American Express presale access allows cardholders early access to tickets for concerts, shows, and other events before the general public. This perk can provide an advantage in securing tickets, especially for high-demand events that are likely to sell out quickly. However, the value of AmEx presale access depends on the individual cardholder’s circumstances and preferences.
What is American Express presale access?
American Express partners with promoters, theaters, stadiums, and other venues to give cardholders exclusive presale ticket access before the general on-sale date. Presales typically begin 1-3 days before the public on-sale. During this presale window, only AmEx cardholders receive a presale code or link that grants access to purchase tickets.
This gives cardholders the chance to buy tickets before the general public. For very popular events that are expected to sell out quickly, it can increase the chances of getting seats before they are gone.
How does AmEx presale access work?
There are a couple ways AmEx cardholders can access presales:
- Presale notification emails – AmEx sends emails to notify eligible cardholders of upcoming presales.
- American Express Experiences app – The app provides info on presales and sometimes access directly through the app.
- Ticketmaster AmEx presale – There is a dedicated AmEx presale on Ticketmaster that requires an eligible AmEx card to access.
- Unique presale codes/links – Some events provide a special code or link specifically for AmEx cardholders to access the presale.
In most cases, you need an eligible American Express card linked to your Ticketmaster or other ticket provider account in order to access the presales. The specific card eligibility requirements can vary between events.
What events offer AmEx presale access?
American Express presales are available for a variety of events, including:
- Concerts – For major tours and shows at larger venues.
- Theater performances – Broadway, shows, musicals, etc.
- Sporting events – Leagues, tournaments, championship games.
- Festivals – Coachella, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, etc.
- Comedy shows
- Other live events – Depending on AmEx partnerships.
The specific events can vary widely based on the partnerships American Express has in place. Presales tend to focus on major concerts, shows, festivals, and sporting events rather than smaller local events. Availability can differ by location.
What are the benefits of AmEx presale access?
There are a few key potential benefits of American Express presale access for cardholders:
Earlier access to tickets
The main benefit is the ability to purchase tickets earlier than the general public. For very popular events that are likely to sell out quickly, this early access can improve your chances of getting tickets.
Better seat selection
With presale access, you are accessing tickets before they are picked over by the general public. This can allow you to secure better seat locations before they are gone.
Less competition from other buyers
There are fewer buyers competing during presales than during general on-sales. This can make the ticket buying process smoother and less competitive.
Presales may have ticket limits or discounts
Some presales have incentives like ticket purchase limits that may increase your chances. There may also be presale-only pricing discounts in some cases.
What are the potential drawbacks?
While American Express presale access can provide some advantages, there are also some potential limitations to consider:
Limited event availability
Only a subset of events offer AmEx presale access – it is not available for all events. Smaller, local events are less likely to offer presales.
Still high competition for very popular events
For extremely high-demand events like major sporting events or concerts, there can still be intense competition even during presales that may limit your chances.
May need to meet card eligibility requirements
Some presales require you to have a specific eligible AmEx card, like a Premier or Platinum card, to access the presale. So you may need to pay for a premium card.
Presale terms and discounts vary
There are not always guaranteed incentives – some presales do not offer ticket limits or special discounts.
You still pay convenience fees
Presales do not exempt you from paying service fees charged by ticket vendors. You still pay all the same add-on fees.
When is AmEx presale access most valuable?
American Express presale access tends to provide the most value in these situations:
- You are trying to buy tickets for an extremely popular event that will likely sell out quickly, like a major sporting event finals game or a concert by an artist with limited tour dates.
- You want to get great seats very close to the stage or field.
- There is high resale demand for the event, so getting face value presale tickets offers savings versus buying resale later.
In these cases, the presale improves your chances of getting tickets and good seats before the general on-sale scramble.
When is it less valuable?
On the other hand, AmEx presale access provides less value when:
- It is for an event that is unlikely to sell out and will have tickets available on general on-sale.
- You are flexible about what seats you get.
- There is low resale demand and you could easily buy general on-sale tickets near face value later.
In these cases, you likely do not gain much advantage from presale access.
