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Home > Delivery Services > Delivery options - International > Airsure® >
 

Airsure®



1. Customer Benefits

  • Fast - Airsure® receives priority handling in the UK and abroad and is generally a day faster than standard airmail.
  • Secure - Product travels through a separate and secure network. Proof of posting provided as standard. Valuables may be included if the destination country permits.
  • Reliable and consistent delivery - Independent quality of service performance checks carried out by International Post Corporation (IPC). There is also an optional compensation up to £500 for loss and damage. Items are delivered by domestic postal operators who provide a universal service in those destinations.
  • Cost effective - Upmarket letter service at cost effective price.
  • Visible - Royal Mail track and trace provides visibility and peace of mind by tracking the item up to the point of delivery and providing delivery confirmation online.
  • Return of undeliverables - Secure and free of charge return of undelivered items.
  • Accessible - Service can be purchased via POL, Meters, Online and Account.
  • After sale service - Dedicated international customer service at hand to help with all your queries.

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2. Track and Trace

To ensure fast, reliable and secure service, Airsure® items are scanned at 6 different points from their collection in the UK to the delivery overseas.

  • Post Office® (for those items paid for and posted at the post office branch)
  • Local mail centre
  • Royal Mail International processing centre
  • Office of Exchange overseas
  • Mail Centre overseas
  • Delivery Office overseas

Although Airsure® is not a guaranteed service, Royal Mail works closely with its overseas partners to continuously improve quality of service and reliability of track and trace information.

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3. Access

Customers can buy Airsure®:

  • At over 12,000 Post Offices® nationwide
  • Online via price finder
  • Via meter franking machine
  • Via Online Business Account (OBA)

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4. Destinations

Airsure® is only available to selected destinations as it can only be operated to those countries with the necessary systems and infrastructure to support the product’s track & trace requirements.

CountriesTerritories
1. Andorra1. Azores (Portugal)
2. Austria2. Balearic Islands (Spain)
3. Belgium3. Canary Islands (Spain)
4. Brazil4. Corsica (France)
5. Canada5. Faroe Islands (Denmark)
6. Denmark6. Madeira (Portugal)
7. Finland7. Monaco (France)
8. France-
9. Germany-
10. Hong Kong-
11. Iceland-
12. Irish Republic-
13. Liechtenstein-
14. Luxembourg-
15. Malaysia-
16. Netherlands-
17. New Zealand-
18. Portugal-
19. Singapore-
20. Spain-
21. Sweden-
22. Switzerland-
23. USA-


Airsure® delivery aim to Western Europe is from 2 working days, Eastern Europe and postal subsidiaries (Islands and Principalities) from 3 working days and Rest of the World from 4 working days after posting. The speed of service is generally a day faster than standard airmail.

The above standards are monitored by independent and impartial International Post Corporation to ensure reliable and consistent delivery, hence Airsure® is only available to selected countries with capability to meet the above service objectives and provide desired customer experience.

Please note that Airsure® does not provide guaranteed or time-certain delivery service nor does it offer compensation for delay or missing track and trace information. Airsure® is an upmarket mail, not a courier service. If you require an express or guaranteed service, then visit Royal Mail Parcelforce.

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5. How to post - requirements and mail supplies

Please note that Airsure® can be posted together with International Signed For™ and domestic Special Delivery but it is important that all documentation is completed correctly to avoid delays.

Account Customers

  • If you use manual posting cheques (CA83 and CA84)

    1. Apply Airsure® (P6522) barcoded label to each of your items as well as CN22/CN23 customs declaration for non-EU items. Check the up to date list of Airsure® destinations.
    2. Complete CA84 posting cheque ensuring each item barcode is recorded and counted. Customers posting Airsure as an add on to International Unsorted or Format Sort products must also complete CA83 posting cheque in addition to CA84 to account for the postage element.
    3. Place the signed CA84 posting cheque in the priority service pouch and retain a yellow copy for your records. Hand over the CA83 posting cheque, if applicable, to the collection driver, retaining the yellow copy.
    4. Place all your Airsure® items in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61).
    5. In the event you hand over your mail to the Post Office® directly, repeat the steps 1-4 above but do not seal the bag/pouch. Same documentation checks apply.
  • If you have an Online Business Account (OBA)

