Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

Are there any these days? Obviously I know there are postboxes at
airports (though I don't think they're always that easy to find), but
I haven't paid a great deal of attention to airside postboxes - and I
can imagine there may be whatever security concerns nowadays too.

I'm thinking specifically about Stansted at the moment, but would be
interested to know about the other London airports too, indeed about
airports further afield as well.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

In message
,
Mizter T writes

Are there any these days? Obviously I know there are postboxes at
airports (though I don't think they're always that easy to find), but
I haven't paid a great deal of attention to airside postboxes - and I
can imagine there may be whatever security concerns nowadays too.

I'm thinking specifically about Stansted at the moment, but would be
interested to know about the other London airports too, indeed about
airports further afield as well.

http://www.heathrowairport.com/porta...ed4f4599110Vgn
VCM10000036821c0a____/448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/

(Note that the facility is available after security - but obviously no
parcels)
--
Paul Terry

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On 2010\08\14 19:12, Mizter T wrote:
Are there any these days? Obviously I know there are postboxes at
airports (though I don't think they're always that easy to find), but
I haven't paid a great deal of attention to airside postboxes - and I
can imagine there may be whatever security concerns nowadays too.

I'm thinking specifically about Stansted at the moment, but would be
interested to know about the other London airports too, indeed about
airports further afield as well.

I don't understand. Are you suggesting that someone flying from Malta to
Australia via Heathrow might want to save a few pence on postage by
sending a postcard to their friend in Wigan while in the airport? Seems
a bit rare.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:07:29 +0100, Basil Jet
wrote:
On 2010\08\14 19:12, Mizter T wrote:
Are there any these days? Obviously I know there are postboxes at
airports (though I don't think they're always that easy to find), but
I haven't paid a great deal of attention to airside postboxes - and I
can imagine there may be whatever security concerns nowadays too.

I'm thinking specifically about Stansted at the moment, but would be
interested to know about the other London airports too, indeed about
airports further afield as well.

I don't understand. Are you suggesting that someone flying from Malta to
Australia via Heathrow might want to save a few pence on postage by
sending a postcard to their friend in Wigan while in the airport? Seems
a bit rare.


What about the Brit going abroad who wants to use his/her spare time
in the departure lounge to post a cheque to pay a bill, or post a
card to a loved one telling her/him he is going away for a few days
.... etc., etc.?

I suppose most people do these kinds of things online nowadays, but
not everyone does.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On 14/08/10 20:54, Bruce wrote:

What about the Brit going abroad who wants to use his/her spare time
in the departure lounge to post a cheque to pay a bill, or post a
card to a loved one telling her/him he is going away for a few days
... etc., etc.?

Or the foreign visitor, who bought postcards intending to send them to
friends and family but never got round to it, usind the time waiting for
their flight home to write and post the cards...

-roy

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:16:47 +0100, Roy Badami
wrote:
On 14/08/10 20:54, Bruce wrote:
What about the Brit going abroad who wants to use his/her spare time
in the departure lounge to post a cheque to pay a bill, or post a
card to a loved one telling her/him he is going away for a few days
... etc., etc.?

Or the foreign visitor, who bought postcards intending to send them to
friends and family but never got round to it, usind the time waiting for
their flight home to write and post the cards...


Perhaps 'Basil Jet' has gone paperless and doesn't use the Royal Mail
any longer.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On 14/08/2010 23:16, Roy Badami wrote:
On 14/08/10 20:54, Bruce wrote:

What about the Brit going abroad who wants to use his/her spare time
in the departure lounge to post a cheque to pay a bill, or post a
card to a loved one telling her/him he is going away for a few days
... etc., etc.?

Or the foreign visitor, who bought postcards intending to send them to
friends and family but never got round to it, usind the time waiting for
their flight home to write and post the cards...

-roy

I have seen postboxes airside at Heathrow, but I don't reacll seeing
stamp machines to accompany them

Do they even sell stamps airside?

