Ticketmaster’s Front of the Line is a paid membership program that provides fans early access to tickets for high-demand concerts and events. For a monthly or yearly fee, Front of the Line members get first dibs on tickets during presales before the general public has access. This allows members to secure some of the best seats before they sell out.
What are the benefits of Front of the Line?
There are several key benefits to being a Front of the Line member:
- Early access to tickets – Members get first access during presales, before tickets go on sale to the general public. This gives them an advantage in getting the best tickets.
- Better seat selection – By having early access, members can select seats before inventory is depleted. This allows them to get floor seats, front rows, VIP packages, etc.
- Access to sold out shows – Even for extremely popular events that sell out in minutes, members will have a shot at tickets during the presale.
- No tickets fees – Members don’t have to pay per ticket fees when purchasing tickets.
- Other presales – Besides concerts, members also get early access to presales for sporting events, theater shows, festivals and more.
In summary, Front of the Line allows superfans to avoid ticket buying hassles and secure the best seats at their favorite events. It takes the stress out of trying to buy tickets and gives members a major advantage.
How does Front of the Line work?
Front of the Line provides members access to an exclusive presale before the general onsale. Here is how it works:
- Upcoming events are announced – Ticketmaster will announce ahead of time which major events will have a Front of the Line presale.
- Presale window scheduled – Each presale will have a specific date and time window (typically 24-48 hours before onsale).
- Code provided – Members are emailed a unique presale access code to use when purchasing tickets.
- Members-only checkout – During the presale window, only members can access tickets by using their code. This gives them exclusive early access.
- General onsale – Once the presale ends, any remaining tickets are released to the general public.
So in summary, members get a password-protected presale code that gives them access to tickets before the general public. This ensures they can secure tickets before the best seats are gone.
What types of tickets can you get?
Front of the Line can be used to purchase tickets for all kinds of events, including:
- Concerts – All types of live music including pop, rock, country, hip-hop, alternative, jazz, and more.
- Comedy shows – Stand-up comedy tours at venues and theaters.
- Theater & Broadway – Plays, musicals, and other theatrical productions.
- Sporting events – NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB games, wrestling, MMA, and more.
- Family shows – Disney on Ice, Sesame Street Live, and other family-friendly productions.
- Festivals – Coachella, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and other major festivals.
- Awards shows – Grammys, Oscars, VMAs, and other live award programs.
So Front of the Line works for getting early access to hot tickets across music, sports, theater, comedy, and live entertainment.
What are the membership options?
There are a couple membership options to choose from:
Membership | Cost | Benefits |
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Monthly | $39.99 per month |
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Yearly | $199.99 per year |
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The yearly membership provides more value and perks. However, the monthly plan allows for more flexibility if you just need access for a short period.
Is there a membership limit?
In the past, Ticketmaster capped Front of the Line memberships once they reached a certain number. However, as of 2022, there is no longer a membership limit. Anyone can sign-up and purchase a subscription.
What are the presale ticket limits?
To prevent scalping and hoarding, there are limits in place on how many presale tickets a single Front of the Line member can purchase:
- Concerts – Limit of 8 tickets for major concert presales at large venues.
- Other events – Varies based on event. Typically a limit of 4-8 tickets.
- Platinum Tickets – Cannot purchase Platinum level tickets during presale.
So while members get early access, there are still safeguards in place to allow all fans a fair shot at tickets.
Can you buy tickets for friends?
Yes, Front of the Line members can purchase tickets for anyone they choose. The presale ticket limits are per account. So you could buy the full allotment and distribute tickets to friends and family.
To do this, you simply need to enter your friends’ names and contact info when purchasing tickets through the presale. Their tickets and seat locations will be linked to their info. This allows you to securely purchase tickets for your whole group.
How does the waiting room work?
For extremely high demand events, Ticketmaster may use a virtual waiting room for the Front of the Line presale. Here is how it works:
- Members receive a presale code to access the waiting room.
- At presale start time, members enter the code which places them in the waiting room queue.
- Members wait in the queue until they are granted access to purchase tickets.
- Once inside, members have 10-15 minutes to shop for tickets before the session expires.
- The waiting room queues members in a random order to keep it fair.
This system helps manage the initial rush by gradually granting members access. So even if 200K+ members are online, it prevents Ticketmaster from crashing.
Can you choose your own seats?
Yes, during the presale Front of the Line members are able to hand pick their own seat locations. An interactive seat map is available to browse open seats and select your preferred section and row.
Having the ability to choose seats is a major benefit compared to the general onsale. By that point, many of the prime seat options are already taken.
Can you purchase VIP or Platinum tickets?
Front of the Line provides access to most ticket types, with a couple exceptions:
- VIP Packages – Can be purchased during presale, subject to availability.
- Platinum Tickets – Cannot purchase Platinum tickets before general onsale.
- Official Platinum – Available for presale purchase starting in 2023.
So premium VIP amenities can be purchased during the presale. But Platinum demand-based pricing is not available until the general onsale.
Is there a mobile app?
