How much does it cost to send a letter to an FPO address?

July 23, 2005 11:01 PM

My googlefu has failed me. How much does it cost to send a letter to an FPO AP address?

One of my good friends is going to be on the USS Kitty Hawk, and I want to be able to write him -- I have the address, but I can't figure out how much it will cost to send the stupid letter. Google search turns up deadlines for packages to reach Sailors by Christmas.

Help me? The specific postal code is "FPO AP 96632-2770."

posted by Amanda B to Grab Bag (5 answers total)

Best answer: A letter under one ounce costs 37 cents, the same as a normal letter within the US.

If you send packages APO/FPO, you have to put customs forms on them, but the postage is normal domestic postage as well. That's really the only weird thing about APO/FPO.
posted by litlnemo at 11:41 PM on July 23, 2005

ditto what the wise and kind litlnemo sez, except that she also means if said package is not a letter, you must get it validated ("round stamped," date stamped by a postal person at the post office), or it may be returned.
posted by mwhybark at 1:28 AM on July 24, 2005

Frank's guide is an excellent reference.
posted by reynaert at 4:34 AM on July 24, 2005

A word of advice from someone who just got back from living at an FPO AP duty station, just send everything priority mail. That way letters and packages will be sent via air and arrive in anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks. Otherwise it gets sent via ship, and can take 2 months plus to get there.
posted by tetsuo at 11:58 AM on July 24, 2005

mwhybark, yes, that is right, but since you have to hand packages with customs forms to a postal clerk anyway, getting the stamp is sort of automatic. :)

Tetsuo has a good point about priority mail.
posted by litlnemo at 1:39 PM on July 26, 2005