    1. Select to purchase the appropriate service from the online menu:
      • a.Contract Airsure® (MP1)
      • b.Airsure® as add on fee to:
        • i. Airmail
        • ii. International Unsorted
        • iii.International Format Sort
    2. Apply Airsure® barcoded labels (P6522) to each item as well as CN22/CN23 customs declaration for non-EU items. Check the up to date list of Airsure® destinations.
    3. Complete Despatch Receipt P6565 and place an upper copy in the priority service pouch or a grey bag.
    4. Place all your Airsure® items in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61). Ensure that the despatch receipt matches the items in the bag/pouch. Please keep your Airsure items separate from your standard airmail items.
    5. Complete the OBA sales order and hand over to the driver together with your mail.
    6. In the event that the OBA sales order is not available, a Customer Collections Receipt (CCR) must be completed and given to the driver. In the event you hand over your mail to the Post Office directly, repeat the steps 1-4 above but do not seal the bag/pouch. Same documentation checks apply.
  • If you use Despatch Express

    1. Select to purchase the appropriate service from the online menu:
      • a. Contract Airsure® (MP1)
      • b. Airsure® as an add on fee to:
        • i. Airmail (OL)
        • ii. International Unsorted (OZ)
        • iii. International Format Sort (OF)
    2. Apply Airsure® printed label to each item as well as CN22/CN23 for non-EU items.
    3. Apply Airsure® flash label (P6486) to each Airsure® item to ensure it is handled correctly abroad.
    4. Print off and complete Despatch Express Collections Manifest and OBA Sales order. Place the signed collections manifest in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61). Ensure that the despatch receipt matches the items in the bag/pouch. The collection driver signs the customer copy as a proof of posting.
    5. In the event that the OBA sales order is not available, a Customer Collections Receipt (CCR) must be completed and given to the driver. In the event you hand over your mail to the Post Office® directly, repeat the steps 1-4 above but do not seal the bag/pouch. Same documentation checks apply.

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Non account customers

  • Business Meter Customers

    • 1. Ensure you apply the correct postage for each item using your franking machine.
    • 2. Apply Airsure® barcoded label (P6522) to each item as well as CN22/CN23 customs declaration for non-EU items. Check the up to date list of Airsure® destinations on royalmail.com/airsure.
    • 3. Complete Despatch Receipt P6565 and place an upper copy in the priority service pouch or a grey bag.
    • 4. Place all your Airsure® items in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61). Ensure that the despatch receipt matches the items in the bag/pouch. The collection driver signs the customer copy as a proof of posting.
    • 5. Complete the customer collection receipt as proof of collection.
    • 6. Should you choose to take your mail to the Post Office® counter directly, you should follow steps 1-4 but should not seal the bag. The post office clerk will sign the P6565 despatch receipt as proof of posting.
  • Personal customers

    Personal customers have the option to buy Airsure online or to go to their nearest Post Office branch.

    • 1. Buying Airsure online- follow this link to our online shop.
    • 2. Buying Airsure at Post Office® - simply take your item to the nearest Post Office® branch and everything will be taken care of for you.
Summary of mail supplies for business users when posting Airsure®:

ProductProduct CodeDescription
Airsure® barcoded labelP6522Must be applied to each item to enable tracking and provide security
Despatch BookP6565Provides proof of posting and collection
Priority Services pouchSS950Ensures your items are kept separate and secure
Grey bagMB8 
Pouch tamper proof sealSS956Used to secure your priority services pouch
Grey bag sealSP61Used to secure your grey bag
CN22 Customs Declaration LabelCan be downloaded from our website (see customs requirements link above)For goods up to £270 in value going to non-EU destinations
CN23 Customs Declaration LabelCan be downloaded from our website (see customs requirements link above)For goods over £270 in value going to non-EU destinations

You can order mail supplies:

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6. Size and weight limits

Items in the form of a letter or packet
Minimum: One surface at least 90mm x 140mm
Maximum: Length plus depth plus width 900mm
No single side must be longer than 600mm.

