Mastercard presale tickets allow Mastercard cardholders early access to purchase tickets for concerts, sporting events, and other live entertainment before the general public. This gives Mastercard customers the chance to get first pick of seats before they sell out.
How do Mastercard presale tickets work?
Here’s how Mastercard presale tickets work:
- Certain events will designate a presale window for Mastercard customers, usually 1-3 days before the general on-sale.
- To access the presale, cardholders need to use their Mastercard when purchasing tickets through the event’s ticketing website.
- Entering your Mastercard information will unlock the presale and allow you to buy tickets.
- Only a certain allotment of tickets are set aside for the presale, so they can still sell out.
- Any tickets left after the presale will go on sale to the general public on the main on-sale date.
What types of events offer Mastercard presales?
You can find Mastercard presale ticket offers for all types of events, including:
- Concerts – For major tours by popular music artists and bands.
- Sports – Available for select professional sporting events and leagues.
- Theater – Broadway shows and other theatrical performances may have Mastercard presales.
- Comedy shows – Headlining stand-up comedians often have presale offers.
- Festivals – Major multi-day festivals like Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.
- Las Vegas shows – Popular Vegas residencies, magic acts, and more.
The events that offer Mastercard presales will vary depending on partnerships in different cities and venues.
What are the benefits of Mastercard presale tickets?
Here are some of the key benefits of using Mastercard presale tickets:
- Earlier access – Presales allow you to purchase tickets before the general public.
- Better seat selection – You get first pick of seats before inventory sells out.
- Less competition – Fewer people are purchasing at once compared to public on-sales.
- Peace of mind – Taking advantage of presales secures tickets in advance.
- Special perks – Some presales include access to VIP packages or merchandise bundles.
The biggest advantage is getting early access to tickets so you can lock in great seats before the best ones are gone. This provides real value to Mastercard customers.
Where can I find information on upcoming Mastercard presales?
There are a few places you can look to find out about upcoming Mastercard presale ticket offers:
- Mastercard website – There is usually a page listing the latest presale offers.
- Ticketmaster – Look for the Mastercard presale designation on event pages.
- Artist or team websites – Presale details are often listed on their tour or schedule pages.
- Venue websites – Check venue-specific presale listings.
- Email newsletters – Sign up to receive presale alerts from bands, teams, or venues.
- Social media – Follow event promoters and ticketing accounts for presale announcements.
Activating your Mastercard presale offers requires planning ahead and knowing when and where to look for them. Do some research ahead of time on the events you want to attend so you’re prepared.
What ticket limits or restrictions apply to presales?
Here are some common ticket limits and restrictions to be aware of with Mastercard presales:
- Purchase limits – There is usually a 4-8 ticket limit per customer.
- Household limits – Sometimes the limit applies per household instead of per customer.
- Duplicate orders – Getting tickets through multiple accounts under the same name/billing address may be restricted.
- Non-transferable tickets – Presale tickets cannot be resold or transferred in some cases.
- Delivery delays – Presale tickets may not be available for immediate download or delivery.
Make sure to carefully review the terms for each presale. Limits help ensure more customers can access the presale allotment of tickets.
Can I use any Mastercard for presale tickets?
Typically, you need to use an eligible Mastercard credit or debit card to unlock presale access. Here are some guidelines on which cards work:
- Personal consumer cards – Most personal Mastercards should work like standard, gold, platinum cards.
- Business cards – Small business Mastercards often qualify, but corporate cards may not.
- Co-branded cards – Co-branded airline, retail or partner Mastercards usually work.
- International cards – Cards issued in other countries may work for events in that country.
- Prepaid/gift cards – Generally don’t qualify, since presales require a billing address.
It’s a good idea to enter your Mastercard number on the presale page to see if it unlocks access before the tickets go on sale. Contact your card issuer if you are unsure whether your Mastercard will work for presales.
Is there a way to access presales without a Mastercard?
There are a couple options to access Mastercard presales without a qualifying card:
- Team up with a friend who has a Mastercard and do the purchasing together. Just make sure you adhere to the ticket limits.
