Ticketmaster is the largest primary ticket outlet for major concerts and sporting events in the United States and Canada. When popular events go on sale, Ticketmaster’s website often gets overloaded with traffic, leading to long wait times or website crashes for fans trying to buy tickets. This has led to demand for “bypass links” – direct links to the ticket buying page that bypass Ticketmaster’s queue system.
What are bypass links?
Bypass links, also known as direct links, are links that take users directly to the ticket buying page on Ticketmaster. This allows them to skip the virtual waiting room and ticket selection process on Ticketmaster’s website. Bypass links are usually shared secretly among fans, distributed via presale codes or pre-sale links offered to certain groups like fan club members or credit card holders.
A bypass link typically consists of a long URL containing an encrypted code that gives the user access to purchase tickets without having to go through Ticketmaster’s waiting room queue. For example, a bypass link might look like:
https://www1.ticketmaster.com/event/0C005B6D9D51B52E?brand=bandname&camefrom=CFC_BAND_PAGE_ARTIST_PRESALE_TICKETMASTER
Bypass links allow buyers to skip ahead of the digital queue and gain direct access to pick seats and checkout. This gives them a major advantage over buyers stuck waiting in Ticketmaster’s virtual queue.
Do bypass links always work on Ticketmaster?
Bypass links do not always guarantee you can buy tickets on Ticketmaster. Here are some reasons why they may not work:
- The event is not yet on sale – Bypass links only work once tickets officially go on sale, not before the specified sale date and time.
- The link already reached capacity – If a large number of buyers already went through the bypass link and bought up all available tickets, it will stop working.
- It’s for a different section or price level – Sometimes bypass links are unique to certain ticket sections or price levels that can sell out separately.
- It expired – Presale bypass links often expire after the presale period ends.
- It’s fake or copied incorrectly – Invalid, fake or incorrectly copied bypass links may not work.
- Too many people are using it – If too many people attempt to use the same bypass link at once, it can overload and fail to work properly.
So while bypass links provide a major advantage, there’s no guarantee a particular bypass link will actually give you access to tickets. Having the right presale code or link is just the first step – you still have to compete with others using the same link and ultimately purchase the tickets before they sell out.
How do people get Ticketmaster bypass links?
There are a few main ways fans gain access to Ticketmaster bypass links:
- Artist presales – Artists will often share presale links with their fan club members that bypass queues when tickets go on presale.
- Venue presales – Some venues provide presale ticket links for newsletter subscribers or loyal customers.
- Credit card presales – Major credit cards like American Express sometimes sponsor presales and offer cardholder-only bypass links.
- Radio presales – Local radio stations may do ticket presales for their listeners with exclusive bypass links.
- Promoters & industry insiders – Music industry insiders, concert promoters, or sponsors may have special bypass links to share.
- Buy/sell link market – There is an underground market where people buy/sell bypass links from those who have them.
In most cases, the links are meant to be shared only among a specific group like fan club members. But links inevitably leak out into the general public where they spread rapidly among savvy ticket buyers ahead of the sales. The key is getting them from someone with insider access before they expire or reach capacity.
Does using bypass links guarantee better tickets?
Bypass links give buyers a major advantage in competing for the best tickets, but they do not guarantee you will get the exact tickets you want. Here are some factors to consider:
- You’re still limited to what’s available – Others who use the link before you can buy up the best seats first.
- Demand almost always exceeds supply – For hot shows, there are usually far more people trying for tickets than seats available.
- Time and speed are still key – You need to use the links as early as possible and purchase fast once tickets go on sale.
- Multiple links may exist – Different bypass links may access different sections, so one link may not have the best inventory.
While bypass links let you skip waiting in queues, they don’t override the basic laws of supply and demand. But used strategically, they can greatly improve your chances of getting good seats compared to buyers stuck in the regular buying process.
Are Ticketmaster bypass links ethical?
There is an ethical debate around bypass links. Some of the counterpoints include:
- They give unfair advantages to certain groups over the general public.
- They essentially “cut in line” ahead of others who have been waiting patiently.
- They make it harder for less tech-savvy groups like seniors to get tickets.
- The links contribute to bot traffic from scalpers trying to procure tickets.
However, there are also arguments in favor of bypass links:
- They allow devoted fans better access to see their favorite acts.
- Artists and venues want to provide priority access to their loyal fans.
- They help avoid website crashes and tech issues caused by massive traffic.
- They incentivize credit cards and other partners to offer presales.
Overall there are good-faith reasons for bypass links to exist, but also valid concerns over fairness and bots exploiting them. Most people agree artists should offer some presale access to core fans, but exactly how those links are distributed and used is debated.
Does Ticketmaster allow bypass links?
Ticketmaster itself does facilitate some bypass links, but only for specific presales. Any special links they provide are carefully controlled. In general, Ticketmaster does not support or condone the use of unauthorized bypass links for general public onsales. Their terms of service prohibit:
- Accessing internal-only pages with presale links.
- Sharing presale links or codes not meant for public distribution.
- Using scripts, bots or other means to search for presale links.
- Selling or profiting from the use of presale ticket links.
So while Ticketmaster itself may use bypass links for certain presales, it discourages the general spread and misuse of unauthorized links. However, Ticketmaster has limited ability to enforce this for links shared peer-to-peer. The effectiveness of bypass links ultimately depends on fans accessing and sharing the links.
What are some examples of major events where bypass links were used?
Here are some notable examples where Ticketmaster bypass links were widely used to gain presale ticket access for major concerts and events:
Event | Type of Bypass Link | Result |
---|---|---|
Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour | Verified Fan presale links | Fans with codes accessed tickets early before public onsale |
Adele, Weekends with Adele Las Vegas Residency | Fan club presale links | Fan club members purchased majority of presale tickets |
Harry Styles, Love on Tour | Artist and venue presale links | Most tickets sold out during presales before public onsale |
Super Bowl LVI | NFL On Location presale links | On Location buyers locked up best seats before general public onsale |
As shown above, bypass links can give buyers access to huge blocks of tickets before the general public has a chance. This is a hotly debated topic, as these examples fueled criticism over lack of regular fan access to in-demand events.
Can you get banned from Ticketmaster for using bypass links?
Simply using bypass links is unlikely to get you banned from Ticketmaster. However, here are some circumstances that could potentially result in a Ticketmaster account ban:
- Resale or prohibited distribution of bypass links
- Automated bot traffic using bypass links
- Accessing massive quantities of tickets via bypass links
- Using bypass links to circumvent ticket limits
- Generating fake presale codes to create unauthorized bypass links
So if you simply use a legitimate bypass link shared with you to purchase event tickets for yourself, you likely face little risk of account termination. But those who exploit, generate, or profit from unauthorized bypass links may face action.
Conclusion
When used properly, Ticketmaster bypass links can provide buyers with a valuable head start in acquiring tickets for in-demand events. However, they are not a ticket guarantee and ethical concerns exist around their fair use. Bypass links provide an advantage only when strategically leveraged – acquiring the right links early, using them instantly at the precise sale time, and purchasing quickly. For high profile events, devoted fans and savvy buyers rely on bypass links in an attempt to beat the competition. But links should be shared and used judiciously, or they risk undermining fair ticket access.