Advance purchase tickets from Ticketmaster refer to tickets that are purchased ahead of the event date, usually at a discounted price compared to last minute purchases. Ticketmaster offers advance purchase tickets for a wide variety of events such as concerts, sports games, theater shows, and more. There are several benefits of purchasing tickets in advance through Ticketmaster.
What are the benefits of advance purchase tickets?
There are several key benefits of purchasing advance tickets through Ticketmaster:
- Cost savings – Advance tickets are usually discounted compared to last minute purchases, so you can save money by planning ahead and buying early.
- Better seat selection – When you purchase tickets far in advance, you have access to a wider selection of seats before inventory sells out. This allows you to secure better seats.
- Peace of mind – By securing tickets in advance, you don’t have to worry about events selling out or last minute price surges. You can lock in tickets for the events you want to attend.
- Convenience – Advance ticket purchasing allows you to plan your calendar in advance andfinalize plans to attend events you’re interested in.
So if you know about an upcoming event you want to attend, there are significant advantages to purchasing tickets early through Ticketmaster.
How early can you purchase advance tickets?
Ticketmaster allows you to purchase advance tickets as early as the moment they go on sale. This sale date varies by event. For very popular concerts or games, tickets may go on sale many months in advance. For other less popular events, tickets may go on sale just a few weeks or days before the event date.
In general, the earlier you can purchase after tickets initially go on sale, the better selection you will have before inventory sells out. For extremely high demand events, tickets can sell out in minutes or hours once they are made available.
How do advance ticket prices compare to last minute purchases?
Advance tickets are almost always discounted compared to last minute purchases from Ticketmaster. The exact amount of discount will vary based on factors like:
- The popularity of the event
- The seat location
- The base price of the seats
- How early you purchase relative to the event date
For very popular events like major concerts, advance tickets may be 20-30% below last minute prices. For less in-demand events, the discount may be 10-15%. In some cases for unpopular events, there is minimal price difference between early and late purchases.
Ticketmaster also provides if additional price discounts if you are a member of their rewards program.
Example Ticket Price Comparison
Purchase Window | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
6+ months before event | $60 |
2-3 months before event | $75 |
1 month before event | $100 |
1 week before event | $150 |
As you can see from the table, buying your tickets as early as possible results in the lowest prices on average.
Are there any fees or charges for advance tickets?
Ticketmaster does charge fees on top of the base ticket price, even for advance ticket purchases. These fees include:
- Service fees – This covers the cost of Ticketmaster providing its ticketing platform and services. Service fees are typically $5-20 per ticket.
- Order processing fees – This covers the processing of ticket orders and is charged per order, not per ticket. Order fees are usually around $5-15 per order.
- Facility Charge – This optional fee goes to the venue hosting the event to cover facility maintenance and staffing. Ranges from $3-$20 per ticket.
- Delivery fees – If you have your tickets shipped, there is a delivery fee per order, typically around $10-$20.
Keep these fees in mind when budgeting for your advance Ticketmaster purchase. There are no hidden fees – Ticketmaster shows a full breakdown before you complete your checkout.
Can you get a refund on advance tickets?
In most cases, Ticketmaster tickets are non-refundable. However, if an event is rescheduled or canceled altogether, you can request a refund within 30 days of the event date. The refund will go back to your original payment method.
For some events, Ticketmaster may offer a refund option when you initially purchase tickets. This allows you to get a refund up to 14 days before the event but comes at a higher ticket fee.
If you can no longer attend an event you have tickets for, all is not lost. Ticketmaster allows you to resell or transfer many tickets through their ticket exchange platform. So you have options to recoup some of your money, even on non-refundable advance tickets.
What are some tips for purchasing advance tickets?
Here are some helpful tips for getting the best deals and experience when buying advance tickets on Ticketmaster:
- Create an account – This allows you to speed through checkout and have all your ticket purchases in one place.
- Use the Ticketmaster app – For very popular events, the app may work better than the website which can crash from high traffic.
- Checkout as a guest – If the website is overloaded, you may have better luck checking out without an account as a guest user.
- Use prepaid cards – This avoids any rejections from your bank for large purchase amounts.
- Set reminders – Remind yourself of the on-sale date and time so you don’t miss out.
- Buy early – Purchase tickets as early as possible after they initially go on sale.
By following these tips and buying in advance, you can have a smooth Ticketmaster experience and get the best deals on tickets for the events you want to attend.
What if tickets sell out quickly and I miss out?
For extremely popular events, advance tickets may sell out in minutes or even seconds on Ticketmaster. If you miss out on tickets, don’t panic – there are still options:
- Get on the waitlist – Ticketmaster has waitlists for sold out events and releases more tickets over time leading up to events.
- Try ticket resale sites – Sites like StubHub let users resell event tickets, though prices are inflated.
- Check Ticketmaster directly – More inventory may be released as the event nears.
- Buy at the venue – Some tickets are reserved for in-person purchases on the day of events.
- Consider other locations – For large tours, tickets may still be available in other cities.
With persistence and flexibility, there are usually ways to eventually get tickets even for the hottest events that quickly sell out on Ticketmaster.
Conclusion
Advance purchase tickets from Ticketmaster offer several benefits like discounted prices, better seat options, and peace of mind. By planning ahead and purchasing tickets as soon as they go on sale, you can get the best deals on tickets for concerts, sports, theater, and other exciting events through Ticketmaster. Just be aware of the potential fees involved, the limitations around refunds, and strategies for snagging hot tickets in high demand. With the right preparation, advance ticket purchasing can save you money and allow you to attend amazing events you will remember forever.