Getting tickets to popular concerts and events through Ticketmaster can be frustrating. With high demand causing tickets to sell out in seconds, fans are often left empty-handed. However, your chances of scoring tickets dramatically improve with the right strategies and preparation. This guide provides insider tips and tricks for successfully purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster.
Take Advantage of Presales
Presales allow access to tickets before the general public is on sale. Here are some tips for unlocking presale ticket access:
- Get a Presale Code: Presale codes are typically revealed through fan clubs, email lists, social media, and sometimes sponsors. Sign up ahead of time to get the code.
- Use a Preferred Card: Many presales are exclusive to cardholders of certain credit cards or memberships like American Express or Citi Card. Consider getting a preferred card that unlocks presales.
- Try Generic Presale Codes: Some common presale codes that sometimes work are INSIDER, VIP, FAN, PRESALE, and variations of the band name.
Purchasing tickets during presales greatly improves your chances before the mad scramble of general on-sale.
Prepare Your Accounts
Having your Ticketmaster account ready to go is vital for a smooth ticket-buying process:
Create an account – Ensure you have a Ticketmaster account before tickets go on sale. This skips registration steps during checkout.
Link preferred payment – Add your preferred credit card or other payment method to your account beforehand.
Log in ahead – Log into your Ticketmaster account before the on-sale begins. Avoid getting stuck entering passwords and credentials.
Check buyer limits – See if Ticketmaster enforces ticket buying limits per account so you know how many to purchase.
With your account ready, the checkout process will be much faster and more seamless.
Use Multiple Devices
Your best chance at getting tickets is to utilize multiple devices simultaneously:
Multiple browsers – Open separate browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc, on one device and log into Ticketmaster on each.
Desktop and mobile – Use a computer and a mobile device like your smartphone to access Ticketmaster.
Multiple devices – If possible, have family or friends help by using their devices with separate Ticketmaster accounts.
More devices mean more opportunities to access available tickets before others. Coordinate your search and purchase efforts across devices.
Leverage the Mobile App
For the fastest Ticketmaster ticket purchasing, use their mobile app:
First access – Mobile users sometimes get exclusive first access to tickets during on-sales.
Fewer steps – The app can bypass security checks and CAPTCHAs for a quicker process.
Store tickets – Easily store tickets in Apple Wallet or Google Pay after purchase.
Ticket Transfer – Seamlessly transfer tickets to others from the app.
Download the app before the on-sale and ensure notifications are enabled for a major speed advantage over the desktop.
Search Strategically
Carefully plan your ticket search approach for the best seats at the best prices:
Best sections first – Try lower sections near the stage before exploring higher sections.
Split searches – One device/browser searches lower sections while the other checks higher sections to cover more ground.
Price shop – Compare seat locations and prices to find deals. Just because a seat is front row doesn’t mean it’s the most affordable.
Act fast – Purchase desired tickets immediately once found vs browsing aimlessly. Good seats go fast.
Having a strategy ensures you search effectively and get the seats you want.
Buy From Resale Marketplaces
If you don’t score tickets from Ticketmaster directly, resale sites offer more options:
Immediate sellouts – Sites like StubHub and Barry’s Ticket Service have tickets posted instantly after Ticketmaster sellouts.
Price differences – Resale sites sometimes have tickets cheaper than Ticketmaster’s.
Earlier on-sales – Some resellers acquire and post tickets earlier than general on-sale dates.
Resale sites provide backup inventory when Ticketmaster tickets evaporate quickly.
By leveraging presales, preparing your accounts, using multiple devices, prioritizing mobile, searching strategically, and checking resale marketplaces, your odds of getting those coveted Ticketmaster tickets greatly increase. You can outsmart the competition with the right techniques and get amazing seats to see your favorite musicians and bands live.
