Mailboxes inside the airport
 

A friend of mine wanted to mail a US-stamped letter before leaving the US. He assumed he could find a mailbox at the airport, but had no luck.

We are wondering if there is some security regulation prohibiting mailboxes in an airport, or if he just did not know where to look.

Anyone know?

FRA and MUC have them landside (an entire post office at MUC actually, although they did downsize recently) I can think of several international airports with post offices landside around the world.

I have been told before that it was due to security regulations not to have one airside.

I do believe however that I have seen courier boxes at ORD airside.

From what I recall seeing: there is a mail slot at LGA ground side main terminal that I think is part of an actual post office. I also remember seeing mailboxes at SFO outside the front doors at the terminal that UA uses. I don't remember seeing any mailboxes airside though.

FWIW I was able to mail an AMEX bill once by asking a favor of the matron at the UA International First class lounge at SFO - I showed my 1P card to show that I wasn't totally unwashed though.

There are post boxes land side and air side at Heathrow.

Every now and then I see them at airports, but they are usually a slot in the wall that unless you happened to look that way, you would not see it. About half of them have blue tape over them with a note saying due to security dot dot dot

And of course, there's a website that may help a bit for that:

http://airportmailboxes.com/

There is also a mail slot right outside of the main Sky Club in DTW. Mailed a letter from there last week.

I'm pretty sure DFW has them and I think they're in Terminal D. Of course I'm sure you could ask the staff at an airline lounge if they'd add your letter to their outgoing mail, they've done it before with my Netflix DVDs.

PIT has a post office airside (concourse D).

The nice lady at the KOA gift shop mailed our postcard for us.

SIN and HKG both have airside mail boxes. SIN also landside. TXL has landside. DUB landside. AKL I believe has airside but don't recall for sure (although I suspect the Koru club would handle it for you if you asked).

The LGA post office referenced above still exists downstairs outside security in the Central Terminal though it is being shut down as a full service station soon. No idea if it will remain as a drop box.

MSP has a mailbox by the F/G SkyClub IIRC.

TUN has one inside the international terminal by the back door of the Tunis Air lounge. It took our postcards 8-12 weeks to arrive from dropping them in there though, in their defense, there was a coup d'etat in the middle of that period.

A number of airports have mail slots near the TSA checkpoints to handle stuff that folks cannot bring through but do not want to surrender.

I've mailed things at IAD, DCA, and MSP. Don't remember exactly where but all were inside security. I have gotten a few puzzled looks from GAs when asking where the nearest mailbox is located, so it's probably not too common.

I've mailed items from LAX (used to be a store near 83, I think its closed now) and HNL (drop box near 13) before.

I don't remember seeing any mailboxes at LAX (at least not in TBIT or T1); probably removed for "security reasons." I did look at the LAX terminal maps and no mail drops are shown.

If something really needs to get mailed out, your friend might try looking for a street box just outside LAX or maybe a local (walking distance) hotel, which should have a mail drop. I always do my out-of-town business at the American Express desk of whatever Grand Hotel I'm staying at. Oh wait, I forget that this isn't the 1930's anymore. ;)

My friend had a birthday card for me and wanted it to be a surprise. He took it to the airport, then looked for a mailbox within T5 at LAX. Nothing. He ended up back in Germany with the card, stuck a German stamp on it next to the US "Forever" stamp and mailed it from there.

He mailed it on Tuesday and I received it Friday!

DEN has a full post office landside. IAD used to have good facilities but a few years ago, I tried to mail a letter landslide and was told there was nothing either landside or airside.

Could the person who said that there is a mail slot at IAD point out exactly where? Thanks.

I tried to mail something at MCO about a year ago and the location of the former landside post office/shipping centre had a sign that they were permanently closed due to security regulations.

Interesting that it varies across US airports and it would appear that this 'security regulation' is not consistently applied.

YVR landside just where you come up the escalator. I regularly find mail in my bag that I have forgotten to post and that postbox came handy.

There is also a post office domestic, lower level at YVR inside the 7-11. PEK has a full service post office landside as well. FRA has a letter drop outside the Sheraton (side entrance, not the main entrance) MUC has a reduced in size but still functioning post office in the central area (now located on the back wall to the right of the inside entrance to the Edeka) BKK has a post office landside on the departures level. LHR T3 has a post office and I think that most/all of the terminals have letter drops. EDI has letter drops. HKG has a post office landside of T1 as well as letter drops.

