Does Amex get you Ticketmaster presale?

American Express cardholders do get access to Ticketmaster presales for various concerts and events. Having an eligible American Express card gives cardholders early access to buy tickets before the general public for high-demand events. This presale access is a key benefit offered by American Express to provide value to its cardholders.

How Amex Presales for Ticketmaster Work

Here is an overview of how American Express presales for Ticketmaster work:

• Eligible Cards – You need an eligible American Express credit card such as the Platinum Card or Gold Card to access Amex presales. Some other cards may also qualify, but the premium cards have the broadest access.
• Create Ticketmaster Account – You need a Ticketmaster account connected to your eligible Amex card. This links your card for verification when purchasing tickets.
• Presale Event Calendar – American Express will promote various presales on their Events page. This lists the presales you have access to along with dates and times.
• Buy During Presale Window – When the presale opens, you can buy tickets while signed into your verified Ticketmaster account. There is usually a set allotment of tickets for Amex cardholders.
• Limited Time Offers – Presales typically occur for a short window such as 24-48 hours before the general public on-sale. You need to act fast to get tickets during the Amex presale.

So in summary, having an eligible American Express card gives you a head start on buying in-demand tickets through dedicated presales on Ticketmaster. You still need to act quickly though, as presale tickets are limited.

Benefits of Amex Presales

There are several key benefits that American Express seeks to deliver to cardholders through Ticketmaster presale access:

• Earlier Access – Presales let you buy tickets before general public on-sale dates and times. This gives you first pick of seats.
• Better Selection – There is a set allotment of tickets for presales. You have access to more seats and options vs the mad rush of public on-sales.
• Less Competition – Since presales are exclusive to Amex cardholders only, there is less competition to secure tickets than public on-sales.
• Perk for Cardholders – Presale access provides a valuable perk for being an American Express cardholder.
• Incentive to Spend – Presale tickets can incentivize cardholder spending to earn rewards and gain access.

Overall, Amex presales give cardholders special treatment and advantages when buying highly sought-after event tickets. This caters to American Express’s brand positioning as a premium credit card provider.

How to Get Amex Presale Access

If you want access to American Express presales on Ticketmaster, here are the key steps:

1. Apply for an Eligible Card – You need a credit card like the Platinum or Gold Card that offers presale access as a benefit.
2. Get Approved – You’ll need to qualify and get approved for one of the eligible cards based on your credit and income.
3. Activate Your Card – Once approved, activate your new Amex credit card so it is ready to use.
4. Link to Ticketmaster – Go to Ticketmaster and ensure your Amex card is linked to your Ticketmaster account.
5. Watch for Presales – Check the Amex Events page routinely for upcoming presale date announcements.
6. Buy During Presale – Purchase your tickets on Ticketmaster during the presale using your verified Amex account.

So getting access takes some planning with getting an eligible card, linking accounts, and monitoring presale timing. But having access is invaluable for scoring those hard-to-get tickets.

Ideal Cards for Presale Access

Here are some of the top American Express cards that typically come with Ticketmaster presale access privileges:

American Express Platinum Card

The Platinum Card from American Express is considered the premier card from Amex. It comes with a rich set of benefits, airport lounge access, Uber credits, and hotel status. It provides one of the broadest access to presales for high-demand events and concerts. The card has a $695 annual fee, but the perks can easily offset that for frequent travelers or event-goers.

American Express Gold Card

The Gold Card from American Express is another strong contender for presale access. It offers 4x points on dining and groceries to complement its presale benefits. The Gold Card has a lower $250 annual fee and also come in a Rose Gold variation. For many, the Gold Card hits the ideal blend of presale access, rewards earnings, and annual fee.

American Express Green Card

The Green Card from American Express is a solid mid-tier card from Amex. It comes with 3x points on transit and travel spending. The Green Card provides some presale access, though not as broad as the Platinum or Gold cards. But it also only has a $150 annual fee, so can be attractive based on your spending habits.

