Q:For the past 20 years I have sent packages to my family in Israel via Surface and never had one package go astray.The U.S. Postal service has now discontinued this and all packages must go airmail. The cost is exorbitant. and to make matters worse, 2 packages sent air mail on January 15th have not yet arrived in Israel. What alternative do I have?

A: Dear Sima,

I remember many years ago the US Postal Service stopped offering an air mail and regular mail option on US domestic mail. Turned out, everything over a certain distance was going by air whether or not you bought an air mail stamp. So they averaged the price and eliminated one class of service.

I do not know if the same reasoning applied to current US Postal Service cancellation of international surface mail, but I do know there is really no other "cheap" option available for small packages. Sending via courier (i.e. FedEx and UPS or the Post Office's Express Mail) is far more expensive.

Besides being much faster, courier services also offer "tracking." Tracking may, have helped find your missing packages. Regular air mail usually does not offer a tracking service and I fear the only thing you can do is go to your local post office and ask their assistance in tracing your missing packages.

All the best,
Shmuel