Q What’s the main reason behind the ticket price increase?
The increased revenue will be put straight into the development of our sport. We are lifting our spending on player development and community tennis in our bid to find and nurture our next generation of champions. Along the way we want more people playing more tennis more often.

Q Will a Ground Pass ticket give me access to Vodafone Arena?
No. Vodafone Arena requires a separate ticket. Vacancies permitting on the day (non-sold out sessions), a Ground Pass holder may upgrade their ticket at the Ticketek ticket booth for an additional cost to get a fully reserved ticket to Vodafone Arena.

Q What benefits does a Ground Pass now offer?
A Ground Pass will get you everywhere except Rod Laver Arena and Vodafone Arena. Vacancies permitting on the day (non-sold out sessions), a Ground Pass holder may upgrade their tickets at the Ticketek ticket booth for an additional cost to get a fully reserved ticket to Vodafone Arena.

Q Why has Vodafone access been taken off the Ground Pass?
We have received many complaints about endless queues and long waiting times outside Vodafone Arena, with no guarantees of actually getting to see any play. The queues were also causing crowd control problems. The best way to resolve this is to make Vodafone Arena a fully reserved arena.

Q What does an ‘After Five’ Ground Pass include?
An After Five Ground Pass is available again for Australian Open 2008 from Monday, January 14 – Saturday, January 19 only, and will provide access to Melbourne Park from 5pm. Perfect for patrons attending after work and includes access (subject to availability) to a feature night match on Margaret Court Arena starting at approximately 7.30pm.

Q What’s the benefit in buying a series ticket?
Series ticket packages are offered two days prior to single session tickets on Thursday, October 4 and Friday, October 5 with a discount compared to purchasing single session tickets. The series ticket package includes five sessions/tickets for the package that best suits your needs. These include day or night sessions as well as a great Championship package for Thursday, January 24 – Sunday, January 27, 2008.

Q When do tickets go on sale to the general public?
Rod Laver Arena & Vodafone Arena Series tickets will go on sale on Thursday, October 4 at 9am (AEST) for 48 hours only. Rod Laver Arena & Vodafone Arena Single Session tickets and Ground Pass tickets will go on sale from Saturday, October 6 at 9am (AEST) via any Ticketek agency or via phone (Australian 1300 888 104 or International + 61 2 8736 2711) or Internet www.ticketek.com or www.AustralianOpen.com.

Q What does a Vodafone Arena ticket now offer?
A fully reserved seat in Vodafone Arena plus access to all outside courts except Rod Laver Arena.

Q Why do finals tickets sell out so quickly?
Understandably, finals tickets are in huge demand. We are talking about the best players in the world competing for the ultimate prize, a Grand Slam title.

Q Why is Vodafone Arena now a fully reserved arena?
As mentioned earlier, we have received many complaints about endless queues and long waits outside Vodafone with no guarantee of actually getting to see any play. The queues were also causing crowd control problems. The best way to resolve this is to make Vodafone a fully reserved arena, for a slightly higher fee.

Q Why have you increased Rod Laver Arena & Vodafone Arena prices, but kept Ground Passes at the same price as AO2007?
We have tried to keep any increase to ticket prices in the first week to a minimum and we have not increased any Ground Pass prices to ensure the tournament remains as one of the best value-for-money events on the world sporting calendar.

Q When do series packages go on sale?
Thursday, October 4 at 9am (AEST) for two days only.

Q What does a series package include?
The series ticket package includes five sessions/tickets for the package that best suits your needs. These include day or night sessions as well as a great Championship package for Thursday, January 24 – Sunday, January 27, 2008 with a discount.

Q What non-tennis entertainment will there be in 2008?
The entertainment line-up has not been finalised yet, but we are keen to maintain the high standard of entertainment we have set in previous years.

Q What is the best way to book? Or how can I guarantee that I get good seats?
There is no one way of booking that is the best or that guarantees you get good seats. The different methods of booking; Phone, Agencies, Internet, Mail/Fax, are offered to patrons for convenience. To ensure fairness in ticket distribution ALL booking methods commence at the same time (9am AEST) wherever and however you book. It is important to book early as sessions sell out fast.

Q. I live overseas or I’m going to be away when tickets go on sale. How can I book?
Bookings can be done from overseas either via the Internet or by phone. You can also request a mail/fax booking form, which can be used for ordering tickets. Please note that mail and fax bookings do not receive any priority as they are processed when tickets go on sale. Please refer to this year’s ticket brochure for further information.

Q. How can I purchase Australian Open tickets?
Australian Open 2008 tickets are scheduled to go on sale on Thursday, October 4 at 9am AEST. Once on sale, tickets can be bought over the Internet CLICK HERE, via phone Australia 1300 888 104 International + 61 2 8736 2711 or in person at any Ticketek agency across Australia and in New Zealand CLICK HERE FOR AGENCY LIST

Q. Do tickets on the Internet sell faster than if I buy over the phone?
All booking methods (phone, agencies and internet) start selling tickets at the same time. To ensure that patrons who book via the phone or at agencies have equitable access to the seat inventory, the amount of patrons who can access the internet site to book is set at a predetermined capacity.

Q. What happens if I log on before 9am?
Access to Ticketek.com is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, however Australian Open ticket sale pages are not activated until 9am AEST. If you are on the site before 9am then just before tickets go on sale, REFRESH the page to ensure you get the latest information & the BUY NOW button appears. Note a time limit of 15 minutes applies to book your tickets from the time you first log on.

