Waiting in a Ticketmaster queue can be a frustrating experience, especially if it seems like the queue is not moving or progressing. Here are some tips to help identify if your Ticketmaster queue is stuck or frozen and what you can do about it.
Check the Estimated Wait Time
The first thing to check is the estimated wait time shown on the Ticketmaster queue page. This will give you an idea of how long you can expect to wait before reaching the front of the queue.
If the estimated time seems abnormally long or does not change after a while, it’s possible your queue is stuck. For popular events, some initial wait times could be an hour or more. However, the estimated time should gradually countdown as your place in line gets closer.
If you’ve been waiting significantly longer than the posted time, like double or triple the estimated wait, then there might be an issue with your queue.
Example of Normal vs. Stuck Queue Times
| Time in Queue | Normal Queue | Stuck Queue |
|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 60 minutes wait time | 120 minutes wait time |
| 30 minutes | 45 minutes wait time | 120 minutes wait time |
| 1 hour | 15 minutes wait time | 120 minutes wait time |
Watch for Errors or Lack of Movement
In addition to the posted wait times, keep an eye out for any error messages that may indicate a problem with your place in line. These could include:
- “Connection Error – You have lost your place in line”
- “Unable to join queue. Please try again later.”
- “Your wait time data cannot be retrieved at this time”
If you see messages like this pop up when trying to view your queue, it likely means your spot is lost or your queue is not moving for some reason. The same applies if you notice your wait time does not change at all over an extended wait.
Troubleshooting Queue Movement Issues
Here are some steps to try if it seems like your Ticketmaster queue is not progressing:
- Refresh the page – this may grab updated queue data
- Ensure you have a stable internet connection
- Try accessing the queue on a different device or browser
- Clear your cookies and site data
If you still see no movement after 20-30 minutes, your queue most likely froze or got stuck in place.
You Get Kicked Out of the Queue
One of the most obvious signs of a stuck line is if you get abruptly removed from the Ticketmaster queue altogether. This can happen through a few different error messages, such as:
- “Session expired – Please rejoin the queue”
- “You have been removed from the queue due to inactivity”
- “Sorry, you do not have any position in this queue”
If you are forced out of the virtual line entirely, either due to session timeouts or other generic errors, you clearly are not making any progress. Being kicked out of queue typically means you’ll have to start the whole process over again.
Avoiding Session Timeouts
To avoid session timeouts and losing your place, be sure to:
- Only have one device in the queue
- Keep the queue tab open and device active
- Refresh periodically if the page seems idle
Site Performance Problems or Glitches
In some cases, widespread technical issues on Ticketmaster can also cause queues to freeze up. This may happen due to:
- High traffic overwhelming site capacity
- IT infrastructure problems or outages
- Buggy queues after a website update
Check social media or Downdetector to see if others are reporting general problems with Ticketmaster around the same time you experience queue issues.
You may also notice visual glitches like buttons not working, pages stalling to load, duplicate captcha prompts, or error messages about the site being down for maintenance.
Site-wide performance problems like this can prevent queues from flowing smoothly. The only option may be to stop and restart the queue process later.
Recent Ticketmaster Outages
| Date | Reported Issues |
|---|---|
| October 12, 2022 | Queue freezing and kicking users out |
| September 1, 2022 | Can’t access queue pages |
| July 15, 2022 | General lag and glitches |
You Reach the Front with No Tickets
Finally, one definite indicator your queue is pointless is if you reach the front after a long wait only to find all tickets already sold out. This means demand exceeded the available tickets before you ever had a chance.
Once tickets sell out entirely, any wait times shown are meaningless. You could wait hours only to find no tickets remaining at the end. If you suspect this is the case, do not hesitate to exit the queue and avoid wasting more time.
To avoid this situation, try to join the queue right when tickets go on sale for the best chance at getting some before they sell out.
Dealing with Immediate Sell Outs
For extremely popular events that sell out instantly, you also have a couple options:
- Consider VIP or pre-sale options to get early access before the general public.
- Try re-checking the Ticketmaster sales page regularly for any returned tickets.
- Look on resale sites like StubHub where fans re-sell extra tickets.
Contact Ticketmaster Customer Service for Help
If you confirm your Ticketmaster queue appears stuck, reach out to their customer service department for assistance. Especially if you encounter any technical errors or get booted out of line, Ticketmaster may be able to investigate and restore your place.
To contact support, you can:
- Start a live chat on their contact page
- Message them through their support account on Twitter
- Call their toll-free support number
Make sure to have your order number, account details, and any error screenshots ready. Their agents can also check if your queue placement looks normal on their end.
However, keep in mind they may be extremely busy during big sales. You may wait a long time to get a response.
Receiving Compensation from Ticketmaster
In severe cases where you miss out on tickets entirely due to major technical failures, Ticketmaster may offer compensation like refunds or ticket vouchers. This usually requires escalating to a supervisor after initially contacting support.
Make your case politely but firmly. Have documentation ready showing how long you waited and errors received. If representatives are unhelpful, you can also share negative experiences on social media to draw further attention to the issues.
Use Multiple Devices to Save Your Spot
To avoid losing your place if you do get booted from the queue, try opening the Ticketmaster queue on 2 devices simultaneously. This way if you have trouble on one device, you may still have your spot held on the other.
For example, you might use:
- Your desktop and your phone
- Separate browsers like Chrome and Safari
- A laptop and tablet
Keep in mind you will still need a unique Ticketmaster session on each device. Make sure to use different browser profiles, accounts, or private/incognito modes.
Other Tips for Managing Multiple Devices
- Use a wired internet connection on one device to avoid WiFi drops
- periodically refresh both queues to ensure they remain active
- Once through to the ticket selection page, you can drop the queue on one device
This redundancy improves your chances of keeping a place somewhere if any individual device fails or gets stuck.
Conclusion
Waiting in stagnant Ticketmaster queues can quickly go from boring to frustrating. By keeping an eye on your estimated wait times, error messages, kick outs, and other indicators, you can identify if your queue placement is broken. Contact support if needed, and consider queueing on 2 devices in the future to avoid losing your spot. With the right preparation and patience, you can power through even the longest virtual lines.
