Citi Cardmember preferred seating is a benefit offered by Citi credit cards that gives cardholders early access to purchase tickets for concerts, shows, and other live events. It allows Citi cardmembers the chance to get some of the best seats in the house before tickets go on sale to the general public.
What are the benefits of Citi Cardmember preferred seating?
There are several key benefits of Citi Cardmember preferred seating:
- Early access to tickets – Cardholders get first dibs on tickets before the general on-sale
- Access to premium seats – Citi cardmembers can purchase seats that are front and center or in other prime locations
- Less competition for good seats – Since it’s only open to Citi cardholders initially, there is less competition to get the best spots
- No ticket limit – Cardholders can purchase up to the venue limit, not just 2 or 4 tickets
- Exclusive cardmember pricing – Some events offer special discounted pricing only for Citi cardmembers
Having early access and less competition means Citi cardmembers have a greater chance at scoring amazing seats before the general public has a chance to buy tickets.
How does Citi Cardmember preferred seating work?
Here is an overview of how Citi Cardmember preferred seating works:
- Eligible events are announced in advance on Citi’s website and other platforms.
- A presale window will be open exclusively for Citi cardmembers before general public on-sale.
- During the presale window, cardholders can purchase tickets on Citi’s website or app using their Citi credit card.
- There is no ticket limit, so cardholders can purchase up to the venue maximum.
- Once the presale window closes, any remaining tickets go on sale to the general public.
- Citi cards eligible for presale access include Citi Prestige, Premier, ThankYou Preferred, ThankYou Priority, Executive AAdvantage, and Expedia cards.
So in summary, eligible Citi cardholders get exclusive early access to buy tickets before everyone else. This gives them the best chance to get great seats at popular concerts, theater shows, sporting events and more.
What kind of events offer Citi Cardmember preferred seating?
Citi Cardmember preferred seating is available for a variety of live entertainment events, including:
- Concerts – For top concerts in pop, rock, country, R&B, and more.
- Theater shows – Like Broadway musicals and plays.
- Sporting events – Such as MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL games.
- Arts & culture – For events like the ballet, opera, symphony concerts, and more.
- Comedy shows – Stand-up comedy, improv shows, and comedy festivals.
- Family shows – Live shows for kids like Disney on Ice.
The specific lineup of events changes all the time. Citi typically partners with major promoters like Live Nation and AEG to offer presale access across North America. The events available span all different genres and interests.
What cities/venues offer Citi Cardmember preferred seating?
Citi Cardmember preferred seating is available in most major metro areas across the United States. Some of the top cities where cardholder presales occur include:
- New York City – Venues like Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre
- Los Angeles – The Forum, Hollywood Bowl, STAPLES Center
- Chicago – United Center, Wrigley Field, Huntington Bank Pavilion
- Dallas – American Airlines Center, Globe Life Field
- San Francisco – Chase Center, Shoreline Amphitheatre
- Atlanta – State Farm Arena, Fox Theatre
- Miami – Hard Rock Stadium, Fillmore Miami Beach
- Las Vegas – T-Mobile Arena, MGM Grand Garden Arena
Beyond the major cities, Citi Cardmember preferred seating is also offered in various mid-size markets throughout the US. The presales take place at major concert venues, theaters, stadiums and arenas in each area that hosts big events.
How do I get access to Citi Cardmember preferred seating?
Getting access to Citi preferred seating presales is easy if you have an eligible Citi credit card. Here are the steps:
- Apply and get approved for a Citi credit card that includes presale access like Citi Prestige or ThankYou Preferred.
- Check event listings on Citi Entertainment to see upcoming presales in your area.
- When you find an event you want tickets for, click the “Presale Tickets” link.
- Purchase your tickets on Citi’s site during the presale window using your eligible Citi card.
- Use your Citi card to get into the event and enjoy your preferred seats!
As long as you have one of the participating Citi cards, you can take advantage of this perk to get earlier access to great seats. It’s one of the best entertainment benefits offered by Citi credit cards.
What Citi cards offer preferred seating?