Click here for further Internet booking information and tips.

Q. Are all the good seats reserved for Corporate Companies?
No, corporate packages are allocated at the North and South ends of Rod Laver Arena and Vodafone Arena and on the western side in the lower tier of Rod Laver Arena.

Q. How can I request seats in the shade?
The Ticketek operator can try and locate a shaded section of seats for you when you book by phone or at an outlet, however these seats sell very fast. If shaded seats are required for medical reasons then patrons should contact the Disability Booking Office on Tel: (03) 9286 1208 where a limited amount of tickets are held for this purpose.

Q. Why are my seats so far back when I booked early?
As the tournament is becoming more popular the demand for tickets has increased. There are over 2000 points of sale operating when tickets go on sale and therefore sessions can sell out extremely fast. It is also important to note that Rod Laver Arena & Vodafone Arena Series tickets will be sold for two days prior to single session sales commencing.

Q. Why is it taking so long to book my tickets?
All Ticketek operators record name and address details and therefore tickets are being sold at the same rate. This information assists in the instance of lost or stolen tickets, so we can trace where your tickets were allocated. All ticket purchasers are also sent an Australian Open ticket brochure the following year.

Q. Do I need to present my concession card when I book tickets?
Yes, concession tickets cannot be issued unless an Australian student or pension card is sighted or the card number provided over the phone or on the Internet. Overseas cards are not eligible to receive a concession. It is also a requirement that concession cards are carried with you when you attend the Australian Open.

Q. I require a wheelchair seat or other disabled seating – where do I book?
Contact the Australian Open Disability Bookings office Tel: (03) 9286 1208

Q. How many sessions are there?
24 sessions in Rod Laver Arena:
12 day sessions from January 14-24, and January 26
11 night sessions from January 14-24
2 Twilight sessions on January 25 & 27

8 sessions in Vodafone Arena:
Day sessions from January 14-21

Other matches are played every day of the tournament on Margaret Court Arena, Show Courts 2 & 3 and the outdoor courts.

Q Can I buy tickets earlier than October?
No all public ticket sales commence in October each year.

Q Where does the umpire sit?
On the net line on the western side of the court.

Q Can we please have exactly the same seats as last year?
No. Tickets are allocated on a best available basis.

Q Is it safe to buy tickets from someone advertising them in the paper or selling them in the street?
No, the Australian Open advises all patrons against the risk of purchasing tickets from unauthorised sellers, as this is a breach of the Australian Open Ticket Conditions of Sale and Entry. In addition the bearer of such tickets may be denied admission to Melbourne Park or other action taken without the guarantee of a refund.

Q Why am I restricted in the number of tickets I can buy?
Ticket limits are set to ensure as many patrons as possible have fair access to purchase tickets.

Q What is a Twilight session?
At Australian Open 2008 on Friday, January 25, play will commence at 3pm with a men’s singles semifinal match scheduled not before 7.30pm. On Sunday, January 27 play will commence at 4pm with the men’s singles final scheduled to commence not before 7.30pm.

Q Is it safe to buy tickets over the Internet?
Ticketek Online processes your credit card details securely over the Internet using an online payment technology called Secure Socket Layer ("SSL"). The payment system is a Westpac accredited Internet payment security system. Standards are ranked among the best available. With the combination of Ticketek.com's Verisign SSL 128-bit encryption on their web site and a secure browser at your end, you can be assured that your transaction booking details are encrypted.

Q. Can I sell my Australian Open tickets on eBay?
No because the Australian Open Ticket Conditions of Sale and Entry state that you cannot on-sell seats, therefore you will be in breach of these conditions if you put your tickets up for auction on eBay or any other auction site. Listed tickets on eBay that are sold above face value may be cancelled and therefore patrons holding these tickets will be denied admission to the Australian Open event.

Q. Is it safe to purchase tickets sold on eBay?
No because it is a breach of sale to on-sell tickets and therefore tickets auctioned above face-value prices on eBay will be cancelled and admission to the Australian Open event will be denied.

Q. What can I do if I can’t use the tickets I have purchased anymore?
If Rod Laver Arena sessions have sold out, tickets may be refunded at Melbourne Park ticket sale offices only on the actual day the tickets are issued for and only if there are patrons waiting to purchase tickets.

Q. Does Ticketek have an international phone number?
Yes it is +61 2 8736 2711

Q. How many matches are played in Rod Laver Arena and Vodafone Arena?
The schedule for each day’s matches is posted on www.AustralianOpen.com the night before they occur. Traditionally, during the Day Session there are three matches played in Rod Laver Arena and four matches played in Vodafone Arena. During the evening there are typically two matches played in Rod Laver Arena. This is subject to both weather and schedule changes. Ultimately, the number of matches is determined by the Tournament Referee and is subject to change at any time.

Q. I want to see Lleyton Hewitt (or any other player), when is he playing?
The Australian Open is an elimination tennis tournament. For this reason, the draw for each day will not be announced until the night before each match. It is not possible to purchase tickets in advance for a specific player. Tickets are sold on a session-by-session basis.

Q. If tickets aren’t on sale yet, why are websites advertising available tickets?
There are many websites across the Internet that advertise Australian Open tickets. These are unauthorised sites and are not affiliated with the Australian Open. When you purchase tickets from these sites you are taking a personal risk. The Australian Open advises against purchasing tickets through these unauthorised sites.

Q. What is the minimum age for a child to require a ticket?
Children two years and under are admitted free to Australian Open but must be nursed in seated areas.