- Consider applying for a Mastercard credit card if you attend events frequently. The presale benefits may offset the annual fee.
- Check for presales from other card issuers like American Express or Chase that you may qualify for.
- Join fan clubs or mailing lists that sometimes offer presale codes to the general public.
But in general, a personal Mastercard is required to directly access the special presale offers. It’s one of the perks of being a cardholder.
Is it better to buy presale vs. waiting for general on-sale?
Buying tickets during a Mastercard presale has several key advantages over waiting for the general on-sale:
Presale | General On-Sale | |
---|---|---|
Ticket availability | Full allotment of seats | Limited seats remaining |
Competition | Lower demand | Higher demand |
Booking ease | Fewer errors/hangups | Potential for crashes |
Ticket quality | Best seats available | Remaining seats |
The biggest factors are getting early access before tickets sell out, less competition trying to buy tickets at the same time, and getting the best seat locations. The presale is the best chance to get the tickets you want.
Is it guaranteed you will get tickets during a presale?
Unfortunately, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to hot ticket presales. Even with early access, there is still a rush to secure seats. Here are some tips to improve your chances:
- Get online ahead of time and be ready to enter the waiting room 30-60 min before the presale starts.
- Have your Mastercard payment information saved to your ticket account for faster checkout.
- Aim for best available seats instead of spending time picking specific seats.
- Try for single seats instead of groups if you’re flexible.
- Act fast once you gain access – don’t waste time debating or coordinating with friends.
Following these tips will give you the best shot at scoring tickets during busy presales, but nothing is ever 100% certain.
What are some common presale mistakes to avoid?
It’s easy to make mistakes when buying presale tickets in the rush. Here are some tips to avoid common errors:
- Read the terms carefully – Don’t try to circumvent ticket limits or use multiple accounts.
- Double check dates/details – It’s easy to grab tickets for the wrong day in the hurry.
- Allow enough time – Don’t wait until the last minute to enter the waiting room and checkout.
- Check seating maps – Make sure you understand the view before purchasing tickets.
- Beware third-party resellers – Only buy from official sources to avoid fraud.
- Avoid scalpers – Don’t pay inflated prices from scalpers or secondary sites.
Being prepared, researching the event ahead of time, and moving deliberately during the presale are key to avoiding mistakes. Rushing through the process can lead to errors and wasted money on tickets you don’t want.
Are there any fees or charges for presale tickets?
Mastercard presales generally have the same fees as regular ticket purchases, including:
- Service fees – Charged by the ticketing company (Ticketmaster, AXS, etc) to cover costs.
- Facility fees – Charged by the concert venue or stadium to maintain and operate the space.
- Delivery fees – If you have tickets mailed, get e-tickets, etc. there may be additional fees.
- Taxes and surcharges – Local jurisdictions often tax ticket sales.
These fees are simply the cost of doing business with major ticketing platforms. There are no specific fees just for accessing the Mastercard presales. However, premium VIP packages offered during presales may have higher fees than regular tickets.
Tips for avoiding high fees
Here are some tips to minimize fees when buying presale tickets:
- Avoid paper tickets/shipping – Go for e-ticket delivery instead.
- Pick standard tickets – VIP packages or addons will tack on fees.
- Look for presale discounts – Sometimes fees are waived as a presale perk.
- Check resale sites – They build fees into ticket prices but are upfront about it.
While there’s no getting around standard processing fees, a little research and smart choices can potentially save you money when buying presale tickets.
Conclusion
Mastercard presale tickets provide valuable early access to events for cardholders before the general public. Taking advantage of presales enables you to secure the best seats, avoid sellouts, and skip some of the competition over hot tickets.
Maximize your chances of getting presale tickets by carefully researching on-sales ahead of time, entering waiting rooms early, and having fast checkout procedures ready to go. Avoid mistakes like buying from unauthorized sellers. With some planning and savvy timing, presales can help music, sports and entertainment fans get the tickets they want.