Preferred access tickets are special tickets that allow buyers early access to purchase tickets to popular events. They provide buyers with an advantage over the general public when it comes to securing tickets for in-demand concerts, sporting events, and other happenings.
What are the key benefits of preferred access tickets?
There are several notable benefits to purchasing preferred access tickets:
- Early access to tickets – Preferred access buyers get first dibs on tickets before the general on-sale.
- Better seat selections – Preferred access periods allow buyers to pick from the best available seats before others.
- Less competition – There is less competition for tickets during preferred access periods compared to crowded general on-sales.
- Lower prices – Preferred access tickets may be discounted compared to general on-sale prices in some cases.
- Guaranteed tickets – Preferred access ensures you can buy tickets before they sell-out to the general public.
These benefits allow preferred access buyers to get tickets to popular shows and events more easily and with better seat locations compared to the scramble of a general on-sale.
What types of events offer preferred access tickets?
Many different types of live entertainment events may offer some form of preferred ticket access, such as:
- Concerts – Preferred tickets for major concert tours are common.
- Sporting events – Team season ticket holders often get preferred access tickets.
- Theater performances – Special fan club presales are used for very popular Broadway and West End shows.
- Festivals – Major annual festivals like Coachella or Lollapalooza have preferred advance sales.
- Comedy shows – Headlining stand-up comedians frequently have fan presales.
- E-sports events – VIP packages may guarantee preferred ticketing.
- Las Vegas shows – Preferred access helps get the best seats for Cirque du Soleil, magic acts, and more.
In general, any highly anticipated event where tickets are likely to sell out quickly is a good candidate for some kind of preferred ticket access offer to reward loyal fans.
What are common preferred access methods?
Some of the most popular ways event organizers grant preferred ticketing access include:
- Fan club presales – Registered fan club members get first access to buy tickets.
- VIP packages – Pricier packages with perks like meet & greets also offer ticket access.
- Spotify presales – Artists provide presale codes to Spotify followers.
- Venue presales – Venues offer presales for events to their email subscribers.
- Promoter presales – Promoters like Live Nation will presale to their members.
- AMEX presales – American Express cardholders get presale ticket offers.
- Radio station presales – Local radio partners presale tickets to loyal listeners.
These presale promotions reward the most avid fans with preferred early access before the general public on-sale date. Codes or membership is required to access these presales.
What are the different types of preferred access promotions?
Preferred access periods come in different variations, but some of the most common are:
- Exclusive presales – Only specific groups like fan club members can access these presales.
- Spotify presales – Followers get access to presales for artists they listen to on Spotify.
- Citi cardmember presales – Citi credit cardholders have access to presale tickets for various events.
- Venue presales – Venues reward their email list subscribers with presale offers.
- Local presales – Special presales are held for residents of the city where the event is occurring.
- VIP packages – Pricier packages with extras like premium seats allow early ticket buying before the general public.
These types of presales give different groups exclusive early access to tickets before the masses to improve their chances of getting good seats.
Presale Type | Description | Access Method |
---|---|---|
Fan Club Presale | Current fan club members get early access | Fan club membership log-in |
Spotify Presale | Followers of the artist on Spotify get a presale | Special Spotify code |
Venue Presale | Subscribers to the venue’s email list get access | Venue newsletter sign-up |
AMEX Presale | American Express cardholders get special offers | AMEX card required |
How do you get access to preferred tickets?
Here are some tips for getting access to preferred tickets for popular events:
- Join fan clubs – Becoming an official fan club member is the best way to get access to exclusive presales.
- Follow on Spotify – Opt-in for artist presale notifications on Spotify to get special codes.
- Sign up for newsletters – Subscribe to venue and promoter email lists to get presale ticket offers.
- Get a special credit card – Cards like American Express offer cardholder-only presales.
- Look for presale announcements – Check social media and artist/venue websites for presale announcements.
- Buy VIP packages – The most expensive ticket packages often come with presale access.