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

Whilst I was a non-resident I was entitled to reclaim VAT on purchases
made in the United Kingdom on goods I took out of the UK. The process
was that you had to take the goods and a form you got from the shop
where you bought the goods to a counter in the departures lounge run
by what is now HMRC - show them the goods and receipt documentation,
get the form stamped. Put it in the prepaid envelope provided by the
store and post in the post office box just outside so that the store
would reimburse your credit card etc. The system was fraught with
difficulties as if you had checked the goods in as part of your hold
baggage they would not stamp the form - if you paid cash for the goods
the store would send you a cheque - not easily cashed abroad. IIRC
they did not sell stamps at the airport shops in Terminals 4 and 3 at
Heathrow. Does it still work that way?

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

In message
,
Mwmbwls writes

Whilst I was a non-resident I was entitled to reclaim VAT on purchases
made in the United Kingdom on goods I took out of the UK. The process
was that you had to take the goods and a form you got from the shop
where you bought the goods to a counter in the departures lounge run
by what is now HMRC - show them the goods and receipt documentation,
get the form stamped. Put it in the prepaid envelope provided by the
store and post in the post office box just outside so that the store
would reimburse your credit card etc. The system was fraught with
difficulties as if you had checked the goods in as part of your hold
baggage they would not stamp the form - if you paid cash for the goods
the store would send you a cheque - not easily cashed abroad. IIRC
they did not sell stamps at the airport shops in Terminals 4 and 3 at
Heathrow. Does it still work that way?

These days there are cash refund desks (usually run by Travelex) for VAT
at major airports, although I think the option to post the endorsed form
back to the retailer still exists for those who want a VAT refund by
cheque or card credit.
--
Paul Terry

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On 15/08/10 12:06, Paul Terry wrote:
In message
,
Mwmbwls writes

Whilst I was a non-resident I was entitled to reclaim VAT on purchases
made in the United Kingdom on goods I took out of the UK. The process
was that you had to take the goods and a form you got from the shop
where you bought the goods to a counter in the departures lounge run
by what is now HMRC - show them the goods and receipt documentation,
get the form stamped. Put it in the prepaid envelope provided by the
store and post in the post office box just outside so that the store
would reimburse your credit card etc. The system was fraught with
difficulties as if you had checked the goods in as part of your hold
baggage they would not stamp the form - if you paid cash for the goods
the store would send you a cheque - not easily cashed abroad. IIRC
they did not sell stamps at the airport shops in Terminals 4 and 3 at
Heathrow. Does it still work that way?

These days there are cash refund desks (usually run by Travelex) for VAT
at major airports, although I think the option to post the endorsed form
back to the retailer still exists for those who want a VAT refund by
cheque or card credit.

Or you can actually buy most small electrical items at a duty free shop.

People like PC World/Dixons have shops at Heathrow...


--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On Aug 14, 7:12*pm, Mizter T wrote:
Are there any these days? Obviously I know there are postboxes at
airports (though I don't think they're always that easy to find), but
I haven't paid a great deal of attention to airside postboxes - and I
can imagine there may be whatever security concerns nowadays too.

Airport post boxes are a special design with a transparent back:
http://richardbaker.photoshelter.com...000H37o3FWcUQI

This BPMA factsheet claims that there's one airside in LHR T4:
http://postalheritage.org.uk/history...rch%202009.pdf
( http://tinyurl.com/2uu8ekz )
I also recently spotted one of these landside at the front entrance of
LCY. (I didn't pay too much attention to it, but the security check
area had a vending machine which appeared to be selling pre-stamped
padded envelopes, which I think might have been to let passengers post
any sharp or otherwise prohibited items back to themselves - I don't
recall if there was a post box nearby.)

On Aug 15, 12:18*am, "
wrote:

I have seen postboxes airside at Heathrow, but I don't reacll seeing
stamp machines to accompany them

Do they even sell stamps airside?

In WHSmith, no doubt.


On Aug 15, 4:20*pm, William Black wrote:

People like PC World/Dixons have shops at Heathrow...

Indeed, airports are the only places you'll still find a Dixons shop -
the rest are all Currys.digital these days.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On 15/08/2010 16:45, martin wrote:
On Aug 14, 7:12 pm, Mizter wrote:
Are there any these days? Obviously I know there are postboxes at
airports (though I don't think they're always that easy to find), but
I haven't paid a great deal of attention to airside postboxes - and I
can imagine there may be whatever security concerns nowadays too.