Those are off the top of my head, but I think that many airports have either letter drops or post offices.

It was a few years ago so it may have been taken out...it was in the intl terminal though, B iirc?

SEA has at least one airside, near the Borders bookstore.

AUS has one land side, in the middle of the walkway between checkpoints 1 and 2.

If you're writing about IAD, that was a lot of years ago, like right after 9/11 (2001). I vividly recall having an important letter to mail, going though security (to Concourse B actually) and being told there was no way to mail anything beyond security.

I guess if it's about security, I'm all for it. But why it's ok to have a full post office at DEN and not even a letter drop at IAD (both landside in this case) makes no sense to me.

FRA T1 has a mailbox airside, near gate A11 outside duty free. Used it today.

I saw a mail slot at MKE in Concourse D yesterday.

I have a tradition between me and a few friends to always send postcards from airports I go/transit through. I get all kind of cases:
- mailbox airside: just put it in, as long as you can buy a postcard (and if necessary stamps) from airside shops (never failed me)
- mailbox only landside: fine if it's your originating or destination airport, otherwise you have to consider the time and hassle of exiting and going through security again (and if you have duty-free liquids from a previous airport in your carry-on, you can't.. yes I did that once)
- mailbox nowhere in or around the airport: that is extremely annoying, the only case I know of is BUF

If I can't find a mailbox, I usually try to ask the shop where I bought the postcards or the SkyClub (nicely). Shops also always know where the mailboxes are.

I just experienced this first hand at LAX. We homeschool and needed to mail some assignments to the teacher that day. Unbeknownst to me, they have removed all mail boxes and letter slots at LAX. When I couldn't find one, I asked the airport police if they knew where one was and they said they've been removed because they've had attempted bomb attempts even with the letter slot size. I asked him if this was the case at all airports and he said he thought so, but when I got to DFW I did notice they had a full sized mailbox inside their terminal.

It would definitely be useful if each airport had a post office and mail service..

This would enhance the value of travel.. as most of us do business on the go, and require snail mail from time to time..

Your question highlights the fact that it's NOT about security, but just silly paranoia and lack of any critical thinking on the part of airport and/or security staff.

In theory, if you're airside, you've already gone through security and therefore have no "bad stuff" with you, so anything you mail can't be dangerous, so it makes no sense to not have a mailbox airside. In fact, one could argue that it's SAFER to have a mail drop airside versus landside, since you could much more easily mail a "dangerous item" from a landside point.

I agree. I find it silly that a terrorist would go through the effort of smuggling explosives through airport security, only to mail the package airside. :D

In the UK, the mailboxes have very narrow slots to stop you buying lots of duty free and then posting it back into the UK... not about terrorism, just about smuggling. They have to be small enough that packets of fags cannot fit through the post box :D

The narrow slots would be for letters..

But i agree, it would help airport businesses to give UKers the ability to ship duty free back into the country.. Likely Ain't gonna happen though

Still there? Must be awfully quiet since US dehubbed PIT.

According to the PIT website it's still there:

http://www.flypittsburgh.com/services

PIT's post office is still very much there! I used it last holiday season, and passed it earlier last week.

It's very nice to have a fully functional office after security. It is a bit dead, but, well, it's Pittsburgh.

I didn't see this one mentioned (CLT)
 

There is a mail drop across from the D/E entrance to the US Airways Club, near the ATM machines.

Here is a list of airports I have been to that have airport mailboxes
ABQ-Curbside level 2
CAK-Curbside
AUS-Ticketing level between AA and WN ticket counters
AZO-In the entry of the first entrance of terminal
BWI-front of concourse C/behind US ticket counter/prior to concourse E
BTR-next to DL ticket counter
BOS-Baggage claim terminal B AA terminal
CLT-concourse D/E next to atm
ORD-Between k and l concourse post security
CVG-Terminal 2 prior to security checkpoint
CLE-prior to security near AA ticket counter
CAE-upper level near info desk
CRW-in the lobby across from US
DAB-Curbside baggage claim next to taxi stand
DEN-Post office main terminal prior to security checkpoint
DTW-Macnamara terminal middle of concourse A
XNA-Baggage claim next to escalator
EUG-Curbside
RSW-Business center prior to concourse B
FNT-Outside main entrance doors
GSO-Upper level outside doors beside PGA shop
GNV-In front of terminal
GSP-On the first floor near escalator
GPT-Outside of terminal left side of building
HRL-outside to the right of main entry doors
MDT-second floor
BDL-Second floor near US/UA curbside check in
IAH-Terminal A Ticketing lobby
HOU-Central lobby prior to security
HSV-first floor across from ticket counter

