World Cup Ticketing Part VI

All r16s have been amade available now as well as teh cape town QF again! Pay attention to the website they may unload more today!

 

You just registered with a new user and pay with the same Credit Card?

I can't believe I will miss the final because of this

 

Thanks for the info but it didn't work for me. It took me to the FIFA homepage.

And as for my comments, SA is not ready. Plain and Simple. The transportation between host cities is the worst in the modern day era of the World Cup. I got around South Korea and Japan with no problems and they had a very good train system set up. SA does not.

At last years Confed Cup we learned allot about getting around. It's very poor. That is just a fact. I mean no disrespect to SA or the citizens that are very happy to host the World Cup but we need to live in reality here. The World Cup is just not for the host countries citizens otherwise, why sell tickets then to the rest of the world? In fact, they depend on the rest of the world and so do the countries hosting.

And unfortunately, SA has a very bad but earned rap regarding safety in all catagories. I am just being realistic and not looking past the problems. I can't go because of a sudden health problem, otherwise I would be contributing to the country. Crap, FIFA already has my ticket money as it is but I have many-many friends who have backed out because of price gauging by hotels. Lack of accomadations and transportation and the current mode that is available, mostly by air, is not cheap. If you can afford it, great but at some point, the host country risk alienating many supporters because of cost. Germany, France, USA, and Italy are perfect examples of this. Mexico was difficult and so too will Brasil in 2014. But the countries sell the World Cup on income from visitors coming around the world and as of now, it is being proven to be the truth as FIFA has over 300,000 tickets now, was 500,000 last week, still sitting and waiting to be bought. Hotels we emailed have been contacted us all week to let us know they have accomadations now-at reduced rates! But kind of late now for many I'm sure.

Again, I apologize if my commments hurt SA's but sometimes we have to face facts. I still say good luck to all who go and wish you a happy time in SA and safe travels. I do hope SA can prove me wrong but the odds are against it for the masses although we will never be told of the failures because FIFA and SA have too much riding on this so we will only see the positive things.

 

And one other thing Scropyn78. I never said anything about FIFA screwing up the tickets. I said many SA's cannot afford the tickets. That has been the main problem. Many media are showing FIFA to give away tickets already and the word is, FIFA will be giving away tickets like crazy just a few days before the first match in order to make sure the stadiums are full. This has nothing to do with the computer problems from the other day. Over 300,000 tickets still not alloted yet. First time in the modern day WC era FIFA has not sold out the WC by this time frame. Must say something...

 

If you're comparing the hotels prices for example in South Afirca and the hotels prices in Europe, you will see that in Europe you will pay during the world cup hundreds of euros for 1 star hotel....
How much you pay in Germany/Japan for one night?

 

Price gauging is expected. It happens during all major sporting events. Clearly with SA it helped to wait and see. I managed to get an air ticket - Cape Town to Johannesburg for R400! South Korea/Japan didn't sell out there matches. The SA ticketing system definitely sucked. But this will be lessons learned for Brasil 2014.

Anyway, I've got my match tickets and accomodation all squared away and I'm hoping the hospitality of the South African people will make this a memorable World Cup.

On another note, Why hasn't the quarter final in Port Elizabeth (match 57) sold out? In my opinion BRASIL will definitely be playing here.

 

Of course they screwed it up. How can you go so far as introducing a whole separate category for locals (that was great) but not accommodate for those very local's ability to actually PURCHASE the tickets??? I had no idea internet access and credit cards were so limited (although makes sence) but hell as if you wouldn't know this as LOC!!!

As for the hotels and Match buying up all the flights... Words can't describe what I feel about that. They've really screwed themselves, and all of the unfortunate fans who understandably had to back out, over.

Now, things aren't ideal the way this has been handled but let's put that all behind us. Gentlemen, and ladies, we've got LESS than two weeks to kick-off!!!

Yaaaaeeehhoooo!!!!

 

Yeah. I put the exact same details for my second one and it didn't work, so i just put the same details and my credit/debit card which was the same as my second account and it worked.

 

I paid less for a 5 star hotel in Tokyo and Berlin/Munich than I am paying for B&B accommodation in SA.
Its a fact. Its not pleasant, and it most certainly has deterred a lot of people I know.

 

You prob need to contact the SA Embassy, however Visas are free based on an "event visa"

more can be read about it here
http://www.sa2010.gov.za/node/1215

 

I just got mine on Friday. Dead simple and it's free, no fees except maybe a mailing fee if you want them to mail your passport back. I'll describe the process at the SAF Consulate in NYC.

They really want people to be there for as long as possible unlike Germany where I was going to ARG/GER in Berlin and they would only issue me a 4 day Schengen even though I said I would try to get more tickets or at least watch the games at the fan fests. Pricks! We will have our revenge at the QF in Cape Town.

They are issuing something called an event visa, it's valid 90 days from the date of entry, is good for multiple entries and expires on July 31, 2010. There is no start date so you can enter whenever.

http://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/worldcupvisa.htm

Make sure you apply well in advance, they need 5 days for processing. I applied on Monday and picked it up Friday.

1) Fill out this form:
http://www.southafrica-newyork.net/consulate/forms/bi84.pdf

2) You need an official ticket confirmation. They put the number on the VISA so you absolutely need it. You should have gotten something in the mail, a red ticket that says "FIFA Official Ticket Confirmation". If you are a guest then the main application should have gotten 1 green ticket for each guest that says "FIFA Official Guest Confirmation". It's one per guest but doesn't matter which one you take. The Main Applicant of course needs to take the red one.

3) Flight Itinerary, make sure you have a return flight booked or they won't issue you a visa.