Airport post boxes are a special design with a transparent back:
http://richardbaker.photoshelter.com...000H37o3FWcUQI


Any reason for that?

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

wrote in message
news:jUW9o.46770$ss1.12612@hurricane...

Any reason for that?

I would imagine, for security - you can see what people have dropped into
them.

Ian

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On 15/08/10 20:05, wrote:
On 15/08/2010 16:45, martin wrote:
On Aug 14, 7:12 pm, Mizter wrote:
Are there any these days? Obviously I know there are postboxes at
airports (though I don't think they're always that easy to find), but
I haven't paid a great deal of attention to airside postboxes - and I
can imagine there may be whatever security concerns nowadays too.

Airport post boxes are a special design with a transparent back:
http://richardbaker.photoshelter.com...000H37o3FWcUQI


Any reason for that?

How does 'To stop the bloody IRA from putting bombs in them' sound?


--
William Black

Free men have open minds
If you want loyalty, buy a dog...

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

"William Black" wrote in message
...

How does 'To stop the bloody IRA from putting bombs in them' sound?



If they can see what is in the box they can decide if special action is
needed without disturbing the package. After that they are in the same
position as with any abandoned item at the airport.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

In message Bydao.10092$UD.6420@hurricane, at 17:19:44 on Mon, 16 Aug
2010, Buddenbrooks remarked:
How does 'To stop the bloody IRA from putting bombs in them' sound?

If they can see what is in the box they can decide if special action
is needed without disturbing the package.

Not if it has a pile of other letters on top of it.
--
Roland Perry

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On 2010\08\16 17:44, Roland Perry wrote:
In message Bydao.10092$UD.6420@hurricane, at 17:19:44 on Mon, 16 Aug
2010, Buddenbrooks remarked:
How does 'To stop the bloody IRA from putting bombs in them' sound?

If they can see what is in the box they can decide if special action
is needed without disturbing the package.

Not if it has a pile of other letters on top of it.

How would they recognise one anyway, unless it was addressed to Kingdom
Come.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message Bydao.10092$UD.6420@hurricane, at 17:19:44 on Mon, 16 Aug
2010, Buddenbrooks remarked:
How does 'To stop the bloody IRA from putting bombs in them' sound?

If they can see what is in the box they can decide if special action is
needed without disturbing the package.

Not if it has a pile of other letters on top of it.
--


It is a case of either that or no postbox at all. Organizations that
feel they are at risk from incoming mail have x-ray machines. As for your
suggestion, true but it would be suspicious if someone came and posted
large number of items, there would be rare cause to do so.

In any case letter bombs were never true, they were small parcels and the
post boxes have a limited aperture.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

"Buddenbrooks" wrote in message
news:Gteao.35615$Nu2.4925@hurricane
"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message Bydao.10092$UD.6420@hurricane, at 17:19:44 on Mon, 16
Aug 2010, Buddenbrooks remarked:
How does 'To stop the bloody IRA from putting bombs in them' sound?

If they can see what is in the box they can decide if special
action is needed without disturbing the package.

Not if it has a pile of other letters on top of it.
--


It is a case of either that or no postbox at all. Organizations
that feel they are at risk from incoming mail have x-ray machines. As
for your suggestion, true but it would be suspicious if someone came
and posted large number of items, there would be rare cause to do so.

In any case letter bombs were never true, they were small parcels and
the post boxes have a limited aperture.

From memory, aren't they also quite shallow?

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

In article Gteao.35615$Nu2.4925@hurricane,
(Buddenbrooks) wrote:

It is a case of either that or no postbox at all. Organizations
that feel they are at risk from incoming mail have x-ray machines.
As for your suggestion, true but it would be suspicious if someone
came and posted large number of items, there would be rare cause to
do so.

In any case letter bombs were never true, they were small parcels
and the post boxes have a limited aperture.

You are misinformed, sir.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On 15/08/2010 23:36, Ian F. wrote:
wrote in message
news:jUW9o.46770$ss1.12612@hurricane...

Any reason for that?

I would imagine, for security - you can see what people have dropped
into them.

