This is an interesting question that many consumers may have wondered about when trying to purchase tickets for popular concerts and events through Ticketmaster. There has been speculation that American Express cardholders get early access or preferential treatment when it comes to buying tickets on Ticketmaster.
The Relationship Between American Express and Ticketmaster
American Express and Ticketmaster have had a business partnership since 2011, when the companies announced a multi-year deal. The agreement made American Express the official credit card and premium charge card of Ticketmaster in the United States.
As part of the deal, American Express cardholders have access to special offers, reserved tickets, and pre-sale opportunities for concerts and events through Ticketmaster. The partnership provides incentives for AmEx customers to use their cards when purchasing tickets. On the other side, it gives Ticketmaster increased business from AmEx’s large customer base.
However, the deal does not give American Express or its cardholders complete early access across the board to all Ticketmaster tickets. Instead, it grants pre-sale ticket opportunities and discounts when they are made available for select events. The pre-sale period usually occurs 1-3 days before the general public on-sale.
Does American Express Get Exclusive Access to All Ticketmaster Tickets?
No, American Express does not get exclusive or early access to all Ticketmaster tickets for all concerts and events. Here are some key points on how it works:
- AmEx pre-sale opportunities are at the discretion of the event organizer or artist. They must enable and allow American Express special offers and pre-sales.
- Not all events on Ticketmaster make pre-sales available to AmEx cardholders.
- When AmEx pre-sales are offered, they are typically for a limited time before the public on-sale.
- American Express only gets a portion of tickets allotted for pre-sale.
- Supply and availability varies widely depending on the event.
In essence, American Express gets early access to some but not all tickets for select events on Ticketmaster. Availability depends on the event and ticket demand. AmEx does not have any special privileges to all Ticketmaster inventory.
How American Express Pre-Sales Work on Ticketmaster
When American Express cardholders get pre-sale access to Ticketmaster tickets, here is how it works:
- The event organizer or artist enables an AmEx pre-sale.
- AmEx cardholders receive special codes or links to access the pre-sale.
- During the allotted pre-sale window, AmEx customers can purchase from the inventory set aside.
- Ticket limits apply, usually 2-4 per account.
- The remaining tickets go on sale to the general public.
This process provides an early chance for AmEx customers to buy tickets before the main public on-sale date. Keep in mind that high demand events will still sell out quickly even during the pre-sale. There are also no guarantees on getting tickets even with American Express pre-sale access.
Does American Express Have Special Access to Popular Events?
For very popular concerts and sporting events with high ticket demand, American Express is not guaranteed special access. Examples include major artists like Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, and the Rolling Stones, who consistently sell out arenas and stadiums very quickly.
These in-demand events often have strict limits in place around pre-sales, especially for third-party partners like American Express. The event organizers want to ensure fair and equal access across all fans during the public on-sale. They may only make a tiny fraction of tickets available for pre-sales.
So while American Express cardholders may get a shot at buying coveted tickets for mega-events ahead of the crowd, supply is very limited. There is very high competition even during the pre-sale. Most of the tickets are reserved for the general on-sale date.
Does American Express Get Better Seats?
American Express does not inherently get access to better seats for Ticketmaster events compared to the general public. Here are some key points on how it works for seat locations:
- Any seats designated for AmEx pre-sale come from the venue’s overall seat map.
- AmEx customers are not assigned seats ahead of time or given preferential locations.
- Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis like the public on-sale.
- Good seat availability depends on when you access and purchase tickets.
- Earlier access can result in better pickings before other sections sell out.
So while the pre-sale window gives American Express cardholders early bidding on seats, it does not reserve specific seat blocks or locations. Good seats still go fast, requiring prompt access online right when the pre-sale starts.
Ways to Get American Express Pre-Sale Access
If you have an American Express card, here are some ways to take advantage of pre-sales on Ticketmaster when available:
- Check your email inbox for pre-sale announcements, codes, and links from American Express.
- Visit the AmEx Experiences site and search for offers under the Event Presales filter.
- Follow American Express on social media for pre-sale notifications.
- Check with the ticketing box office at the venue to ask about AmEx pre-sales.
- Look on Ticketmaster for notices of an AmEx presale and the timing.
Having an eligible American Express card number is required to access the special offers. Make sure to register your card on Ticketmaster and other vendor sites.
Tips for American Express Pre-Sales
Here are some tips to have success getting tickets through American Express pre-sales on Ticketmaster:
- Log into Ticketmaster precisely at the start of the published pre-sale time.
- Have your card info saved in your Ticketmaster account for fastest checkout.
- Be ready on the event page you want 10-15 minutes before the pre-sale opens.
- Click Refresh right as the clock hits the advertised pre-sale time.
- Have backup browsers/devices ready in case of traffic delays.
- Aim for best available seats instead of wasting time choosing specific seats.
- Check back later if tickets sell out – some are held until general on-sale.
Even with early access, high demand can make AmEx pre-sales intensely competitive. Having a game plan and savvy technology approach is key to try and beat the rush.
Alternatives for Sold Out Events
For events that completely sell out during the AmEx pre-sale, don’t lose hope! Here are some other ways you still may be able to get tickets:
- Additional tour dates – Artists often add more shows when venues sell out quickly.
- Last minute ticket releases – Venues sometimes free up held tickets at the last minute.
- Fan ticket exchanges – Some teams and artists enable fans to exchange tickets.
- Ticket resale sites – An authorized resale marketplace may have marked up ticket prices.
- Scalpers – Buying from unauthorized street scalpers is risky.
The key is being flexible on dates and vigilant in checking all avenues frequently for new ticket openings. Setting up alerts can also help snap up tickets as soon as they become available again.
Summary
In summary, here are the key points on American Express’s access to Ticketmaster tickets:
- AmEx has a long-running partnership deal with Ticketmaster.
- Cardholders get access to special pre-sales for select events, not all events.
- Supply is limited based on what the event organizer allows.
- High demand events still sell out quickly even during pre-sale.
- AmEx does not get reserved seats or preferential locations.
- Persistence, planning, and luck are needed to beat ticket rush.
So while American Express provides some advantages, there are no absolute guarantees when it comes to scoring hot tickets. The competition remains intense due to the exclusivity of concerts and games that fans are passionate about.
Conclusion
American Express cardholders can gain access to special pre-sales and offers for certain events and tickets on Ticketmaster. However, supply is not limitless. Fan demand continues to dramatically outpace availability for red-hot concerts, shows, and sporting events.
While AmEx’s deal with Ticketmaster provides some early ticketing options under the right circumstances, there are no universal shortcuts around Ticketmaster’s competitive nature for huge live events. Persistence and good fortune are still often needed to secure seats through any pre-sale avenue.
So despite any misconceptions, American Express does not inherently have their own secret backdoor pipeline into all Ticketmaster tickets. Pre-sale allotments are small, and general public on-sales remain intensely crowded. The reality is there are no guarantees of tickets when vying with millions of other fans for limited seats at the most popular events.