When do the ACO announce who got what?

[Volks Repair Man]

After enjoying my best 24hrs yet at LM this June, and with 3 whole trips experience (woohoo) under my belt, upon my return I thought I'd go straight to the ACO to book tickets and passes for 2006.
I'm since begining to suspect this was not the smartest move, all my mates who went to the agents are now sitting back and counting down the days to 17-18th June 06' confident of parking their arses while mine is still wagging in the breeze.
Does anybody know when the ACO are likely to get back to me to confirm my booking, and what's the likelihood of not getting a postage stamp in outer Mongolia?
Many thanks all!

[Werner]

If you have booked in June already, you should have an acknowledgment by now, I always got it about 4 weeks after booking the tickets by snail-mail.

But note, this is just an acknowledgement! The final confirmation and information about what tickets exactly you have been allocated arrives usually 2-3 months prior to the race.

So if you don't have even an acknowledgment I would contact them again just to confirm that they have recorded your booking. E-mail and english language usually works fine.

Cheers

[pretzel]

You will have the last laugh over your mates when you finally get your allocation (or whatever the ACO's nearest approximation turns out to be) as your mates will have paid substantially through the nose for theirs.

There are a number of threads on here relating to this particular subject and if you hunt around a bit I'm sure you'll find a few but essentially after making a request to the ACO the timetable is this in my experience:

1: Written acknowledgement of allocation request usually around August. Note this should not be confused with actual allocation given - it's JUST an acknowledgement.

2: Confirmation of allocation and/or offer of alternatives along with request for payment - December/January. Note: you can pay 50% at this time and the balance later.

3: Final payment invoice around March.

If you haven't heard from the ACO since you booked I'd get on to them pronto..

[Dobbo]

Pretzel, in your experience how likely is it that you will get the allocation you asked for? Do they ever fail to give you anything at all (assuming the application has been acknowledged that is)?
Also, when will they begin inviting applications for 2007?

[smokie]

Note: you can pay 50% at this time and the balance later.

Agree with Pretzel except I thouht the 50% thing was only for orders over a certain size...

[chrisbeatty]

in your experience how likely is it that you will get the allocation you asked for? Do they ever fail to give you anything at all (assuming the application has been acknowledged that is)?
Also, when will they begin inviting applications for 2007?

Dobbo, you'll definately get tickets for somewhere, I think Beausejour tickets were available at the door this year!! The first year I booked a load of tickets & didn't get what I wanted, last year I ordered 3 tickets for Houx Annexe & got them no problems. I guess there's more likely to be 3 tickets going spare than 10+!!

Anyway like Pretzel said you'll pay a fraction of what your mates did so you get the ferry & petrol for free!! or more likely...free beer!!

[Dobbo]

When you didn't get what you wanted I'm assuming they still allocated you with the correct number of tickets right? But just in a different site?
And when do you have to apply to stand a good chance? I'm sorted for this year but thinking of taking a big group in '07 and want to know when the ACO release their prices and start receiving applications.

[pretzel]

Pretzel, in your experience how likely is it that you will get the allocation you asked for? Do they ever fail to give you anything at all (assuming the application has been acknowledged that is)?
Also, when will they begin inviting applications for 2007?

Dobbo,

In my experience I have always received MOST of my application at allocation time.

The problem areas tend to be grandstand seats and in particular campsite passes. I have sometimes been offered a different campsite (BSJ over Maison Blanche) but this has reverted to the originally requested site at a late stage (April/May). Everything else has always been exactly as requested. With a large booking I think I would be a bit nervous of the campsite thing.

I have always booked with the ACO at the race the preceding year rather than later - No idea if this influences your chances - others may like to comment. I am an ACO member but do not believe there is any preference to members bookings - except where ACO grandstand seats are concerned.

The ACO generally release their prices around the December preceding the following years' race. This coincides with the invoices sent out to those that have allocations. I have never booked more that a year in advence but believe some on here have.

Regarding Smokie's comment regarding the 50% payment option - my booking is quite small by some standards (typically 4 x grandstand seats, 1 x campsite, 4 x Enciente Generale and 1 x parking) and I have been offered, and have used, this payment option 2 years in a row. Pretty handy if you don't want to hammer the plastic in one go.....

[Dobbo]

Cheers for the info Pretzel.