- Check presale calendars – Sites like Presale Password list all upcoming presales in one place.
Taking advantage of these options provides the best opportunity to get early access to tickets before the general public.
What are some tips for buying preferred access tickets?
Here are some helpful tips for successfully buying preferred access tickets:
- Act fast – Presales tend to sell out very quickly, so log in right at the start time and purchase immediately.
- Have payment ready – Save payment info ahead of time so you can check out faster when tickets go on sale.
- Know the presale code – Verify the correct password before the presale begins to access tickets.
- Be on a stable Internet connection – Use a wired connection if possible to avoid presale crashes or lag.
- Consider joining multiple fan clubs – The more fan clubs you’re in, the more presale opportunities you can access.
- Follow up on waitlists – If tickets sell out, join waitlists for a chance at released tickets later.
- Set up account alerts – Site alerts can notify you immediately when presales get announced.
Planning ahead and acting quickly are the keys to successfully buying preferred access tickets every time.
What are some common presale terms and conditions?
Preferred access ticket presales often come with certain terms and conditions such as:
- Codes required – Presale codes are mandatory and only work once per customer.
- Limited quantities – Only a portion of tickets are available during the presale before the general on-sale.
- Eligibility restrictions – Presales may be limited to fan club members only or local residents.
- No guarantees – Presale does not guarantee you will get tickets or your preferred seats.
- Fast sellouts – Tickets still tend to sell out quickly even during presales.
- Minimum purchases – Some presales require you buy 2 or 4 tickets together.
- General public on-sale still occurs later – Remaining tickets get sold to the general public afterwards.
These terms prevent presale abuse and give the core fan base better odds at getting tickets without shutting out the general public altogether.
Why can presale tickets still sell out fast?
There are a few key reasons presale tickets can sell out very quickly:
- Small allocations – Only a small block of tickets (for example 40%) may be reserved for presales.
- High demand – Popular acts drive intense demand even during presales.
- Bots and scalpers – Automated scalper bots swarm presales aiming to resell tickets.
Despite having preferred early access, presale tickets are not guaranteed for in-demand events. The most passionate fans still have to act fast to buy.
How should you prepare for buying preferred access tickets?
Here are some tips for preparing to buy preferred access tickets when they go on sale:
- Join eligible presales now like fan clubs so you are ready when sales are announced.
- Follow artists, venues, and promoters on social media and sign up for email lists to hear about presales.
- Save payment info in advance to ticket vendor accounts to enable fast one-click checkout.
- Test your Internet speed and use a wired Ethernet connection for fastest access during the presale.
- Coordinate with friends so you can buy allotted maximum group tickets together if needed.
- Set calendar alerts and phone notifications so you do not miss exact presale start times.
- Have the event and preferred access links handy to access the waiting room and queue right away.
- Ensure presale code is copied or auto-filled to join instantly when the presale opens.
Planning ahead helps ensure you do not miss out on preferred ticketing opportunities due to lack of preparation or awareness.
What are some alternatives if you can’t access presales?
If you are unable to access preferred presale tickets, some options include:
- General on-sale – Still attempt to buy tickets during the general public on-sale.
- Secondary market – Sites like StubHub may offer tickets after presales sell out.
- Last minute releases – Check ticket sites leading up to the event for late inventory releases.
- Scalper options – Buy from resellers at your own risk pending legitimacy.
- Wait for next time – Sign up for future presales so you do not miss out next time.
- Consider other events – Look for other events where getting preferred access may be easier.
While not ideal, these options may help you still get tickets even if you miss presale windows.
Conclusion
In summary, preferred access tickets enable serious fans to purchase event tickets before the general public on-sale. Taking advantage of exclusive presales, fan club offers, special credit cardholder opportunities, and VIP packages can improve your chances of getting great seats. Understand the presale terms, prepare thoroughly, act quickly, and leverage multiple options to overcome the competition. While not a guarantee, preferred access ticketing gives fans a leg up on securing the best tickets before they sell out.