Does it help buy tickets online?
American Express presale access mainly provides an advantage for buying tickets online, either through a ticketing site like Ticketmaster or directly through a venue site.
Reasons it helps for online ticket buying:
- Gives you early access on ticketing sites before the general public crowd.
- Less competition online from other buyers during the presale window.
- Can provide presale codes or links specifically for purchasing online.
However, it typically does not provide an advantage for buying tickets at physical box office locations. The presale access is primarily structured around online ticket sales.
Does it work for preordering concert tickets?
Yes, American Express presale access can be useful when preordering tickets for major concerts or other high-demand events.
Reasons it can help with preorders:
- Gives early access to preorder and reserve tickets before general on-sale.
- Can improve ability to preorder and get tickets prior to sell-out.
- Preorder frequently offers benefits like first access to best seats.
So presale access allows cardholders to get in on the preorder period and increase chances of getting tickets. However, the value depends on how popular the concert is and whether it truly sells out quickly.
Does AmEx provide better access to Broadway or theater shows?
American Express presale access can improve access to high-demand Broadway and other theater show tickets in certain situations by allowing earlier ticket access.
Potential benefits for Broadway/theater presales:
- Get tickets to very popular, limited run Broadway shows before sell-out.
- Better selection of seats before public grab best seats.
- Avoid the scramble when public on-sale begins.
However, for long-running Broadway shows or smaller productions, there may be ample ticket availability even during general on-sale periods. So the presale perk would provide less value.
How does it compare to other presales like Spotify?
American Express presales differ from other company presales like Spotify in a few ways:
Comparison | American Express Presale | Spotify Presale |
---|---|---|
Card/account required | Yes – need eligible AmEx card | Yes – need Spotify Premium account |
Events offered | Major concerts, theaters, sports, festivals | Concerts primarily |
Availability | Only at select events | Only at select concerts |
Length of presale | Typically 1-3 days before on-sale | Typically 1 day before on-sale |
The key differences are the type of events offered and requirements. AmEx tends to offer presales for a wider variety of events, while Spotify focuses on concerts. Both are available for only some events and for short windows before public on-sale.
Should you get an AmEx card just for the presale access?
Getting an American Express card solely for the presale ticket access benefits only makes sense in limited cases. Some key considerations:
- The annual fee – most eligible cards have $100+ annual fees, which can outweigh presale savings.
- How often you buy tickets – occasional concertgoers may not recoup annual fee costs.
- Types of events you attend – presales focus on major sports, concerts, festivals.
- Your demand for hard-to-get tickets – presales most valuable when vying for very high-demand events.
For someone who spends thousands per year on high-demand event tickets, the AmEx perk could be worthwhile alone. But for more casual event attendees, the annual fee likely outweighs the presale benefits.
Better alternatives for just presale access
If you are only interested in easier access to presales, services like Ticketmaster Verified Fan or Spotify Premium provide presale access for concerts without an annual fee. These may provide better value.
Tips for using American Express presales
Here are some tips for maximizing the value of American Express presales when buying tickets:
- Make sure to register your eligible AmEx card on the ticketing site before presales begin. This ensures your card will be recognized for presale access.
- Link multiple AmEx cards to your accounts in case of eligibility requirements. Some presales only work with higher-tier cards like the Platinum.
- Sign up for presale notification emails so you know about presales before they begin.
- Be ready to buy immediately once a presale starts, especially for the most in-demand events.
- Have a list of preferred seat locations so you can quickly target them during the purchase process.
- Double check ticket limits. Some presales limit how many you can buy which can improve your odds.
Using presales takes some preparation and quickly buying when they start. Following these tips can help maximize your chances of getting the events and seats you want.
The bottom line
American Express presale ticket access can provide valuable early entry to high-demand events. This lets you beat the crowds and improves your chances of getting good tickets.
However, the advantages are most noticeable for extremely popular events that will truly sell out instantly. For lower-demand events, AmEx presale access provides fewer unique benefits.
The value to you depends on how sought-after the events you attend are and whether paying a premium card annual fee is justified by the presale perk and any other card benefits.