WIMBLEDON: Making It Happen

 

I have wanted to go to Wimbledon ever since I saw Zina Garrison vs Martina Navratilova in the 1990 Women’s final on TV. I had seen other matches on TV before.  I even played some.  But that match, seeing a woman who looks like me in the final, launched my love affair with the sport and that tournament.  I have been blessed to attend the US Open in New York almost every year since 1993. Now, in 2023, I am going to realize one of my dreams.  I’ve been fantasizing about sitting in Center Court, smelling the grass, following the ball back-&-fourth across the net since that match.  I’M GOING TO WIMBLEDON!! 

This is almost two years in the making.  I wanted to go to The Championships in 2022.  I heard about the Public Ballot (possibly the most fiscally sound way for us in the States to get a ticket).  Essentially, the ballot system is one of the most popular options to get your hands on your Wimbledon seats and they works like a lottery system. You need to register for the draw, wherein, a computerized system selects the people randomly, for random courts and random days.  This means that you cannot select the day or the court for which you want the tickets. However, once you are eligible for the ticket, it’s up to you to buy them. I signed up for interest but never heard back.  Turned out they didn’t open up the balloting process.  The secondary market for tickets is insane! It can cost thousands of dollars for one ticket for one session. The ballot non-process in 2022 prepared me to be ready for 2023 ballot process. The first step was you had to join myWimbledon by August 2022.  (I already used the Wimbledon app to follow matches and had an account.) A month later, received an email with a registration invitation. October 2022, invited to apply for the Wimbledon tickets through the ballot. 

I move in optimism and abundance.  So once I submitted my application for the ballot, I started checking hotel and air prices for London in December. I also understand that for big trips one needs to start 8 to 10 months in advance. While I waited for my ballot notification, I started planning. (Note: when you win ballot tickets they assign the day and court, planning early be ready and open to possibly having to move your reservations around if you are not booking for the whole two weeks.) In researching air prices, started looking at points for travel.  Found that Virgin Atlantic and British Airways took much fewer points, but higher tax/fee charges than U.S. based airlines. My research revealed that I could experience Virgin’s Upper class on my return flight.  I decided to make this special. So I booked two one-way flights…Premium Economy going and Upper Class returning home for 115,000 points plus taxes and fees.  I did the math, redemption rate of $0.04 going and $0.10 on the return per point (that’s for a different post. Thank you JGOOT and 10X Travel).  If I had not acted early in January, I wouldn’t have been able to secure my dream flight with points/miles.  There are currently no upper class or premium economy redemption flights available on the days I’m traveling.

Hotel was a bit more challenging.  My dream hotels were cost prohibitive.  Going to unknown brands is scary.  You have to rely on the reviews and who’s to say you have the same tastes and criteria.  We set our sights on three different hotels.  Fortunately we know people there.  They checked out the hotels and neighborhoods for us.  I think we are in for an unexpected treat at the hotel.  We’ll let you know.

In April, finally received word from AELTC that Public Ballot had concluded and I didn’t win.  Had already figured as much and started looking to other options. Preparing my mind and body for waiting in the infamous Queue. The Queue involves buying tickets on the day of play, at the ticket counters in Wimbledon.  There can be tickets available for Centre Court, No. 1 Court, No. 2 Court and Grounds Admission.  The catch is you must be in the huge queue line that is formed around 6am. Many start camping out the night before.  It has been said that the best part about the queue is the experience itself.  We’re game to try.  We will NOT be camping out though. 

My ballot notification included an interesting option of ballot ticket returns.  As a ballot non-winner, they sent a link for possible returns to purchase.  I work this like a job.  I have spent many weeks checking the link every morning when I wake up.  I started waking up and checking during the night to account for the time difference.  I am convinced being in the Pacific Time zone is a hinderance.  Trying very hard to stay away from the secondary market and those $2,000 tickets.  WHAT! You read that correctly.  One of those early mornings (3am) we had success (sort of). I procured 1 ticket…we need 2. But Success!  We are resolved, there will be Wimbledon. The more we work our contacts, read, go further down this rabbit hole I know we got it.  Possibly even without mortgaging the house for secondary market tickets.

The excitement is building.  At the time of this writing we are about a month out from wheels up. It seemingly snuck up, planning it for so long.  Still working on some things.

We Share this with you to show that average working people can book the dream trip/experience.  Whatever that looks like for you.  It takes research, planning, saving (money and points) and the right attitude.

Don’t forget to check our social media for sights and sounds from London and Wimbledon.

Cheers!

L & L

Your Frugal and Fly Team

Zina Garrison Wimbledon 1990