Ticketmaster is the largest primary ticket outlet for live events in the United States and one of the largest entertainment ticket outlets in the world. When purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster, fans often wonder if they can upgrade their standard tickets to VIP or premium options after the initial purchase. Here is what you need to know about upgrading tickets on Ticketmaster.
Can You Upgrade Tickets on Ticketmaster?
Yes, in many cases it is possible to upgrade your ticket to a VIP or premium option on Ticketmaster after you have already purchased standard tickets. However, the ability to upgrade tickets depends on several factors:
- The event – Upgrades must be available and offered by the event organizer
- Timing – Upgrades may only be available before the event starts
- Seat availability – There must be open VIP seats still available for purchase
- Price difference – You will need to pay the price difference between your original ticket and the VIP ticket
So while Ticketmaster does make it possible to upgrade tickets in many cases, it is still dependent on these factors being met for any given event. Upgrades are not guaranteed to be available.
When Can You Upgrade Tickets?
If upgrades are available for an event, they typically can be purchased any time after the standard tickets go on sale to the public up until a certain cutoff point before the event starts. Every event is different, but often the upgrade cutoff is around 48-72 hours prior to the event start time.
Upgrades on Ticketmaster cannot be processed after this cutoff point or after the event starts. So if you want the option to upgrade to VIP tickets, it is best to purchase your tickets early in the sales process and upgrade well in advance of the event.
How Do You Upgrade Tickets on Ticketmaster?
The process for upgrading your tickets on Ticketmaster is simple. Here are the steps:
- Sign in to your Ticketmaster account online or via the app
- Navigate to the event order page for the tickets you want to upgrade
- Look for and click on the “Upgrade Tickets” option
- Select the number of tickets you want to upgrade
- Pick the new VIP ticket type you want to upgrade to
- Enter payment details for the price difference between the tickets
- Confirm the upgrade
Once completed, your original ticket order will now be upgraded to the new VIP ticket type. You can verify this by looking at your order details.
What Kinds of Upgrades Are Available?
The types of VIP or premium upgrades available will vary for each event. Some common Ticketmaster upgrade options include:
- VIP packages – Access to VIP lounge, premium seating, meet & greets
- Floor seats – Better view, gets you closer to the action
- Suite seats – Luxury suites with premium amenities
- Platinum tickets – Top tickets with best seating
- Fast Pass – Skip lines into venue/attractions
The event organizer sets the upgrade options, so they will differ across concerts, sporting events, theater shows, and other venues. The perks improve as you move up the upgrade tiers.
How Much Do Upgrades Cost?
The price to upgrade your ticket will depend on a few factors:
- The difference between the standard ticket and VIP ticket prices set by the event organizer
- The number of tickets being upgraded in your order
- The tier of the upgrade – More premium options cost more to upgrade to
There is no set formula for calculating the upgrade cost. When selecting your upgrade options, Ticketmaster will automatically show you the price difference you will need to pay to upgrade. This allows you to see your upgrade options and costs before confirming the upgrade transaction.
Refunds and Exchanges on Upgraded Tickets
When you upgrade tickets on Ticketmaster, the original tickets are voided and replaced with the new VIP ticket order. This means if you need to request a refund or exchange your upgraded tickets, the policies are the same as if you had purchased those VIP tickets originally.
Refund and exchange eligibility and restrictions are set by the event organizer. Typically for major events:
- Refunds are only issued if event is canceled or rescheduled
- Exchanges may be allowed prior to event if seats are still available
- No refunds or exchanges once event starts
Check the specific details in the Ticketmaster purchase flow before upgrading tickets, as policies can vary.
Can You Upgrade Third Party Ticketmaster Tickets?
If you purchased ticket resales on Ticketmaster from a third party ticket broker, rather than directly from Ticketmaster as the primary ticketer, then upgrades will not be available. Only tickets bought as primary sales directly through Ticketmaster can be upgraded.
This includes Ticketmaster’s Official Resale platform where season ticket holders resell extra tickets. Since those are still considered third party resale tickets and not primary sales, upgrades are not allowed.
Upgrading Multiple Tickets
When upgrading tickets on Ticketmaster, you can upgrade anywhere from 1 ticket in your order up to your entire order. So if you originally bought 4 standard tickets, you could for example upgrade 2 of them to VIP tickets.
The upgrade process allows you to select which specific seats/tickets in your order that you want to upgrade. Any tickets left unselected during the upgrade process will remain as the original standard ticket type.
Getting the Best Deals on Ticket Upgrades
Here are some tips to get the best value when upgrading your tickets on Ticketmaster:
- Buy early – Prices usually go up closer to the event, so cheaper upgrades are available further in advance.
- Upgrade less popular events – Upgrades for high demand events fill up quickly.
- Upgrade partially – You may not need VIP tickets for your whole group, so consider doing a partial upgrade.
- Look for presales and promotions – Special offers can give you a discount on upgrades.
Using Mobile Upgrades
Ticketmaster offers a mobile upgrade feature on its iOS and Android apps. This allows you to upgrade directly from the app as long as upgrades are available.
The mobile upgrade process is the same as on desktop. You can view available upgrades, see pricing, and complete the upgrade purchase on your phone or tablet.
Using mobile upgrades is convenient if you want to upgrade on the go. It also gives you access to upgrades even if you originally purchased tickets from the Ticketmaster Box Office in person.
Comparing Ticketmaster Upgrades to Resale Sites
Rather than upgrading on Ticketmaster, some fans choose to resell their original tickets and buy new resale VIP tickets instead. There are a few key differences between upgrading directly and buying resale:
| Ticketmaster Upgrades | Resale Site Purchases |
|---|---|
| Only pay the upgrade price difference | Pay full resale ticket price |
| Original tickets are voided | Must resell original tickets yourself |
| New upgraded tickets in your account | Buy from third party seller |
| No fees for posting and selling tickets | Resale fees apply |
Upgrading directly on Ticketmaster itself is usually the simpler and more cost effective option. But resale sites give you more selection in finding alternate VIP or premium tickets.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster offers a convenient upgrade option for fans looking to get better seats after already buying their tickets. As long as upgrades are available and offered by the event, you can upgrade standard ticket purchases to VIP options directly through your Ticketmaster account.
The upgrade process online or on mobile is straightforward – select your new tickets, pay the difference, and your order is swapped to the upgraded tickets. Doing ticket upgrades directly on Ticketmaster avoids having to resell and repurchase tickets just to get improved seating.
While upgrades are not guaranteed to be available, they give you the flexibility to purchase standard tickets early and still have the potential to get VIP access later if you want. Just be sure to upgrade before the cutoff period runs out to take advantage of this useful Ticketmaster feature.