Types of Events with Presales

American Express presales span across multiple types of events, concerts, theaters, and experiences. Here are some of the common categories where you will find Amex presale opportunities:

• Concerts – Presales for top musical artists and bands touring nationwide in large concert venues.
• Sports – Early access to buy tickets for sporting events from the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and more.
• Theater – Presales for hugely popular Broadway and West End theater productions.
• Festivals – Access to presales for multiday festivals and cultural events.
• Comedy – Standup comedy presales for exclusive engagements in smaller theaters.
• Arts & Culture – Presales for events like Cirque du Soleil, Shen Yun Performing Arts, and more.

The roster of presale events is always changing and expanding. But these categories represent the prime areas where you’ll find Amex presale opportunities with Ticketmaster.

Comparing to Other Presales

In addition to Amex, there are also some other sources of presale ticket access to be aware of with Ticketmaster. How does American Express presale access compare?

Official Fan Clubs

Many major artists have official fan clubs that unlock presales. These are typically reserved for paying fan club members and offer the earliest presale access. Downside is you need to join each act’s fan club individually.

Verified Fan Presales

Ticketmaster also runs Verified Fan presales for some events. These require registering ahead of time and getting approved for a presale code. Upside is it beats scalpers. Downside is no guarantee of getting a code.

Chase Card Presales

Chase cards also offer some presale access similar to Amex. Their presale events tend to be focused on select sports, concerts, and theater. Availability is not as widespread as Amex presales.

Promoter Presales

For some events, the event promoter or venue will run their own presales. These are not tied to any credit card but do give fans early access. However, promoter presales tend to be quite limited in scope.

Overall, American Express presales provide the most consistent and wide-ranging presale access. The breadth of exclusive offers for Amex cardholders is unmatched compared to other presale sources.

Why Presales Sell Out Quickly

Despite having presale access, many Amex cardholders still find desired tickets selling out quickly. Why is it still so hard to get presale tickets? There are a few key reasons:

• Limited Quantities – There are only a set number of tickets allocated to presales. The most popular price levels and seats sell out fast.
• High Demand – Even with presales limited to Amex cardholders, there is still huge demand for hot events that overwhelms supply.
• Bots and Scalpers – Computer bots and scalpers find ways around presale limits using multiple accounts and credit cards.
• Duplicate Requests – Many fans request tickets over and over which creates more demand than unique buyers.

In short, the limited presale tickets sell quickly due to the continued massive demand from fans for the best seats. Getting presale access helps, but you still need to be strategic to maximize your chances.

Tips to Get Presale Tickets

Here are some handy tips and tricks that can help increase your odds of scoring presale tickets:

1. Be Ready to Buy – Log into your Ticketmaster account ahead of time so you can buy immediately once the presale starts.
2. Find Presale Passwords – Some presales require passcodes which are often available on the Amex or artist social media pages.
3. Use Two Devices – Pull up the Ticketmaster page on a computer and mobile device to double your chances.
4. Act Fast – Buy desired tickets right away once sales start. Don’t hesitate or tickets may sell out from under you.
5. Have Backup Options – Have a second choice for seat location or date in case your first choice sells out.
6. Try General Sale – If you miss out on the presale, some tickets may be released in the general public on-sale.

Advance preparation and quick action is key to effectively using your Amex presale window for the best shot at getting tickets.

Ways to Use Rewards for Tickets

One other tip for American Express cardholders is to use Membership Rewards points to pay for concert and event tickets. Here are some of the best options:

• Amex Experiences – Book tickets to exclusive events only available using Membership Rewards.
• Pay with Points – Redeem points during checkout for statement credits to cover charges.
• Ticketmaster Points Payment – New option that lets you redeem points directly for tickets.
• Transfer to Airline Miles – Convert points to frequent flyer miles to book free flights to events.
• Third-Party Resellers – Use points on reseller sites for events Ticketmaster doesn’t cover.

Redeeming points can make those big ticket purchases more affordable. It allows you to get more value from the rewards you earn via your American Express card spending.

Conclusion

Accessing American Express presales provides a major advantage when trying to buy hot event tickets. By linking your eligible Amex card to a Ticketmaster account, you gain access to exclusive presales before the general public. This gives you an early shot at better seats and inventory. Despite limits on quantities, presales still tend to sell out fast due to overwhelming fan demand. But getting presale access through an eligible American Express credit card puts you ahead of the pack when trying to buy tickets for must-see events and concerts. Use these presale tips and ticket booking strategies to make the most of your Amex presale benefits.