Losing tickets can be frustrating and stressful, especially if they are tickets for an important event that you were looking forward to attending. The good news is that there are steps you can take to recover lost tickets. In this article, we will discuss some quick answers to common questions about recovering lost tickets and provide detailed information to walk you through the process.
What should I do first if I lose my tickets?
The first thing you should do if you lose your tickets is not panic. Take a deep breath and retrace your steps. Carefully think back to the last place you remember having the tickets. Did you leave them on your desk? Put them in a coat pocket? Place them in your bag? Pinpointing the last known location of the tickets can provide a starting point for tracking them down.
You’ll also want to thoroughly search your home, car, office, bags, pockets, etc. Look in every place you may have stashed the tickets. Sometimes they can be hiding in plain sight.
If you still can’t locate the tickets after retracing your steps and conducting a thorough search, move on to contacting the ticket issuer and venue to report the lost tickets.
Should I contact the ticket seller and venue if I lose my tickets?
Yes, absolutely contact the original ticket seller (for example, Ticketmaster or StubHub) and the venue’s box office if you lose your tickets and cannot find them.
Start by calling or emailing customer service for the ticket seller. Explain that you lost your tickets and provide details like the order number, original purchase date, seat locations, and ticket numbers if you have them. The ticket seller may be able to reissue replacement tickets or otherwise assist you.
You should also contact the box office for the specific venue or event. Provide the same details like seat numbers and purchase information. The box office staff can flag your seats and may be able to hold replacement tickets if available.
Notifying both the ticket seller and venue provides the best chance of recovering your lost tickets.
What information do I need to provide about the lost tickets?
When contacting the ticket seller and venue about lost tickets, be prepared to provide as many details as possible, including:
- Your order confirmation number or ticket purchase number
- Date you purchased the tickets
- Original purchase price
- Section, row, and seat numbers
- Exact date and time of the event
- Ticket quantities and types (adult, child, VIP, etc)
- Ticket numbers or barcodes if available
- Full names of ticket holders
Having these specifics about your lost tickets readily available can help identify your order and seats in their system. Details like seat numbers also help the venue flag the exact spots you purchased. The more information you can provide, the better.
What options do I have for replacing lost paper tickets?
If you lost paper tickets, there are a few options for replacing them:
- reprinted tickets – The ticket seller may be able to void the original barcodes and reprint replacements with new barcodes. There is often a reprint fee.
- electronic tickets – If available, you can switch to electronic tickets or “eTickets” which are accessible via your account.
- will call – The box office can hold replacement tickets under your name or order number for pick up on the day of the event.
- purchase new tickets – As availability allows, you may have to purchase new replacement tickets if none of the other options work.
Contact the seller first to explore reprints, eTickets, or any other solutions they offer. If those aren’t possible, will call or buying new tickets may be your only options.
What if I lost electronic tickets or eTickets?
If you lost electronic tickets or eTickets, the process is essentially the same as lost paper tickets. Contact the original ticket seller and explain that you lost access to your eTickets. Provide your order information and details.
Most online ticket accounts allow you to retrieve and access lost eTickets as long as you still have access to the email or account used to purchase them. You can reset your password or security info if needed. The ticket seller can also resend links to access your eTickets if you cannot retrieve them yourself.
As a last resort, see if the seller can issue hard copy ticket reprints if you absolutely cannot access your online tickets anymore. Know that there are often fees associated with reprints.
Can I claim the tickets if I find them after reporting them lost?
If you end up finding your tickets after reporting them lost, you do have options in many cases. The best thing to do is contact the venue’s box office and ticket seller to notify them you found the original tickets.
For paper tickets, they will likely instruct you to bring the originals you found to the venue box office on the event date. The box office can validate and scan these tickets for entry. Any replacement tickets they issued would be voided.
For eTickets, you may have access to both the original and replacement tickets. Register which set you want to use and only bring those to be scanned. The others will be deactivated.
The main thing is communicating that you found the lost tickets and want to use them rather than any replacements issued. As long as you notify them in time, they can void extras and register your original tickets.
What options do I have if my lost tickets are not replaceable?
In some cases, lost tickets cannot be replaced or reprinted for various reasons. If the event is sold out or ticket replacements are not possible, you do have a few options:
- Purchase new tickets if available – You can buy new tickets for the same event if seats are still available for sale.
- Purchase from a resale site – Check ticket resale sites like StubHub which may have seats for sale from other sellers.
- Inquire about standing room only – Some venues offer standing room only sections you can pay for and attend without assigned seats.
- Try your luck day of event – You can always show up day of and inquire at the box office about any extras or cancellations.
Replacing truly lost tickets is not guaranteed if the event is sold out. But don’t give up hope. Flexible solutions like standing room or checking day of may work. Or you can resell your replacements if you obtained any.
What can I do to prevent lost tickets in the future?
To avoid having to deal with lost tickets again, there are some simple practices you can implement:
- Take a photo of your tickets – This provides a record you can access even if originals are lost.
- Use eTickets when possible – Electronic tickets are easier to access and less likely to get misplaced.
- Store paper tickets in safe spot – Keep hard copy tickets somewhere secure like a safe rather than scattered about.
- Leave tickets in same spot – Have one designated place to keep event tickets to avoid misplacing.
- Save purchase information – Maintain records of order numbers, seat details, and other ticket info.
- Leave extra time – Give yourself plenty of time to deal with lost ticket issues to reduce stress.
Being careful with tickets from purchase to event doors and planning ahead goes a long way towards avoiding lost ticket headaches.
Conclusion
Dealing with lost tickets can be a real hassle, but understanding the steps for recovering tickets and being prepared with details can make the process much smoother. Contact the seller and venue right away if tickets go missing. Have key information handy like order numbers and seat locations. Know your options for reprints, eTickets, will call, or buying new ones. And implement some simple habits to avoid lost tickets going forward. With the right approach, you can get replacement tickets and make it to your event even if the originals go astray.