Ticketmaster is the largest ticket sales and distribution company in the world. They sell tickets for concerts, sporting events, theater shows, and more. With so many tickets being sold through their platform, it’s common for items to get “locked” or restricted for various reasons. Thankfully, Ticketmaster provides ways for users to unlock or remove these restrictions if needed. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to unlock different things on Ticketmaster.
Unlocking Restricted Tickets
When you attempt to purchase tickets on Ticketmaster, you may encounter tickets that are labeled as “restricted.” This means there are some restrictions in place for who can purchase the tickets. Some common restriction types include:
Verified Fan Tickets
For high-demand events, Ticketmaster uses Verified Fan to make sure tickets get into the hands of genuine fans. To unlock Verified Fan tickets, you must register ahead of the onsale and be verified by Ticketmaster to have access to the tickets. This helps prevent scalpers and bots from buying up all the tickets.
VIP Tickets
VIP tickets offer perks like premium seats, exclusive merch, or meet & greets with artists. To unlock VIP tickets, you typically need to be part of the artist’s official VIP package through their fan club or other offerings. There is usually a registration process required.
Presales
Presales allow certain groups to access tickets before the general public. Presales may be for fan club members, credit card holders, Spotify listeners, venue email subscribers, etc. To unlock presale tickets, you must belong to the qualifying group and have the required presale code or link.
Ticket Limits
Limits on the number of tickets you can buy are in place to prevent mass purchases for resale. For high demand events, you may be limited to 2-4 tickets. There’s no way to unlock ticket limits. You must complete your purchase within the set ticket limit.
To view if there are any restrictions on tickets:
1. When selecting tickets on Ticketmaster, click “View Details” next to the ticket listing.
2. A pop-up will show any restrictions in place and requirements to unlock access.
If tickets say “Restricted – Unlock Offer” you must meet the specific requirements to gain access.
Unlocking Save Limits
On Ticketmaster, you can “save” tickets to your cart without buying right away. This holds your tickets for up to 5 minutes while you complete your purchase.
However, Ticketmaster restricts how many times you can save and unsave tickets in your cart. This is to prevent automated bots from repetitively tying up tickets.
If you attempt to save tickets too many times, you’ll get an error saying:
“Your save limit has been reached. Please complete your purchase now or the tickets will be released.”
At this point, the tickets cannot be saved again. Your only options are to proceed to checkout or allow the hold to expire after 5 minutes.
There is no way to increase or unlock the save limit on Ticketmaster. The limits are in place site-wide as a security measure.
If you require more time to complete your purchase, you can open two browser windows. Save the tickets in one window, then work in the other window while the first hold remains active.
Unlocking the Waiting Room
For extremely high demand events, Ticketmaster may activate the “Waiting Room” when tickets go on sale. This essentially forms a virtual line to take users in orderly batches to the ticketpurchase page.
To unlock access to tickets from the Waiting Room:
1. Ensure you join the Waiting Room before the published queue opening time. This gives you the best spot in line.
2. As you move through the Waiting Room, do not refresh your browser or navigate away. This could bump you to the back of the queue.
3. When it’s your turn, you will automatically be redirected to the ticket purchase page. You must complete your transaction within the provided time limit.
4. If tickets sell out while you’re still waiting, you will be automatically let out of the Waiting Room.
The Waiting Room system runs randomly so there is no way to bypass the queue. Your only option is to join as early as possible and wait your turn patiently. Abusing the refresh or back buttons could get your IP banned as well.
Unlocking AXS Mobile ID Restrictions
AXS is a separate ticketing platform owned by Ticketmaster. For high-demand tickets on AXS, they may enable Mobile ID requirements. This means you must unlock tickets using the AXS mobile app on a smartphone.
To unlock tickets using AXS Mobile ID:
1. Download the AXS app on your iOS or Android device.
2. When tickets go on sale, you must complete the transaction within the AXS app.
3. The app will verify your identity and unlock the tickets using your mobile device info.
4. You cannot purchase these tickets on a desktop browser – mobile ID is required.
If you attempt to buy tickets requiring mobile ID on a desktop browser, the transaction will simply spin and you will be unable to complete the purchase. There is no way around this – you must use the AXS mobile app when this restriction is enabled.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you’re having trouble unlocking restricted tickets or waits in the Ticketmaster system, here are some troubleshooting tips:
– Ensure cookies and javascript are enabled in your browser. Ticketmaster’s queues and restrictions rely on these.
– Try a different browser or device – sometimes restrictions glitch on certain browsers.
– Clear your browser cookies and cache to remove stuck queues or error messages.
– Ensure your Ticketmaster account is updated with the right info, including fan club affiliations if needed.
– Check Ticketmaster’s social channels and help site for outage alerts before high traffic sales.
– Use a wired internet connection instead of WiFi to reduce latency issues.
– For Mobile ID issues, make sure you have the latest app version and restart your device.
– If all else fails, contact Ticketmaster Fan Support for personalized troubleshooting.
Using Caution to Avoid Scams
With high demand tickets, scammers and speculators try to capitalize using fake offers. Exercise caution so you don’t lose money or personal information:
– Never buy tickets from untrusted third-party resellers. Deal directly with the primary ticket issuer.
– Don’t trust offers for special access to tickets. Legitimate presales/VIP tickets are issued directly by the artist’s team.
– Look out for fake ticket office phone numbers. Only call numbers listed directly on the venue or Ticketmaster site.
– Avoid ticket requests or offers through unsolicited email, social media, etc. These are almost always scams.
– Don’t pay for tickets with direct bank transfers, gift cards, Bitcoin, etc. Use credit cards for buyer protection.
– Double check events for the correct date, venue, city, and pricing before purchasing.
Contacting Ticketmaster for Support
If you need help unlocking restricted tickets or have any other issues on the Ticketmaster site, you can contact their Fan Support team:
– By phone: 1-800-653-8000
– Using their online contact form: https://www.ticketmaster.com/contactus/
– Through Ticketmaster’s support pages at https://help.ticketmaster.com/
When reaching out, provide as much detail as possible about the issue you’re experiencing. Some key details to have include:
– Your Ticketmaster account info or order number
– Event name, date, and location
– Any error messages or screenshots you have
– What troubleshooting you’ve already tried
This will help their agents offer the best assistance getting you unlocked and on your way to the event!
Conclusion
While Ticketmaster’s restrictions and locks can be frustrating, they exist to ensure fair access to tickets and prevent scams. With the right requirements met, patience, and a few troubleshooting tips, you can successfully unlock Ticketmaster to access even the hottest events. Just be sure to plan ahead, move quickly when tickets go on sale, and contact support if you encounter any snags in the process. Happy unlocking!