4) 2 passport size photographs

5) Bank statements to show you have sufficient funds

6) If you are not a citizen of the country you are applying in then you need to show proof of legal status. For me I submitted the first page of my H1B petition in addition to the US visa in my passport.

7) Proof of accommodation. I didn't have this when I went in initially cause I am staying with different people who already have bookings, some from the forum. So I was told that I needed their booking, some stupid letter from them and a copy of the first page of their passport. So I told her I am there for 37 days, don't have all bookings cause I am following Argentina and won't know where they will end up (well we are going all the way). She was ok with me showing some stuff for the initial week and told me I could fax that. This was Monday. On Friday I made a booking online for the first 6 days, printed it and went to the consulate again to give them the info but they had already stamped my visa. So apparently it was no big deal, but just to be safe, if you are short on time, I'd take one anyone.

8) N/A to me. Some stupid yellow fever cert if you happen to be traveling thru/from:
http://www.southafrica-newyork.net/homeaffairs/visas/yellowfever.htm

 

Thanks! Just figured out that these crooks at FIFA managed to sell my tickets...I really wanted to go but costs (flights and hotels) are insane...

--luckyseven

 

I feel your pain,triplesvn...we're on the same boat. I really got nice tix but costs are so high that I had to back out, what a disgrace....well, at least we can watch it in high definition...but still...so close but so far.

--luckyseven

 

As a SA local, it is disheartening to see how some people and companies have inflated their prices, it's makes our lives far more difficult in the current economic climate as we have to fork out more for everyday stuff.

As for match, they really suck, although SA is a technologically savvy country, a huge sum of people do not have internet access or are limited by very old infrastructure therefore they queue. I know of people who queued for 20 hours at ticketing centers only to be turned away due to the systems not been able to handle the volume.

On the brighter side though, I don't think you would find another country who has gotten into the WC spirit like South Africans have, the murals, banners, cars, houses etc are littered with WC decor, the atmosphere and excitement is unbelievable!

Be prepared to be shocked at how beautiful our country is and hospitable our people are. We boast some great nightlife and the stadiums are absolutely amazing!

BRING ON THE WC & FEEL THE FEVER!!!!!

 

Dude, I take great exception to your rant. You've obviously had a hard time getting the right sort of deal and I understand that. I'm not excusing the price gouging but that's something you'll see everywhere. Those who have looked hard for good deals have largely been successful. News here in SA is that many hotels stand empty during the tournament, so there should be plenty of good bargains to be had.

As for security. You're going to be travelling as a tourist. You won't even know that depraved areas exist. So, only contries with zero crime can host the event? Give me a break mate! While general public transportation is a concern - gettting around on match days will be fine. I went to 10 Confed Cup matches and towards the end, they had sorted out a lot of the inefficiencies.

And lastly, you undermine the spirit and tenacity of the S.African public. We're not a rich country, yet we have bought by far the majority of all tickets. As of today, only 100,000 are left - which means close to 97% of tickets have been sold. This is on par with Germany and better than Korea with two weeks still to go! Some people have been saving-up for 6 years just to witness this amazing event.

I'm sorry you won't make it - but don't deprive us all down here of enjoying this fabulous soccer spectacle.

 

Change of topic: I went to update my passport number and consolidate my orders onto a single credit card today, and when I got to the point where my tickets from previous phases used to pop up, that info no longer is there—instead I'm taken straight to the list of games. Anyone else having this issue?

 

We're past the point of no return!

Just a few days now, and I can't wait!!

It will be fantastic!

But the price gouging is a fact. I don't accept it has been the same everywhere. I really hope the large hotels have a tough time. They have been very arrogant in their behaviour up until a couple of months ago.
Lots more people would have made the journey and the tournament would have been even better for that, if it hadn't been for seriously excessive pricing.
It's not the fault of the man in the street, but FIFA, MATCH, the Government and many large corporations have seriously discredited the South African nation.

What we need now is a fabulous spectacle, great football, brilliant camaraderie and for everyone to enjoy the best world up ever, and the first to be held in Africa!

 

I'm also upset about the price gouging - I mean I can't get a decently-priced flight to cape town and back (unheard of even in peack season!). One of the factors may be the smallish pool of hotels and as you mention, the collusion between hotels, Match, FIFA and govt. Makes me ill.

As you rightly put it - the past is the past and now we look forward to a great WC.

 

You can bet that there will be tickets been sold at the games, however dont be so sure about the pricing, I am a local and I wanted tickets for England v USA I was offered 4 x cat 4 tickets for R4000 thats R1000 ea!

 

heyyy this seems like a stupid question but wat the hell am goin to ask it anyways! any answers appreciated if you buy tickets in the final phase how to do you collect the tickets in south africa.... as i have a sheet confirming all the other tickets from previous phases which was posted to me. hope that makes sense thanks

 

Just put your card in the machine and it should print all the tickets registered to the card. Print out a copy of the confirmation email and if you do have any issues then you can show them the proof.

 

How can it be?
I saw the prices in the Champions League final in Madrid - instead of 80 EUR per night, the hotels took 500 EUR per night!!

 

Simple.
In all cases I booked one year in advance
I haven't stayed in a B&B since I was about 4 years old, so it will be interesting. But having to pay between 1500 and 2000 ZAR per night is ridiculous, even though they do appear to be nice and in good locations.
Time will tell.

e.g. http://www.bonami.co.za/

 

Sorry about that mate. I have travelled the length and breadth of SA and never had to pay more than R600-R700 for a B&B (for a room). Bloody bastards!

 

Either you are exaggerating or you have been mugged off. I have seen loads of places to stay, far better than a simple b and b, for far less than 1500 a night. Im talking about proper good hotels. Where have you been looking?