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[QUOTE=worldflyer65;17524107]Here is a list of airports I have been to that have airport mailboxes
ABQ-Curbside level 2
CAK-Curbside
AUS-Ticketing level between AA and WN ticket counters
AZO-In the entry of the first entrance of terminal
BWI-front of concourse C/behind US ticket counter/prior to concourse E
BTR-next to DL ticket counter
BOS-Baggage claim terminal B AA terminal
CLT-concourse D/E next to atm
ORD-Between k and l concourse post security
CVG-Terminal 2 prior to security checkpoint
CLE-prior to security near AA ticket counter
CAE-upper level near info desk
CRW-in the lobby across from US
DAB-Curbside baggage claim next to taxi stand
DEN-Post office main terminal prior to security checkpoint
DTW-Macnamara terminal middle of concourse A
XNA-Baggage claim next to escalator
EUG-Curbside
RSW-Business center prior to concourse B
FNT-Outside main entrance doors
GSO-Upper level outside doors beside PGA shop
GNV-In front of terminal
GSP-On the first floor near escalator
GPT-Outside of terminal left side of building
HRL-outside to the right of main entry doors
MDT-second floor
BDL-Second floor near US/UA curbside check in
IAH-Terminal A Ticketing lobby
HOU-Central lobby prior to security
HSV-first floor across from ticket counter
IND-Next to info desk second floor prior to security
JAX-second floor near escalator
TYS-Second floor hallway prior to security
LAS-level 2 terminal one
LIT-Curbside in front of ticket counter
BUR-Curbside of terminal A
LEX-curbside
MFE-Located by arrivals door
MLB-On the wall next to museum near ticket counter
MEM-baggage claim terminal A
MIA-across from AA ticket counter
MKE-Upper level between concourse c and d
MSP-near gate c2/c13/f4 and past security checkpoint 4
MOB-curbside ticket counter and level two prior to security checkpoint
BNA-Baggage claim near information desk
MSY-Ticketing lobby
PHF-main atrium
ORF-second level main terminal near walkway to baggage claim
OKC-baggage claim 4
OAK-Located curbside near crosswalk terminal one
MCO-Level 3 terminal a across from bank
PSP-outside main terminal near center door behind wall
PNS-outside across from airline ticketing area
PHL-near gate A1/A17/terminal c/d walkway /near gate f10
PIT-Concourse d post office/ mailbox near information desk post security skymall
PHX-curbside terminal2/3/4
PDX -prior to both security checkpoints
RDU-curbside terminal one
RNO-curbside baggage claim
RIC-curbside near parking garage ground level
ROA-Baggage claim
STL-Baggage claim
SLC-top of escalator concourse A/just before concourse D Connector post security
SAN-curbside commuter terminal/terminal one/terminal two
SFO-curbside-terminal1/3
SJC-terminal A-baggage claim 2/terminal B-north side of ticketing area
SRQ-first floor near ticket counter prior to escalator
SAV-First floor at information desk
SEA-Baggage claim door 16
TPA-on side of elevators/baggage claim/ticketing/transfer levels
TRI-information desk prior to security
TUS-wall prior to security checkpoints
DCA-Concourse level near atm
IAD-Ground transportation level near bag claim 13 behind gift shop and ground transportation desk
PBI-First floor next to escalator east end of terminal
ICT-across the street from center terminal doors
TLH-Located adjacent to two center doors entering front of terminal

Welcome to Flyertalk!!

That's quite an extensive list, I'm sure folks will find it useful.


Cheers

Thank you.Glad to be with flyertalk forum

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There is also one outside the C gates next to the Alaska Lodge bar. Interestingly enough they are operated by the port and not USPS as a service to the travelers.

IIRC there is one outside the B terminal checkin area in ANC.

MHT has one outside the airport too... Didn't make it there in time on a a/c turn- agent was paging me so they could leave so no time to walk to drop box after writing postcards :( Mailed when I reached MSP.