Ticketmaster’s single seat rule can make it difficult to get tickets for a group of people who want to sit together at an event. However, there are some clever tricks and workarounds that people use to try to circumvent this rule and get seats together. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common methods people use to try to beat the single seat limit and get group seating through Ticketmaster.
What is Ticketmaster’s single seat limit?
Ticketmaster’s single seat limit restricts customers to buying only one ticket per event in a single transaction when tickets first go on sale. This rule is meant to prevent ticket brokers and scalpers from buying up all the tickets and then reselling them at inflated prices. It aims to give more individual fans a fair chance to buy tickets.
The single ticket limit applies during the presale and general on-sale periods for most events. Once tickets have been on sale for a while, Ticketmaster will sometimes lift the restriction. But for very popular events that are likely to sell out quickly, they may enforce it for the entirety of the sales period.
Why do people want to get around the single seat rule?
There are a few main reasons people want to circumvent the single seat rule:
- To sit together as a group – Friends, families, and other groups naturally want to sit together at events. With the single seat limit, they’d have to coordinate buying tickets one at a time and hope seats that are close together don’t sell out first.
- To get better seats – The best seats often sell out quickest. Buying together in a single transaction gives a group the best chance at getting prime seats before they’re gone.
- To simplify ticket buying – It takes less time and coordination to buy all the tickets at once than to buy individually.
Basically, the single ticket restriction makes it harder and more stressful for groups to get the ideal tickets they want. That’s why many seek creative workarounds.
Ways people try to circumvent the single seat limit
Here are some of the most common tactics people use to try to bypass the Ticketmaster single seat limit and purchase group seating:
Using different accounts
One of the simplest ways around the limit is for each person in a group to use separate Ticketmaster accounts to purchase tickets. This allows them to buy multiple seats while technically following the single ticket per account rule. They can coordinate to try to purchase seats together.
The downside is this takes more effort to set up multiple accounts. And there’s the risk seats could sell out before everyone makes their purchases. So it’s not a foolproof method.
Buying season ticket packages
For events that offer season tickets or multi-event packages, buying a package can sometimes provide a way to secure more than one seat. Depending on the package, it may not be restricted by the single ticket limit and instead allow you to purchase a block of seats together under one order.
The challenge is the packages may be more expensive than just buying single event tickets. So you have to pay extra upfront. And you may have to commit to multiple events that you’re not interested in.
Using bots to automate buying
Some tech-savvy groups use bots to try to improve their odds of getting around the limit. Bots can automate the ticket buying process and make purchases far faster than a human could manually. This increases the chances of beating out other buyers and securing multiple seats.
However, this method requires programming knowledge. And Ticketmaster actively tries to detect and block bots to maintain fairness in ticket sales. So there’s no guarantee a bot strategy will work.
Paying groups to buy tickets
There are groups you can hire specifically for the purpose of securing event tickets together. They use methods like those above to try to beat Ticketmaster’s system and get the seats their clients want.
The service doesn’t come cheap though. You’ll pay a hefty premium on top of the ticket prices for their efforts. And there’s still the risk that demand is so high the tickets sell out instantly, even for the pros.
Is it against Ticketmaster’s rules?
Trying to find ways around the single ticket limit does go directly against Ticketmaster’s posted ticket buying policy. Their terms prohibit:
- Using multiple accounts
- Using bots or automated purchasing methods
- Reselling tickets
So technically any method to get around the single seat restriction violates their rules. However, fans continue to use the tricks above because Ticketmaster doesn’t actively enforce against individuals buying in groups. Their efforts are focused more on cracking down on large-scale broker operations reselling hundreds of tickets.
But there is always the risk your Ticketmaster account could get banned if you’re found blatantly circumventing their policies. This is especially true if using prohibited tools like bots.
Ethical considerations
While fans don’t like Ticketmaster’s ticket limit, it was implemented to try to make buying fair for everyone. So is it unethical to try to bypass the rule?
There are good-faith arguments on both sides:
It’s unethical:
- Violates clearly stated ticket terms
- Takes away seats from individual fans following the rules
- Can enable scalping if tickets are resold
It’s justified:
- You just want to sit with your group/family
- The rule makes it overly complicated to get group seating
- You’ll use the tickets personally rather than scalping
Groups using a couple different accounts to purchase is arguably more ethically gray. Larger-scale workarounds like bots cross more clearly into unethical territory by seriously gaming the system.
Like many anti-scalping measures Ticketmaster implements, there are reasonable pros and cons on both sides from fans. Ethics come down to each buyer’s own motivations and judgment.
Tips for buying group seats under single seat limits
If you do want to purchase tickets together under Ticketmaster’s single seat policy, here are some tips to increase your chances:
- Use the Ticketmaster app – It’s typically faster than the website, especially for hot events.
- Get logged in ahead of time – Being already logged into accounts saves precious seconds.
- Pick seats ASAP – Have a strategy for quickly choosing a block of decent seats together.
- Use fast internet – A slow connection will hamper your speed.
- Only open one browser window – Reduces your computer’s load.
- Don’t give up – Keep trying if tickets seem sold out; seats may be freed up from abandoned carts.
Persistence and speed are key. The faster you select and purchase desired seats, the better chance you have of beating the rush under the single ticket limit restrictions.
Alternatives to bypassing Ticketmaster’s rules
If you’re adamant about avoiding violating Ticketmaster’s policies, there are above-board options too, though potentially more difficult:
- Wait for the limit to lift – Restrictions are sometimes lifted once initial sales slow down.
- Hope for group sales – Some events release blocks of seats specifically for groups.
- Buy resale – Restrictions don’t apply to resale tickets, but prices are inflated.
- Split up – Buy seats apart initially, then try exchanging later to get closer.
These alternatives require more patience, expense, and uncertainty. But they adhere to Ticketmaster’s rules.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster’s single ticket limit poses challenges for groups wanting to sit together at events. While fans have found creative workarounds, these directly violate Ticketmaster’s policies. There are reasonable ethics arguments on both sides. In the end, it comes down to each buyer’s personal judgment of what practices are justified to get group seating vs. following the rules.
For those who do attempt to circumvent the limits, speed and persistence are key. But alternatives like waiting for the limit to lift or buying resale tickets remain options if you want to avoid violating Ticketmaster’s rules.
Group seating for hot events will remain a hassle under the single ticket policy. But with smart preparation using the methods covered here, you can improve your odds of getting those coveted seats together.