OK, I have figured out a workaround with the help of askubuntu.com: http://askubuntu.com/questions/342607/why-does-usr-bin-mail-ignore- aliases-in-home-mailrc
Ubuntu installs the "mailutils" package by default, which (inexplicably) does not support $HOME/.mailrc aliases. The alternative package "bsd-mailx" does support .mailrc properly. Installing this package makes everything work. sudo apt-get install bsd-mailx This replaces /usr/bin/mail (and /usr/bin/mailx) with their bsd-mailx implementations. -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1222181 Title: /usr/bin/mail ignores aliases in $HOME/.mailrc To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/mailutils/+bug/1222181/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