Postcards
Minimum: 90mm x 140mm
Maximum: 120mm x 235mm
Non-rectangular postcards must be enclosed in an envelope and posted at the Airmail or Surface mail letter rate.

Items in the form of a roll
Minimum: length plus 2 x diameter should be at least 170mm
No single side can be shorter than 100mm.
Maximum: Length plus 2 x diameter should not be more than 1040mm. Length not over 900mm

There is a weight limit on Airsure® items of up to 2kg for letters Airmail Printed Papers and Airmail Small Packets (1kg for Airmail Small Packets to Saudi Arabia) and up to 5kg for Printed Papers.

Additional restrictions on Printed Papers:
  • Worldwide - only books and pamphlets accepted up to 5kg
  • Republic of Ireland - only books accepted up to 5kg
  • Cambodia/Canada - the maximum weight allowable for all items is 2kg

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7. Customs Requirements

Customs authorities around the world are cracking down on mail arriving in their country without the required customs declarations correctly completed. If you’re posting packets or parcels outside the EU and fail to complete the CN22 or CN23 correctly, your items may be delayed, returned to you or even seized.

For everything you need to know on customs requirements, please visit our customs page.

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8. International restrictions and prohibitions

  1. The Royal Mail Keeping Mail Safe lists all the items that are restricted or prohibited items in the UK or internationally.
  2. Make sure that you label and pack your item correctly if the contents are restricted.
  3. If your item doesn’t appear on the list, you can ask in person at your nearest Post Office® or call us on 08457 740 740.

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9. Your compensation

Compensation can only be claimed in the event of loss or damage. Airsure® is not a guaranteed product so no compensation can be claimed in the event of delay or missing track and trace messages. If you require a guaranteed service, please go to the Parcelforce website.

Maximum compensation for loss or damage to an Airsure® item is 100 times the price of a first class stamp (currently £39), unless extra compensation has been purchased. Extra compensation is available up to £500 (but please see exceptions for cash and mobile telephones below). Consequential Loss is not available for Airsure® items.

The maximum compensation payable when extra compensation has been purchased for items containing coins, banknotes or currency notes, securities or instruments payable to bearer (e.g. cheques; bankers drafts; travellers cheques) has been limited to £100 per item.

Extra compensation is not available for mobile telephones (or PDAs or Blackberries, etc) sent via Airsure®. Therefore, the maximum compensation payable for loss or damage to a mobile telephone is 100 times the price of a First Class Stamp. Please note that when Airsure® is used to send a packet containing a mobile telephone together with other items, additional compensation in excess of £39 can be purchased but this will only cover the other contents.

Items containing coins, banknotes or currency notes, securities or instruments payable to bearer (e.g. cheques, bankers drafts, travellers cheques), platinum, gold or silver (whether manufactured or not) and other precious stones, jewels and other valuable articles must be sent by either Airsure® or International Signed For™ (availability depending on country).

Please check individual country entries to ensure that the particular destination will accept such items and to check whether there are any other specific requirements for sending valuables to a particular country.

When to claim

We allow 20 working days for items to arrive at European destinations and 25 working days for the rest of the world, so cannot accept a claim for loss unless at least 20 or 25 working days have passed since the item was posted. All claims must be submitted by the sender within six months of posting the item.Claims can be made by visiting our customer service page or completing the P58 form for lost or damaged mail which is available at Post Office branches.

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10. Customer Services

If you are unable to find information you need, you can visit our customer services section where you will find additional information and who to contact for further assistance.

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11. Useful links

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Document Library

Download product information, from application forms to user guides.

All the documents are available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you don't already have it you can download the free Acrobat Reader.

Schedule Last Updated
International Services Specific Terms
Specific terms for international services, for use in conjunction with Royal Mail General Terms and Conditions (www.royalmail.com/termsandconditions)
Version June 2009, File Size 98 kb 		29/06/09