When purchasing tickets online or in person, you will often see a field labeled “quantity” where you can select how many tickets you want to buy. This refers to the number of tickets you want to purchase for a particular event. The quantity allows you to buy multiple tickets in one transaction rather than having to purchase tickets individually.
Why do tickets have a quantity option?
There are a few key reasons tickets have a quantity option:
- Allows you to buy multiple tickets at once – This saves you time from having to make separate transactions for each ticket you need.
- Lets you sit together – When buying multiple tickets, having a quantity option makes it easy to ensure your group can sit together at the event.
- Enables bulk purchases – Large groups, businesses, or resellers often need to purchase tickets in bulk. The quantity field allows buying large amounts in one order.
- Simplifies order management – For the ticket seller, having all an order’s tickets in one transaction simplifies order processing and management.
How does the quantity field work?
When you go to purchase tickets online or at a box office, you’ll select the number of tickets you want to buy from the quantity field. This is usually an open field that allows you to enter any number or uses a dropdown menu with incremental quantity options (1 ticket, 2 tickets, etc).
After selecting the quantity, the total ticket price will automatically update based on the number of tickets multiplied by the listed ticket price. For example, if a concert ticket is $50 each, and you select a quantity of 4 tickets, your total price will be $200.
The quantity field is linked to the inventory system for that particular event. Only quantities up to the number of remaining tickets can be selected. If an event is sold out or has limited inventory, the quantity field will reflect the maximum number of tickets still available.
Are there ever limits on ticket quantities?
Yes, ticket sellers often set limits on the maximum quantity per order to discourage mass purchases:
- Purchase limits – Many events set a cap of 4-6 tickets per customer to give more people a chance to buy tickets.
- Anti-scalping limits – Limits as low as 2 tickets per person may be set to make it harder for scalpers to buy large quantities.
- High demand events – For extremely popular concerts or games, only 1 or 2 tickets may be allowed initially due to massive demand.
However, higher limits may be set for group or corporate sales. There are also often exceptions for fan club presales, VIP packages, etc. The specific ticket quantity limits will be displayed during the purchasing process.
Does quantity mean number of seats?
This is a common misconception. The ticket quantity refers to number of tickets, not necessarily the number of seats. For events with reserved seating, one ticket equals one seat. But for general admission events, the tickets are for entry, not for specific seats.
For example, you could purchase 4 general admission tickets for a festival. This allows 4 people to enter, but does not reserve 4 seats – it’s first come, first served seating.
Can you buy tickets for multiple events in one order?
It depends on the ticketing provider, but most allow purchasing different events in the same order. The shopping cart will have separate line items for each event with independent quantity options.
For example, at a ticket website you could buy:
- Concert on 5/1 – Qty: 2 tickets
- Play on 5/5 – Qty: 3 tickets
- Comedy show on 5/8 – Qty: 1 ticket
The quantities are specific to each event and won’t affect each other. This convenience allows fans to efficiently purchase tickets for multiple upcoming events at the same time.
Can you change the ticket quantity after ordering?
In most cases, you cannot change the ticket quantity after completing your purchase. The order is locked in at the quantity you initially selected.
However, some ticketing platforms do allow you to edit your order if it’s within a short time period, usually 1 hour. You may be able to adjust quantities higher or lower depending on availability.
If you need more tickets after already purchasing, you would have to place a new order. You won’t be able combine orders or be guaranteed adjacent seats.
Likewise, if you wanted fewer tickets, you’d likely have to cancel the order and repurchase. Many tickets have no refunds or exchanges, so changing the quantity is not an option.
What happens if you select the wrong quantity?
Be careful when selecting the ticket quantity – choosing the wrong amount can cause problems. Here’s what may happen if you pick an incorrect quantity:
- Not enough tickets – You might not have seats together or may have to try buying more tickets later.
- Too many tickets – You could be stuck with extra tickets you can’t use or have to resell at a loss.
- Sold out event – Selecting too many tickets could result in your whole order being cancelled if the event sells out.
- Higher costs – Buying more tickets than you need means you’ll pay unnecessary fees and charges.
