With more and more events requiring digital tickets rather than traditional paper tickets, mobile wallets like Apple Wallet have become a popular way to store event tickets. Apple Wallet allows you to keep digital versions of tickets, boarding passes, and more right on your iPhone or Apple Watch. This provides easy access to scan your tickets at the venue without needing to print them out or pull up a QR code on your phone screen. But does this convenience come at a cost for certain tickets purchased via Ticketmaster? Let’s take a look at whether Ticketmaster allows transfer of tickets stored in Apple Wallet and what options you have if transfer is restricted.
The basics of transferring tickets in Apple Wallet
Standard tickets in Apple Wallet can be easily transferred to friends or family members also using an iPhone. All you need to do is open the Wallet app, tap on the ticket, and select Transfer. This brings up options to text or email the ticket to someone else. As long as they also have Wallet set up on their iPhone, the ticket will be automatically added to their device. It’s a very convenient way to digitally share tickets with others if you can’t attend an event.
You’ll run into problems, however, if the tickets have restrictions set by the ticket issuer that prevent transfer. This brings us to the Ticketmaster policy on transferring tickets…
Can you transfer Ticketmaster tickets in Apple Wallet?
Whether Ticketmaster tickets can be transferred from Apple Wallet depends on a couple key factors:
- The specific event policy on ticket transfers
- The type of Ticketmaster ticket purchased
Many major concerts, sports events, and other hot ticket happenings strictly prohibit any transfers of tickets purchased through Ticketmaster. Even if the tickets are loaded into Apple Wallet, the unique barcode can only be scanned once. So if you transfer the ticket, it will no longer allow entry when the new holder tries to use it.
There are some exceptions where Ticketmaster tickets can be transferred in Apple Wallet:
- Smaller local events may allow ticket transfers
- Season ticket packages or other multi-use tickets linked to a Ticketmaster account may permit limited transfers
However, most major Ticketmaster events will block any sort of ticket transfer after the initial purchase. This includes transfer between Apple Wallet devices.
Other options if Ticketmaster tickets can’t transfer in Apple Wallet
If the Ticketmaster tickets you purchased are non-transferable, all is not lost if you can’t attend the event. Here are a few options to consider:
Resell or exchange through Ticketmaster
Many event tickets purchased on Ticketmaster can be resold or exchanged through their official resale marketplace. There may be fees involved, but it provides a safe way to recoup the cost of tickets you can’t use.
To resell Ticketmaster tickets in Apple Wallet that can’t be directly transferred, you typically need to:
- Go to your Ticketmaster account online
- Find the order with the tickets you want to resell
- Select an option to resell the tickets through Ticketmaster
- Agree to any terms and officially list the tickets for resale
Once sold, Ticketmaster will transfer the tickets directly to the buyer. This avoids any issues with non-transferable tickets in Apple Wallet.
Gift the tickets to friends or family
Rather than reselling tickets you can’t use, consider gifting them to a friend or family member. They’ll need to have access to your Ticketmaster account to sign in and access the tickets. But this option allows someone else to enjoy the event with non-transferrable Apple Wallet tickets.
Attend part of the event
For a concert, sports event, or festival spanning multiple days, attend the portion you’re able to if the tickets can’t transfer. Make the most of the non-refundable tickets by enjoying the experience, even if it’s not the full event.
This may not work for single-day events. But it’s something to consider to avoid completely wasting money spent on tickets in Apple Wallet that won’t transfer.
Summary of key points
To recap the key facts on whether Ticketmaster allows transfers of Apple Wallet tickets:
- Most major event tickets can NOT transfer after purchase
- Smaller local events may allow Apple Wallet ticket transfers
- If transfer is blocked, resell or gift tickets instead of wasting them
- Partially attend multi-day events yourself if possible
The convenience of Apple Wallet tickets comes with the tradeoff that transfers are regulated by the ticket seller. With Ticketmaster holding a dominant position in ticket sales, their transfer policy heavily impacts events you may attend. Carefully check the details before purchasing tickets you may need to send to someone else’s iPhone.
Apple Wallet ticket transfer how-to
If you purchased event tickets through Ticketmaster that do permit transfers, here is a quick guide on how to transfer them to another iPhone via Apple Wallet:
Requirements
- iPhone device with Wallet app
- iOS 12 or higher
- Tickets that allow transfer after purchase
Steps to transfer Ticketmaster ticket from Apple Wallet
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone
- Select the event ticket you want to transfer
- Tap the Transfer button near the bottom
- Choose either Message or Mail to send the ticket
- Enter the recipient’s phone number or email address
- Tap Send
Once sent, the ticket will disappear from your Wallet. The recipient just needs to open the message or email and add the ticket to their own Apple Wallet. Very handy for last minute transfers if permitted!
