how long do flat rate boxes usually take to get from US to UK?

I'm sure it's a bit early to be worrying, but one week ago, from the US, I sent 5 flat rate boxes (air mail as there is no more surface mail) to my address in the UK and they haven't arrived yet.

In the past I've sent little packages (bubble-pak envelopes) to my fiance and they have all taken under a week, but these flat rate boxes are more substantial and may take longer.

Has anyone recently shipped boxes over to the UK?  How long did it take?  If you are not at home when the postman comes does he / she leave a slip in your mailbox telling you to come get your package at the post office like they do in the US?

My mother usually sends packages by express air mail, and we get them within 5 days.  However, when she was sending them "plain" air mail, they did take about 1-2 weeks.  These would be office paper box sized, and usually pretty heavy.

We always get a slip through the door if we don't happen to be home when they try to deliver.  My experience with Parcel Force is that they try twice, then tell you to come collect at the depot.

Also - my mother puts on the form NOT to return the package to the US, but puts my in-laws' address as an alternative UK address if for some reason it cannot be delivered/picked up by us.  That way it doesn't bounce back to her.

Ok, I'll expect them within 2 weeks then.  I didn't think to put an alternate UK address on them so they could end up going back to the US, but hopefully not.

All 5 boxes arrived today! 

All 5 boxes arrived today! 

That's great!

I'm glad yours came on time!

Every time my parents have sent me something, it has taken forever.  Even when they say it should only take 2 weeks, it's always a few days late.  No idea if it has something to do with where we live (our house is a little difficult to spot) or what, but I've learned to relax about it now. 

Also - my mother puts on the form NOT to return the package to the US, but puts my in-laws' address as an alternative UK address if for some reason it cannot be delivered/picked up by us.  That way it doesn't bounce back to her.

ooooo that's very smart - great tip

Every time my parents have sent me something, it has taken forever.  Even when they say it should only take 2 weeks, it's always a few days late.  No idea if it has something to do with where we live (our house is a little difficult to spot) or what, but I've learned to relax about it now. 

I work for an internet business that does a whole heap load of shipping from the US to the UK and I can safely say that when your package arrives a few days late in the UK, it's because the package is held up in Customs when it arrives in the country. We experience that problem all the time with our packages heading over the pond when they're shipping via USPS, so it's totally normal. Just breathe and give it some extra time, it's been our experience that packages on average often arrive 2-5 days later than "promised".

when your package arrives a few days late in the UK, it's because the package is held up in Customs when it arrives in the country. We experience that problem all the time with our packages heading over the pond when they're shipping via USPS

I'm going back to the late 1980s, the time of the big California earthquake (when was that - 1988, maybe 1989?).    I was having some computer equipment shipped out from San Jose, and it was due to be dispatched just as the 'quake hit.  I had a call from the company apologizing that there might be a slight delay -- Understandable in the circumstances.  The packages arrived about two to three weeks later, and when I checked all the documents and stickers, it was clear that the earthquake had delayed shipping by all of 2 days.  The rest of the delay was where the parcels had been sitting in U.K. Customs for over a week.

This is useful.  I'm going to be sending some homemade cookies to my bf's family for the holidays and was trying to look on the USPS website to figure out what's the latest I can get it to England for the holidays.  The cookies should be fine if they're not eaten asap and still be ok if they arrive late.  At least I hope!!!

This is useful.  I'm going to be sending some homemade cookies to my bf's family for the holidays and was trying to look on the USPS website to figure out what's the latest I can get it to England for the holidays.  The cookies should be fine if they're not eaten asap and still be ok if they arrive late.  At least I hope!!!

didn't think you were allowed to mail unpackaged food??

didn't think you were allowed to mail unpackaged food??

You can - my mother mails me cookies all the time, and she always puts on the form that it's homemade baked goods.