Ticketmaster does have a Front of the Line mobile app available for iOS and Android. The app provides features like:
- Presale notifications and reminders
- Quick access to presale events and codes
- Save payment info for faster checkout
- Sync upcoming events to your calendar
The app provides convenient access to presales while on the go. You can easily pull up codes or purchase tickets even when away from a desktop.
Can you use Ticketmaster gift cards?
Yes, Front of the Line members can redeem Ticketmaster gift cards toward both their membership fees and ticket purchases. The gift cards can be applied during online checkout by entering the card number and PIN.
Using gift cards is a great way to save on membership fees or event tickets without spending any extra money out of pocket.
Can members purchase resale tickets?
Front of the Line only provides members access to primary market presale tickets from the ticketing inventory. It does not give any special access to Ticketmaster’s resale marketplace where fans resell extra tickets.
So if a show does sell out during presale, members would need to purchase resale tickets just like the general public. There is no advantage or discount for members buying resale tickets.
Is Front of the Line refundable?
Unfortunately, Front of the Line memberships are non-refundable. Once you purchase a monthly or yearly membership, those fees cannot be refunded even if you decide to cancel.
However, the tickets purchased through the membership can be refunded as long as it’s before the posted refund deadline (typically 48 hours before event).
Can you cancel Front of the Line?
Members can cancel an auto-renewing yearly membership at any time by managing their Ticketmaster account online. Monthly memberships simply expire at the end of the month.
Once canceled, you will immediately lose access to the presales but can still use the service through the end of the existing membership term.
Is Front of the Line worth it?
For superfans who attend a lot of events, Front of the Line is usually a worthwhile investment. The key benefits are:
- Guaranteed access to in-demand tickets
- First dibs on prime seating options
- Avoid ticket buying hassles and stress
- More convenient shopping experience
Frequent concertgoers who want to get great seats will find the most value from it. For more casual fans, the free general onsales may be sufficient for their occasional ticket needs.
When does it make the most financial sense?
To maximize the return on your membership, you would want to attend enough events where the combined cost savings offsets the membership fee. For example:
- Monthly: After 4 events by saving fees (~$10 per ticket)
- Yearly: After 12-15 events by saving fees (~$10-15 per ticket)
So if you plan to attend several events within a 12 month period, the math generally works out in your favor.
How many members does Front of the Line have?
Ticketmaster does not release exact numbers, but Front of the Line is estimated to currently have between 500,000 to 1 million members globally. It continues to grow each year as more fans recognize the value it provides.
In major markets like New York and Los Angeles where tickets sell out instantly, membership numbers are likely on the higher end. There are also concentrated member bases in cities like Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Toronto, and Vancouver.
As more fans have difficulty buying hot tickets, Front of the Line’s membership base will likely continue expanding.
What are fans saying about it?
Here are some common fan reactions to being a Front of the Line member:
Positive Feedback
- “It’s worth every penny not to have to stress over buying tickets.”
- “I’ve gotten amazing seats to so many shows because of it.”
- “It makes me feel like a VIP being able to access presales.”
- “I love having the inside track on getting tickets before my friends.”
Negative Feedback
- “There aren’t always a lot of presales in my area.”
- “Popular shows still sell out fast even during presale.”
- “I wish there were no limits on how many you can buy.”
- “It’s frustrating when scalpers also have access.”
Overall, most members find major value in the exclusive presale access, reserved inventory, and peace of mind it brings. But limitations on availability and ticket quantities lead some to be underwhelmed.
How does Front of the Line differ from other presales?
Besides Front of the Line, there are other artist and venue-specific presales. Here is how they compare:
Presale Type | Access | Benefits |
---|---|---|
Front of the Line | Paid membership | Guaranteed presale for all events |
Artist Presale | Fan club membership | Presales for one artist only |
Venue Presale | Join email list | Presales at specific venue |
Spotify Presale | Spotify follower | Select presales based on listening |
Front of the Line provides access to presales for all events, not just specific artists, venues, or music listened to. It acts as an “all access pass” for fan club-level presale access.
Tips for buying presale tickets
Here are some top tips for Front of the Line members to master presale ticket buying:
- Log in early – Be ready on the ticketing site up to 30 mins before the presale starts to get a head start.
- Don’t get distracted – Stay glued to your computer once the presale starts. Being distracted can cost you tickets.
- Have payment ready – Save payment details ahead of time for the fastest checkout. Every second counts.
- Aim for lower sections – Floor seats and lower bowls go quickest, so target them if they’re a priority.
- Act fast – Don’t overthink seat selections. Getting tickets trumps where you sit.
Following these best practices will help you conquer presales like a pro and get the tickets you want!
Conclusion
Ticketmaster’s Front of the Line provides dedicated fans with exclusive presale access and the inside track on getting the best seats. By paying a membership fee, you ensure you can obtain tickets to top events before they sell out. While not cheap, it offers strong guarantees that casual buyers don’t receive. For avid concert and event goers, the perks outweigh the costs.
So if you want to gain control of your ticket buying experience, reduce stress, and get ahead of the competition, Front of the Line may be a game-changing program. When only the closest seats will do, this level of early access becomes extremely valuable.