Double check the quantity before finalizing your order. However, if you do end up with the wrong number of tickets, contact the seller right away to see if anything can be done to correct the order.
Tips for using the ticket quantity field
Here are some tips to ensure you purchase the proper ticket quantity:
- Plan ahead – Know exactly how many tickets you need before you start ordering.
- Double check – Review the quantity again before completing your transaction.
- Check group rules – See if there are any group size or purchase limits.
- Understand the event – Know if it’s reserved seating or general admission.
- Watch for limits – If it’s a hot event, move quickly before sells outs.
- Review carefully – Make sure your order receipt shows the correct quantity.
Using the ticket quantity field strategically allows you to buy the exact number of tickets needed for any event. Just take care to enter the right amount for a smooth ordering experience.
Example ticket quantity scenarios
Here are some common scenarios when purchasing tickets and how the quantity field would work:
Buying tickets for yourself
- Event: Concert at an arena
- Tickets needed: 1 ticket just for you
- Quantity: You would select “1” ticket
Buying tickets for a group
- Event: Football game at a stadium
- Tickets needed: 6 tickets for your family and friends
- Quantity: You would select “6” tickets
Buying tickets with a purchase limit
- Event: Popular band’s show at a small venue
- Tickets needed: 6 tickets for your group
- Quantity: You can only select “4” tickets due to a purchase limit
Buying multiple types of tickets
- Event: Music festival with general admission and VIP tickets
- Tickets needed: 3 general admission and 2 VIP tickets for your group
- Quantity: You would select “3” for general admission and “2” for VIP tickets
Buying tickets for multiple events
- Events: Play on Thursday, concert on Friday, comedy show on Saturday
- Tickets needed: 2 tickets for each event
- Quantity: You would select “2” tickets for the play, “2” tickets for the concert, and “2” tickets for the comedy show
Using promotional codes with ticket quantity
Many ticket sales include special promotional codes for discounts. The codes are entered separately from the ticket quantity during checkout.
The discount is typically applied to the final ticket total, not each individual ticket. For example:
- Ticket price: $50 per ticket
- Quantity: 4 tickets = $200 total
- Promo code: 10% off
- Discount applied: 10% off $200 = $20 off
- Final price: $200 – $20 = $180 for 4 tickets
So the promo code gives a percentage or dollar amount off the overall ticket purchase. The quantity determines how many base-price tickets are in the order. Make sure to enter both fields carefully.
Splitting ticket purchases into multiple orders
Some buyers will split a large ticket purchase into multiple smaller orders. Reasons for this include:
- Avoiding quantity limits – Each smaller order fits under the max ticket cap.
- Using multiple promo codes – Can use different codes for each order.
- Increasing chances – Smaller orders may have better odds in competitive sales.
- Managing distribution – Can send tickets in different orders to different people.
The key is that the full quantity needed is purchased across the combined orders. Organizations and large groups commonly use this approach to acquire many tickets.
Order summary tables for ticket quantity
Here are some examples of ticket order summaries showing how quantity, subtotals, fees, and total costs are displayed:
Single ticket order
Event | Ticket Price | Quantity | Subtotal |
---|---|---|---|
Concert at Park Theater | $75 | 1 ticket | $75 |
Fees | $8 | ||
Total | $83 |
Multiple ticket order
Event | Ticket Price | Quantity | Subtotal |
---|---|---|---|
Baseball game at Yankee Stadium | $55 | 3 tickets | $165 |
Broadway play at Majestic Theatre | $125 | 2 tickets | $250 |
Fees | $43 | ||
Total | $458 |
Conclusion
The ticket quantity field is an important part of the ticket buying process. It allows purchasers to easily acquire multiple tickets in one order for any event or group size. Understanding how to use quantities, maximize limits, and avoid mistakes helps buyers get the right tickets the first time.
Quantity means the number of tickets being purchased. It does not refer to seats unless the tickets are for reserved seating. Handling the quantity strategically along with other factors like promo codes ensures a smooth ticket buying experience.