Troubleshooting tips
Some troubleshooting tips in case you run into issues trying to transfer Ticketmaster tickets from Apple Wallet:
- If the Transfer button is greyed out or missing, the tickets were likely sold as non-transferrable
- Be sure the recipient has an iPhone with iOS 12 or later to receive and add the tickets
- Check for any error messages about the event not allowing transfers when you attempt to send the tickets
- Make sure you update to the latest Wallet app version in case of bugs with transfers
As a last resort, you’ll need to go through Ticketmaster if transfers fail for non-technical reasons. For example, reaching out to customer support if you didn’t initially notice restrictive event transfer policies when purchasing the tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Can you transfer unsold Ticket Exchange tickets back to your Apple Wallet?
If you list event tickets for resale on Ticketmaster Ticket Exchange but they don’t sell, unfortunately there is no way to move the unsold tickets back to your Apple Wallet. The original tickets are voided as soon as they are listed for exchange/resale. If the resale listing expires, you would need to contact Ticketmaster customer support to discuss other options. But the original non-transferrable tickets in your Apple Wallet remain invalid.
What if I’m having technical issues transferring Ticketmaster tickets from Apple Wallet?
First make sure both devices involved in the transfer are running iOS 12 or later, have the latest version of the Wallet app, and have internet connectivity. If you still can’t complete the transfer, reach out to Apple support with details on the technical issue (error messages, strange app behavior, etc). They can troubleshoot further and determine if it’s a wider system issue on Apple’s end or something else with your individual devices or tickets.
Do transferred Apple Wallet tickets still allow entry if original buyer’s phone dies?
Yes, Apple Wallet tickets transferred to another device will remain valid for entry even if the original buyer’s iPhone shuts down or loses battery. The tickets create a sort of digital “guest list” tied to whoever currently holds the transferred Apple Wallet ticket. As long as the recipient’s iPhone has battery to display the ticket, loss of power on the original buyer’s device will not affect the transferred ticket scans.
Can you transfer Apple Wallet tickets directly back to Ticketmaster for a refund?
There is no way to directly transfer an Apple Wallet ticket back to Ticketmaster through the Wallet app. You would need to log into your Ticketmaster account online and request a refund there if possible. Then the Ticketmaster system can invalidate the old non-transferrable Apple Wallet tickets on your end. But the tickets can’t migrate directly back from an iPhone to Ticketmaster’s systems for a refund. There’s no reverse transfer feature built into Apple Wallet.
Key takeaways
Here are some key points to summarize whether Ticketmaster allows transfers of tickets stored in Apple Wallet:
- Major events usually prohibit transfers after purchase
- Small local events may permit Apple Wallet ticket transfers
- Workarounds exist if transfers are restricted, like reselling through Ticketmaster
- Technical issues require Apple/Ticketmaster customer support
- Can’t transfer tickets directly back to Ticketmaster for refunds
While Apple Wallet enables easy digital ticket storage and scanning, the transfer abilities are still subject to the rules of the ticket seller. This limits last minute transfers for many Ticketmaster events and concerts. Check event policies carefully before purchasing tickets you may need to send to someone else’s iPhone.
Conclusion
Apple Wallet provides convenient digital storage and access for event tickets, loyalty cards, boarding passes, and more. But its ability to easily transfer tickets between iPhones relies heavily on the transfer policies set by ticket sellers like Ticketmaster.
For most major concerts, sports events, and other hot tickets, any sort of ticket transfer is prohibited after initial purchase. Even if you store the tickets in Apple Wallet, the unique barcode can only be scanned once. This prevents last minute ticket transfers between friends if you can’t attend an event.
Smaller local events may allow Apple Wallet ticket transfers between iPhones. And if the tickets were purchased as part of a season ticket package, limited transfers may also be permitted. But the majority of high-profile events will not allow any ticket transfers after purchase, which impacts Apple Wallet convenience.
If you do have Ticketmaster tickets in Apple Wallet that can’t transfer to friends, you have a few options: resell them on Ticketmaster’s marketplace, gift them to someone using your account login, or try to attend part of the multi-day event yourself. This prevents eating the cost of unused tickets.
While Apple Wallet enables easy mobile access to event tickets, its transfer feature is subject to policies beyond Apple’s control. Carefully verify whether tickets permit transfers before purchasing tickets through Ticketmaster that you may need to send to someone else’s iPhone.