Ticketmaster is a major ticket sales and distribution company that sells tickets for events like concerts, sports games, and theater shows. AARP is an interest and advocacy group focused on issues affecting Americans over the age of 50. AARP members receive various discounts from companies as a benefit of membership. This leads to the question – does Ticketmaster offer an AARP discount on tickets?
The quick answer is no, Ticketmaster does not offer a specific AARP discount for ticket purchases. Ticketmaster does not currently have any official partnership or program with AARP to provide special ticket pricing for AARP members. However, Ticketmaster does have discounts available to the general public that AARP members can take advantage of.
Ticketmaster’s Lack of AARP Discount
Ticketmaster does not provide an AARP discount for a few potential reasons:
– No official partnership – Ticketmaster simply does not have any agreement in place with AARP to offer special ticket pricing. Forming such a partnership may not have been considered or did not come to fruition.
– Complexities of implementation – Integrating systems and processes to verify AARP membership and restrict special ticket access would require effort on Ticketmaster’s part to put into place.
– Dilution of other discounts – Ticketmaster may prefer to focus on other discount programs like military, student, or corporate discounts which have broader appeal. An AARP discount could take away emphasis from these programs.
– Less need to incentivize older buyers – Older audiences already tend to purchase many tickets for events. There may be less need to specifically incentivize them to buy more.
– Cost concerns – Providing a discount exclusively for AARP’s 38 million members could reduce Ticketmaster’s profit margins on ticket sales. The discount would need to generate enough extra ticket sales to offset the revenue loss.
So in summary, the lack of an official partnership, logistical complexities, desire to emphasize other discounts, limited need to further incentivize older ticket buyers, and potential cost concerns seem to be the key factors that prevent Ticketmaster from offering an exclusive AARP membership discount.
Discounts Available for All Customers
While there is no specific AARP deal, Ticketmaster does offer various general ticket discounts that AARP members can take advantage of:
– Special Offers – Ticketmaster often provides special discount codes online that can be applied to ticket purchases for certain events. These vary over time but provide a percent or dollar amount off.
– Fan Sales – For very high demand events, Ticketmaster sometimes utilizes fan sales that provide ticket access at discounted prices if you register ahead of time.
– Season Tickets – For recurring events like a sports team’s home games, full season ticket packages typically come at an average discount compared to individual game prices.
– Group Tickets – Buying tickets in bulk for a group often makes the per ticket price lower. AARP members can coordinate group purchases to benefit.
– Mobile App Offers – Ticketmaster’s mobile app will occasionally provide exclusive spontaneous discounts for certain shows that users can find and redeem.
– Ticket Exchange – You can find discounted secondhand tickets being resold by other fans on Ticketmaster’s Ticket Exchange marketplace.
– Future Presales – Signing up for an artist’s fan club or Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program can provide early presale ticket access for newly announced events. Special presale tickets are sometimes priced lower as an incentive for fan club members.
So while there is no discount specifically tied to being an AARP member, wise comparison shopping, combining offers, and looking for special incentives can help find deals on Ticketmaster for AARP members and customers in general. Checking directly with venues and box offices can also turn up promotional pricing not offered online.
Non-Ticketmaster Sources for AARP Ticket Discounts
Beyond Ticketmaster itself, AARP members can find some ticket discounts by going through alternative sources:
– Venue Box Offices – Some concert halls, theaters, arenas, and other venues offer discounts like senior ticket pricing for older patrons buying direct. Their box office may extend discounts to AARP members.
– Artist Fan Clubs – Musicians and comedians sometimes provide special fan club ticket pre-sales and discounts to members. Joining a fan club could get AARP members deals.
– Promotional Partners – AARP has discount partnerships with rental car companies, hotels, restaurants, and other services that sometimes provide their members with discounted event tickets as a crossover promotion.
– Online Retailers – Large general retailers that sell event tickets like Amazon or Walmart might offer an AARP discount not provided directly by Ticketmaster itself.
– Membership Programs – Some membership programs like those from credit cards or AAA may offer partner discounts on certain event tickets to program members.
In summary, checking alternative ticket sources beyond Ticketmaster could uncover some AARP member discounts on tickets not found on the main Ticketmaster website. But Ticketmaster itself does not directly offer an exclusive AARP ticket discount.
Other Ways for AARP Members to Save on Tickets
Besides pursuing discounts, there are other ways AARP members can save money when purchasing tickets:
– Buy Upper Level or Obstructed View Seats – Skipping lower level or front row tickets brings costs down. Upper decks or sections with partially obstructed views often sell for 25-40% less.
– Avoid Extra Fees – Opting out of add-on shipping fees and steering clear of upsold premium parking, VIP amenities, meet-and-greets and other add-ons saves money.
– Compare Resale Sites – Resale sites like StubHub or VividSeats can sometimes undercut Ticketmaster’s prices on sold out shows after initial sales.
– Buy at the Last Minute – Procrastinating on very unpopular events often drops prices as sellers become eager to offload extra tickets. This is risky though.
– Seek Free Options – Checking free community events, museums with free admission, public speaking events, street performers, outdoor concerts, and other free options provides affordable entertainment.
Being flexible on seating locations, avoiding unneeded extras, shopping resale sites, waiting for price drops, and finding free events can make entertainment and cultural activities more affordable for AARP members even without a Ticketmaster discount.
Contacting Ticketmaster About an AARP Discount
Since Ticketmaster does not currently offer an exclusive AARP membership discount, contacting their customer service likely will not lead to obtaining a special deal. However, as a large company concerned with customer satisfaction, Ticketmaster may take interest if contacted enough about providing an AARP discount. Ways to contact them include:
– Call Ticketmaster Customer Service – Their US-based support number is 1-800-653-8000. You can call and politely inquire about any plans to offer AARP discounts in the future after verifying eligibility.
– Use Online Customer Support Chat – Ticketmaster provides customer support via online chat on their website. You can live chat with a support agent and ask if AARP discounts may become available.
– Contact Via Twitter – Ticketmaster can be reached via Twitter by tweeting @Ticketmaster with your question or suggestion about an AARP discount program.
– Email Ticketmaster Support – Email Ticketmaster Customer Service at: [email protected] to ask about potential future AARP ticket discounts.
– Fill Out Contact Form – Use the “Contact Us” form on Ticketmaster’s website to submit a request for information on possible AARP deals.
– Write a Letter – Mail a written letter to Ticketmaster Headquarters: 9348 Civic Center Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210 formally asking about AARP discounts.
While an AARP discount may not arise immediately from contacting Ticketmaster, consistent inquiries show interest they may consider. Already providing military, student, and other group discounts shows they are open to special programs that make events more affordable. Communicating the desire for an AARP discount could influence their future planning.
Conclusion
In summary, Ticketmaster currently does not offer any specific discounts or exclusive pricing for AARP members. There is no existing partnership between Ticketmaster and AARP to provide reduced cost ticketing. However, AARP members can take advantage of general ticket discounts and offers that Ticketmaster makes available to all customers. And AARP members can check with venues, fan clubs, resellers, and membership programs to find ticket savings beyond Ticketmaster’s main website. Directly contacting Ticketmaster customer service may influence them to consider an exclusive AARP ticketing discount in the future, but currently no such program exists. With strategic shopping and flexible timing, AARP members can still find some deals on Ticketmaster and save on entertainment expenses without an official partnership for discounts in place yet.