As one of the largest credit card companies and ticket sellers in the United States, many people wonder if American Express and Ticketmaster have some kind of partnership or deal in place. In this comprehensive article, we’ll examine the relationship between these two giants of their respective industries and see if there are any special benefits or offers when using an American Express card to purchase tickets on Ticketmaster.
The History of American Express and Ticketmaster
American Express is one of the oldest and most well-known financial services companies in the world. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, American Express began issuing money orders and traveler’s checks before eventually introducing their first charge card in 1958. Today, American Express has over 100 million card members globally and is best known for its premium credit cards like the Platinum Card and Centurion Card.
Ticketmaster emerged in the 1970s as a way for venues and event promoters to easily sell tickets to concerts and shows. After getting its start working with venues in the Phoenix area, Ticketmaster began expanding nationally throughout the 1980s and 1990s, eventually becoming the dominant ticketing service in the country. In 2010, Ticketmaster merged with Live Nation to become Live Nation Entertainment, now the largest live events company in the world.
So while American Express and Ticketmaster have been major players in their own fields for decades, they have historically operated independently of one another. American Express focuses on providing payment solutions and services to consumers and businesses, while Ticketmaster sells event tickets on behalf of venues and promoters.
Do American Express Cardholders Get any Special Benefits on Ticketmaster?
Despite being two of the biggest names in their respective industries, there is no special partnership in place between American Express and Ticketmaster. American Express cardholders do not get access to any exclusive ticket offers, pre-sales or discounts when purchasing tickets through Ticketmaster.
This is in contrast to some of American Express’s relationships with other entertainment and live events companies. For example, American Express has deals with certain sports leagues and teams that give cardholders access to pre-sale ticket windows before the general public. But no such arrangement exists between American Express and Ticketmaster itself.
The lack of a partnership is not particularly surprising, given that the companies operate in fairly different spheres. Still, it means that there is no special advantage to using an American Express card over any other credit card when buying tickets on Ticketmaster.
Does American Express Have Deals with Any Other Ticket Sellers?
Although American Express does not have a partnership with Ticketmaster, it does have relationships with some other major ticket sellers that offer benefits to cardholders.
For instance, American Express has a deal with TicketSmarter in which Platinum Card members can get $30 back on ticket orders over $250. TicketSmarter is a large secondary ticket marketplace similar to StubHub.
American Express also has arrangements with certain sports teams and leagues that give cardholders access to special ticket offers. These include deals with the NBA, NHL, MLB, PGA Tour, and many individual teams like the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
So American Express definitely partners with some ticket sellers, just not the industry giant Ticketmaster. Any special offers are usually restricted to premium Platinum Card and Centurion members.
Does Ticketmaster Accept American Express Cards?
While there is no formal partnership between the two brands, American Express cards are still accepted as a form of payment on Ticketmaster. When purchasing tickets on either Ticketmaster’s website or mobile app, you will see American Express listed as one of the major credit card options.
So even without a special deal, American Express cardholders can still use their cards to pay for Ticketmaster orders just like any other card. Acceptance of American Express cards is nearly universal among major merchants and ticket sellers like Ticketmaster.
One small caveat is that American Express is sometimes not accepted for certain events or venues with more specialized ticketing setups. But for the vast majority of tickets sold directly through Ticketmaster, American Express will be an accepted payment method.
Does Ticketmaster Accept Any Other Major Credit Cards?
Ticketmaster accepts all the major credit and debit card brands, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. They also accept mobile payment platforms like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Here is a full overview of the payment options accepted by Ticketmaster:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Discover
- Diners Club
- JCB
- China UnionPay
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- PayPal
Debit cards from all major providers that run on the Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover networks are also accepted.
So consumers have many options when it comes to paying for Ticketmaster purchases. You are not at all limited to using an American Express card and can freely use other credit card brands without issue.
What Card Benefits Apply When Buying Ticketmaster Tickets?
Since American Express does not have any special partnership with Ticketmaster, you won’t get any unique perks or discounts by using an AmEx card there. However, some of the standard benefits provided by certain American Express cards can still be useful when buying tickets.
For example, cards like the American Express Gold Card and Platinum Card provide 4% and 5% cash back respectively on purchases made directly from Ticketmaster. So you can earn decent rewards on those transactions even without any specific Ticketmaster offer.
Other American Express card benefits that may apply include purchase protection, extended warranties, and rental car insurance. The applicable benefits will depend on the specific American Express card used.
Strategies for Saving Money on Ticketmaster with an American Express Card
While there are no special American Express deals for Ticketmaster, cardholders still have some options to potentially save a little money on ticket purchases:
- Use a card with cash back rewards – The AmEx Gold Card or Platinum Card can earn 4-5% back on Ticketmaster.
- Pay with points – Use American Express Membership Reward points to cover some or all of the purchase.
- Take advantage of Amex Offers – Check for any applicable Amex Offers that may give statement credits on Ticketmaster.
- Use the Entertainment Access program – Gives Platinum Cardholders access to premier seating for certain shows.
Combining a few of these tactics could add up to some decent savings on your next Ticketmaster order. Just don’t expect any huge discounts or perks due to the lack of a formal partnership between the two brands.
The Bottom Line
There is no special deal or partnership in place between American Express and Ticketmaster. While American Express cardholders can certainly use their cards to purchase tickets, they will not get access to any exclusive pre-sales, discounts, or offers.
Other major ticketing companies like TicketSmarter do have formal agreements with American Express. But when it comes to the largest primary seller Ticketmaster, there are no special benefits for American Express card users.
That said, American Express Membership Rewards points, cash back rewards, and Amex Offers can still enable cardholders to potentially save some money on Ticketmaster orders. Overall, while there are no unique perks, American Express cards remain a very usable payment method for buying tickets on Ticketmaster.
