Ticketmaster is the primary ticket provider for most major concerts and live events. As such, when hot tickets go on sale, their website can get overwhelmed with traffic. This leads to timeouts, error messages, and the dreaded “tickets unavailable” notice.
Don’t despair! You can beat the crowds and score great seats with the right techniques. This guide will walk through the best practices for purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster.
Take Advantage of Presales
Before tickets go on sale to the general public, there are usually presales for select groups like fan club members or credit card holders.
Find Presale Passwords
Presale passwords are typically easy to find online. Search “[Event Name] Ticketmaster Presale Code” on Google. Reputable blogs and ticketing sites like ours often post them.
Here are some common presale codes:
American Express Presale: INGOLD also 800 327 2177
Citi Card Presale: 412800
Chase Presale: 541712
Remember that you’ll need the corresponding credit card to use these codes. Fan club and venue presales are open to all with the password.
Use Multiple Browsers
When you find presale tickets, use multiple browsers to compare shops. Put a pair of tickets in your checkout in Browser 1. Then keep looking in Browsers 2, 3, etc. If you find better seats, switch your purchase to those.
Prepare for the On-Sale Onslaught
When tickets finally go on sale to the general public, it’s a race to the checkout. Here are some tips to beat the crowds:
Use the Mobile App
The Ticketmaster mobile app offers two key advantages:
They reserve tickets specifically for mobile sales
Purchasing tickets on the app is faster because you can avoid typing security codes
To enable one-click purchasing on iOS:
In iPhone Settings, change Ticketmaster’s Alert Style to Banners or Alerts
In the Ticketmaster app, enable Push Notifications
This eliminates the security code step for speedier checkout.
Refresh Strategically
Don’t just refresh wildly once tickets go on sale. Start refreshing the page frequently in the minutes leading up to the on-sale time. This will load the Ticketmaster servers in your browser cache, so the page will be primed to purchase.
Try for Fewer Tickets
Getting a pair of tickets is easier than getting a group of 4 or more. Once you get a pair, you can try for more in a separate browser.
Act Quickly Through Checkout
Work through checkout swiftly. You only get 2-3 minutes per page before tickets are released from your cart. Have your Ticketmaster account ready to go with payment details pre-saved.
Consider Resale Options
Official platinum resale tickets are sometimes a better value than standard tickets. Prices are higher, but seats are often much better.
Third-party resellers like our Barrystickets.com marketplace can also have deals. Compare Ticketmaster prices to resale sites and go with the best value. Right after sellouts, resale prices are usually close to face value.
Don’t Give Up!
Keep trying if you don’t score tickets initially. As buyers experience errors or change plans, tickets are released back into the pool. Persistence and good timing pay off.
You can conquer the Ticketmaster Thunderdome with an arsenal of tips and a savvy strategy. Use presales, mobile advantages, multiple browsers, and swift checkout skills to get your desired seats. Check resale, too, for more choices at the best prices. Outsmart other buyers to get your hands on those coveted tickets!