Ian
Thought that this might be the case.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On 16/08/2010 20:11, Recliner wrote:
wrote in message
news:Gteao.35615$Nu2.4925@hurricane
"Roland wrote in message
...
In messageBydao.10092$UD.6420@hurricane, at 17:19:44 on Mon, 16
Aug 2010, remarked:
How does 'To stop the bloody IRA from putting bombs in them' sound?

If they can see what is in the box they can decide if special
action is needed without disturbing the package.

Not if it has a pile of other letters on top of it.
--


It is a case of either that or no postbox at all. Organizations
that feel they are at risk from incoming mail have x-ray machines. As
for your suggestion, true but it would be suspicious if someone came
and posted large number of items, there would be rare cause to do so.

In any case letter bombs were never true, they were small parcels and
the post boxes have a limited aperture.

From memory, aren't they also quite shallow?


No, I seem to remember that they were about the same height as your
standard pillar postboxes -- perhaps slightly higher.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

wrote in message
news:L6hao.30957$GQ5.28977@hurricane
On 16/08/2010 20:11, Recliner wrote:
wrote in message
news:Gteao.35615$Nu2.4925@hurricane
"Roland wrote in message
...
In messageBydao.10092$UD.6420@hurricane, at 17:19:44 on Mon, 16
Aug 2010, remarked:
How does 'To stop the bloody IRA from putting bombs in them'
sound?

If they can see what is in the box they can decide if special
action is needed without disturbing the package.

Not if it has a pile of other letters on top of it.
--


It is a case of either that or no postbox at all. Organizations
that feel they are at risk from incoming mail have x-ray machines.
As for your suggestion, true but it would be suspicious if someone
came and posted large number of items, there would be rare cause to
do so. In any case letter bombs were never true, they were small
parcels
and the post boxes have a limited aperture.

From memory, aren't they also quite shallow?


No, I seem to remember that they were about the same height as your
standard pillar postboxes -- perhaps slightly higher.

Sorry, I wasn't clear -- I mean shallow depth, not height.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

On 16/08/2010 21:26, Recliner wrote:
wrote in message
news:L6hao.30957$GQ5.28977@hurricane
On 16/08/2010 20:11, Recliner wrote:
wrote in message
news:Gteao.35615$Nu2.4925@hurricane
"Roland wrote in message
...
In messageBydao.10092$UD.6420@hurricane, at 17:19:44 on Mon, 16
Aug 2010, remarked:
How does 'To stop the bloody IRA from putting bombs in them'
sound?

If they can see what is in the box they can decide if special
action is needed without disturbing the package.

Not if it has a pile of other letters on top of it.
--


It is a case of either that or no postbox at all. Organizations
that feel they are at risk from incoming mail have x-ray machines.
As for your suggestion, true but it would be suspicious if someone
came and posted large number of items, there would be rare cause to
do so. In any case letter bombs were never true, they were small
parcels
and the post boxes have a limited aperture.

From memory, aren't they also quite shallow?


No, I seem to remember that they were about the same height as your
standard pillar postboxes -- perhaps slightly higher.

Sorry, I wasn't clear -- I mean shallow depth, not height.


Yes, I think they do have a pretty shallow depth.

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

In message , at 21:26:54 on
Mon, 16 Aug 2010, Recliner remarked:
From memory, aren't they also quite shallow?


No, I seem to remember that they were about the same height as your
standard pillar postboxes -- perhaps slightly higher.

Sorry, I wasn't clear -- I mean shallow depth, not height.

The window is fairly flat, which reduces the depth a bit, but doesn't
have much impact on the volume. They are also bigger in cross-section
than the average cast-iron pavement pillar box, iirc.
--
Roland Perry

Airside postboxes at London airports?
 

In message , at 21:35:22 on Mon, 16 Aug
2010, Roland Perry remarked:
No, I seem to remember that they were about the same height as your
standard pillar postboxes -- perhaps slightly higher.

Sorry, I wasn't clear -- I mean shallow depth, not height.

The window is fairly flat, which reduces the depth a bit, but doesn't
have much impact on the volume.

Here's a picture of one, that blows my mental image above (which would
be that sort of footprint but reversed :) Flat windows, kind of, but
three of them...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10951875@N07/2468901964/
--
Roland Perry