makes a difference because of "ships" used for shipping according to my postal clerk. I still don't care though as long as what I send gets to someone.

Oh Yeah, I think American Pacific

Lisa

Hi vtleogal-A Supporter put up the link to the Postal Explorer.
Maybe this excerpt will answer part of your question.

And, this:

I heard American Europe, too.  I thought AP was American Pacific (I could be wrong. I misremembered FPO as “freight” in stead of “Fleet Post Office”  )  Maybe someone else can reveal AA?  I think a there’s Postal Clerk member here who posted the PE link. APO AE is on the east coast (as tessajangel said formerly NY) while FPO AP is on the west coast. If you're not using the flat rate boxes the rates go by distance--the cost increases depending on how far away you are from either destination.

[Edit: Thanks Lisajan, sorry I didn't see your post before posting...] 

oh ok.. I knew what it was , I was trying to figure out what difference it made.. it seems to be cost.. gotcha..

I have found so far, I have shipped to APO and FPO  and they were virtually the same.. maybe I am lucky  lol

 thanks again

Lynn

I live in Illinois.  I've noticed that things I've sent to my FPO people are getting there faster than APO.  Has anybody else noticed that?

From the "How to Send" page:

Note that postage to APO AE and FPO AE (E = Europe) is only to NY where the connection to the APO/FPO (APO = Army Post Office)(FPO = Fleet Post Office) is, or to San Francisco for APO AP and FPO AP (P = Pacific), so you don't pay postage all the way to Iraq/Afghanistan.

You might consider picking contacts closer to your mailing area to help cut the cost of mailing. If you live on the East Coast, pick "AE", West Coast, pick "AP", Midwest, well...uh, Thank You for your Support! ;)

New with us (December 2005) you might notice "APO AA" and "FPO AA". This is for units in the Caribbean/South America. Normally. However, due to the nature of some units they may be in Iraq but have an address showing "FPO AA". Mail addresses to "AA" goes out of Miami, Florida.

Marty Horn:

Right below each contact's name are several bits of information,to include their APO/FPO.  This was added for the reason you state, so that you don't have to request the address only to find out they are on the opposite shore....

Hope this helps.

Yep, I found that now.  Wasn't reading the fine print before because I was more interested in the emails from the contacts.    Thanks Marty!

-Cheryl

I thought it would be cheaper to send to an FPO AP than an APO AE, since I live on the west coast.  However,  what really determines where it is going is the zip code.  The zip codes on the east coast begin with "0" and the zips on the west coast begin with "9".  You can go on the USPS site and put in the weight of a package and the from and to zip codes and it will give you the rate.  This is how I figured it out.  This only applies if you are not using the flat rate boxes.  Usually it is Navy and Marines that are shipped to San Francisco and most of the Army and Air force are shipped to the east coast.  There are some exceptions.

VickiV:

I thought it would be cheaper to send to an FPO AP than an APO AE, since I live on the west coast.  However,  what really determines where it is going is the zip code.  The zip codes on the east coast begin with "0" and the zips on the west coast begin with "9".  You can go on the USPS site and put in the weight of a package and the from and to zip codes and it will give you the rate.  This is how I figured it out.  This only applies if you are not using the flat rate boxes.  Usually it is Navy and Marines that are shipped to San Francisco and most of the Army and Air force are shipped to the east coast.  There are some exceptions.

 From the "How to Send" page:

Note that postage to APO AE and FPO AE (E = Europe) is only to NY where the connection to the APO/FPO (APO = Army Post Office)(FPO = Fleet Post Office) is, or to San Francisco for APO AP and FPO AP (P = Pacific), so you don't pay postage all the way to Iraq/Afghanistan.

You might consider picking contacts closer to your mailing area to help cut the cost of mailing. If you live on the East Coast, pick "AE", West Coast, pick "AP", Midwest, well...uh, Thank You for your Support! ;)

As Vicki said, none of this matters with flat-rate boxes, BUT, don't assume that flat rate is your best bet.  If your box is light (in weight), sending by weight may save you a lot.

I know that, since I live on the west coast, if I use a flat rate box to an AP address it has to weigh at least 8 pounds before it benefits me.  It is cheaper to send basic postage if ti is a small package.  However, if I send to an AE address it only has to weigh 3 pounds to save me money.  I had a worker at the post office show me a chart that showed how much a package had to weight before it saved me money with the flat rates.  It all depends on how many postal zones your package has to cross.