Here is an overview of the main Citi credit cards that include access to Cardmember preferred seating presales:
Citi Card | Details |
---|---|
Citi Prestige® Card | Citi’s premium travel rewards card offers a $250 annual entertainment credit, Citi Entertainment presale access, and more premium perks. |
Citi Premier® Card | A mid-tier card with well-rounded rewards including 3x points on entertainment, gas stations, restaurants, air travel, hotels, supermarkets and more. |
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | Designed for American Airlines customers, includes Admirals Club membership, first checked bag free, priority boarding, and other AA perks. |
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | Earn 2x miles on American Airlines purchases plus preferred seating access and a $125 American Airlines flight discount. |
Citi® Expedia® Rewards+ Card | Strong card for Expedia customers with 6x points on Expedia purchases and 2x on dining and entertainment. |
Citi® Double Cash Card | A straightforward 2% cash back card (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay) that includes Citi Entertainment access. |
Citi Rewards+® Card | Round up rewards points on all purchases and get 10% or more points back on redemptions. |
Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card | Earn 2x ThankYou points at supermarkets and gas stations and 1x everywhere else. |
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard® | Earn 2x miles on American Airlines, 1x on other purchases, and enjoy preferred boarding and in-flight discounts. |
Citi® Hilton HonorsTM Card | Designed for Hilton customers with perks like automatic Hilton Honors Silver status and 5x points on Hilton purchases. |
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | A basic card with no annual fee, 0% APR intro period, and access to Citi Entertainment. |
Citi Rewards+® Student Card | Students can earn ThankYou Points on purchases and take advantage of Citi presales. |
So in summary, Citi’s premium travel cards like Prestige and Premier offer preferred seating. But many no annual fee cards like DoubleCash, ThankYou Preferred, and Hilton Honors also provide access.
What are the limitations of Citi Cardmember preferred seating?
While Citi Cardmember presales provide great early access, there are some limitations to be aware of:
- Limited time window – Presales may only be open for 6-24 hours before public on-sale
- High demand events sell out quickly – Popular shows will still have limited tickets
- Not offered for every event – Citi focuses on major concerts and shows
- Restricted to 2-4 tickets initially – Limits may apply during presale
- May exclude front rows/VIP – The very best seats sometimes don’t go on presale
- Requires eligible Citi card – Only open to designated Citi cardholders
So while Citi presales provide excellent early access, the most in-demand tickets will still sell out very quickly. There are also restrictions on the initial number of tickets allowed per cardholder. So preferred seating takes some planning, luck and persistence to maximize for the hottest events.
How has Citi Cardmember preferred seating evolved?
Citi has offered some form of cardholder presale access since 2011 after acquiring the assets of Ticketmaster Charge Card. Over the years, the presale program has evolved by:
- Expanding the number of eligible cards – More no-fee cards now include access
- Adding more venues and markets – Growing from just 40 amphitheaters to thousands of venues
- Offering exclusive cardmember pricing – Special lower prices just for Citi cardholders
- Enhancing the purchase experience – Smoother presale checkout online and via mobile
- Promoting presales on social media – Better publicity of presale events
While Citi presales started out small, they have grown into a major benefit for Citi cardmembers across the entire entertainment industry. Citi continues to enhance presales to offer cardholders the best ticket buying experience.
How does Citi Cardmember preferred seating compare to other banks?
Compared to entertainment benefits from other banks, Citi Cardmember preferred seating stands out in a few ways:
- More events and venues – Citi offers presales for thousands of events across North America.
- Earlier access times – Cardholders get first pick of seats before other programs.
- Lower price for tickets – Citi offers exclusive ticket discounts during presales.
- Broader eligibility – Access extends beyond premium cards to no-fee cards like DoubleCash.
- Stronger promotions – Citi provides consistent presale info across online, social media, email.
For example, American Express offers presale tickets primarily to Platinum and Centurion cardholders only. Chase has limited presale access to select events. Capital One does not offer any kind of ticket presale program.
Overall, Citi Cardmember preferred seating provides some of the best and most extensive presale ticket access compared to other major issuers.
Tips for getting tickets with Citi Cardmember preferred seating
Here are some tips and best practices for maximizing your chance of getting tickets through Citi presales:
- Check the Citi Entertainment site routinely for presale announcements.
- Sign up for presale notifications so you don’t miss any.
- Be ready to log in right when the presale starts.
- Have a backup card ready in case your initial card is declined.
- Aim for best available seats instead of obsessing over a specific location.
- Try for single seats if buying tickets together proves difficult.
- Scope out seat options ahead of time on the venue seating chart.
- Use the Citi mobile app for fastest access during presales.
- If tickets sell out, check back closer to the event for release of holdbacks.
With high demand events, having a strategy, being flexible, and persevering through obstacles will help in securing tickets.
Conclusion
Citi Cardmember preferred seating offers a highly valuable entertainment benefit for eligible Citi credit cardholders. The ability to access tickets to top concerts, theater and sporting events before the general public provides a significant advantage.
By using presale windows wisely, reviewing seating charts, understanding ticket limits, and having backup plans, Citi cardmembers can effectively take advantage of this perk.
While preferred seating does not guarantee tickets in every situation, it markedly improves the ticket buying experience and makes it much easier to obtain great seats.
For avid live event fans, having access to Citi presales should be a major consideration when choosing a new credit card.