Ticketmaster’s Friends and Family program allows Ticketmaster customers to purchase tickets for events before the general public. This gives friends and family members early access to tickets before they go on sale. Here are some key things to know about the Friends and Family program:
How it Works
The Friends and Family program allows those invited to purchase tickets in advance of the general public on-sale. Friends and Family tickets are made available for a limited time, usually 1-3 days, before the tickets go on sale to the general public.
To access the Friends and Family sale, you need a special offer code or link provided by the event organizer or artist fan club. This code gives you access to purchase tickets early through Ticketmaster. The tickets are for the same events that eventually go on sale to the general public.
Who Can Get Access
Access to Friends and Family ticket sales are usually reserved for:
- Loyalty club or fan club members
- Members of the venue or event’s email list
- American Express cardholders
- Customers of a sponsor brand
- Radio station contests/giveaways
The event organizer determines who gets invited to the Friends and Family sale. As a ticketing partner, Ticketmaster administers the sale but does not control who gets access. If there is high demand, the event organizer may restrict how many tickets each person can purchase.
Benefits
The main benefits of the Ticketmaster Friends and Family program include:
- Early access – Beating the crowds and getting first pick of seats/tickets before anyone else
- Better selection – The chance to purchase tickets before inventory sells out
- Less competition – Fewer people vying to purchase tickets at once compared to a public on-sale
- Presale codes – Exclusive presale offer codes to unlock access
Friends and Family sales give you the inside track on getting tickets before the general public. You have first crack at buying tickets from the available inventory.
Downsides
While Friends and Family sales offer exclusive early access, there are some potential downsides:
- Limited inventory – Fewer tickets may be released compared to the public on-sale
- Short window – Presales often last less than 48 hours so you have to act fast
- High demand – Popular events still see high competition even during presales
- No guarantees – There’s no guarantee you’ll get tickets even with presale access
It’s possible to log-on right at the presale start time and still not be able to purchase tickets if inventory sells out quickly. So while you get early access, high demand events will still have very limited quantities available.
How to Get Access
There are a few main ways to get access to Friends and Family presales on Ticketmaster:
- Join official fan clubs – Musicians and sports teams often reward fan club members with presale code access
- Sign up for presale alerts – Venues, bands, and promoters will advertise presales and provide registration links
- Check social media – Presale codes are often shared on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages before a sale
- Purchase VIP packages – Some bands offer presale codes when you buy special packages like meet & greets
- Partner promotions – Sponsor brands run contests and giveaways for presale codes
The most direct ways to get access are through official fan clubs and presale email lists. Social media can also be a good source for finding presale passwords. It pays to follow bands, venues, and promoters closely on their social channels.
Purchasing Tickets
Once you obtain an official presale registration link or code, here are the steps to purchase tickets:
- Click the unique presale link or visit Ticketmaster and look for the Friends and Family presale
- Enter the presale code when prompted
- Search for the event and select your ticket quantity/type
- Complete purchase with payment information
Be ready and waiting for the presale start time to increase your chances of getting tickets. Events sell out in minutes, so you need to purchase right away once the presale goes live. Have accounts set up in advance for faster checkout.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips to improve your chances of scoring tickets during a Ticketmaster Friends and Family presale:
- Register early – Get any presale links and codes as far in advance as possible
- Check fan club membership – Make sure your fan club registration is up-to-date to receive codes
- Setup accounts – Have Ticketmaster and fan club accounts ready for smooth checkout
- Use desktop – For high demand events, purchase via desktop rather than mobile
- Be ready at start time – Log in 10-15 min early and refresh right at presale start
- Act fast – Have preferred tickets picked out and purchase instantly
- Try again – Keep trying if tickets sell out; inventory may be released in batches
Preparation is key- have all your access links, codes, and accounts ready to go prior to the presale. When sale starts, act swiftly as top tickets go very quickly. Persistence is also important so keep trying again if you miss out at first.
Conclusion
The Ticketmaster Friends and Family program allows for special presale access before the general public to purchase tickets. It’s a major perk for fan club members, email list subscribers, and select partner groups. While not a guarantee, it does give you a major advantage if you are organized and ready to purchase immediately once the limited presale window opens.
Be sure to monitor any fan clubs or email lists you are part of to take advantage when presales are announced. Ticketmaster Friends and Family can help you score amazing seats to high demand events before the crowds arrive!
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Early access before general public | No guarantee of tickets |
Better ticket availability | Short presale window |
Less competition | Still high demand |
Exclusive presale codes | Limited inventory |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can access the Friends and Family presale?
Access is usually reserved for fan club members, venue/promoter email lists, sponsor brand customers, contest winners, American Express cardholders, etc. The event organizer determines who gets presale codes.
How early is the Friends and Family presale?
Most presales occur 1-3 days before the general public on-sale. Some can be a week or more in advance for major events or venues.
What’s the advantage of the presale over general on-sale?
Presales allow you to purchase tickets before the crowds, giving you first access to tickets before inventory sells out. You also avoid heavy competition all hitting the site at once.
Are there still tickets leftover for the general on-sale?
In most cases yes, but the preferred seats and tickets sell out first during the presale. The general on-sale has leftover inventory but likely more limited options.
How do I get presale codes and access?
Join fan clubs, email lists, follow social media closely, purchase special offers/packages, and participate in sponsor contests. Checking all available sources can help you find presale registration links and codes.
What’s the best way to purchase presale tickets?
Have accounts setup in advance, use desktop, and be ready on the site before the presale begins to purchase as soon as it starts. Move swiftly as top tickets go fast despite lower demand than general on-sale.
Can I purchase tickets if I don’t have a presale code?
No, you must have an official presale registration link or code to access and shop the Friends and Family ticket inventory before the general public.
Are there other Ticketmaster presales besides Friends and Family?
Yes, there are presales for American Express cardholders, Facebook and Spotify fans, VIP packages, and more. However, Friends and Family tend to have the most exclusive access for fan club and email list members.
What if I don’t get tickets during the presale?
You can try again during the general on-sale. Also, more inventory may open up last minute, so check back leading up to the event in case more tickets are released.
Key Takeaways
- Friends and Family is a Ticketmaster presale for select groups 1-3 days before general on-sale
- Fan club members, email lists, and partner groups receive codes for early ticket access
- Presales allow purchasing tickets before they sell out to the public
- High demand still exists so you need to act fast once the presale starts
- Prepare accounts, links, codes early and be ready right at presale start time
The Ticketmaster Friends and Family program enables early ticket purchasing access for select fan club, email list, and partner groups. This gives you a better chance at getting good tickets before the general on-sale opens. With proper preparation and swiftly purchasing at start time, you can beat the crowds and score great seats even for the hottest events.