When you place an order on Ticketmaster, you may see your order status as “in progress” for a period of time before the tickets are issued. There are a few key factors that determine how long an order will remain in progress:
Checking for ticket availability
When you place an order, Ticketmaster’s system needs to verify that the tickets you requested are still available. This is especially important for high-demand events where tickets can sell out quickly. The system checks with the venue or event organizer to confirm there is still an inventory of tickets before finalizing the sale.
This availability check is usually very quick, but can take longer for last-minute purchases or nearly sold-out events. If your order remains “in progress” for more than a few minutes, it may be because the system is still confirming ticket availability.
Validating payment information
Ticketmaster also runs payment authorizations when you place an order. This involves contacting your bank or credit card company to validate your payment details and check that funds are available.
Payment validation is normally instant, but banks can sometimes take a bit longer to respond during high traffic periods. If the payment authorization takes more than a few minutes, it will keep your Ticketmaster order in the “in progress” status while waiting for confirmation.
High website traffic
For very popular events or at times of peak website traffic, Ticketmaster’s ordering system can get bogged down with many orders being placed simultaneously. This causes delays in processing each order, so your order may temporarily be stuck “in progress” in the queue.
During high volume sales periods, it’s common for orders to remain pending for 15-30 minutes before being issued. Be patient and avoid placing duplicate orders, as the system will be working through each one in the queue.
Manual review
In some cases, Ticketmaster may flag an order for additional manual review before issuing the tickets. This is most common when:
- You are purchasing a high number of tickets
- Your billing and shipping addresses are in different countries
- You have previously violated Ticketmaster’s terms of service
- Your order is otherwise identified as high risk
A customer service representative will then manually verify all details are legitimate before finalizing the transaction. This can sometimes take over an hour in rare cases.
Issuing the tickets
Once your order has cleared availability, payment, and any other verifications, the final step is issuing the ticket numbers. For electronic tickets, this involves generating the QR codes and assigning them to your Ticketmaster account. For physical tickets, it involves printing and packaging the ticket stubs for shipment.
The ticket issuance process is usually very quick (just a few seconds), but can be longer during website slowdowns. After issuance, your order status will update from “in progress” to “completed.”
Typical “In Progress” Times
While every order is different, here are some general estimates for how long an “in progress” order may take to complete under normal circumstances:
| Stage | Estimated Duration |
|---|---|
| Availability check | 1-5 minutes |
| Payment validation | 1-10 minutes |
| High traffic delays | 15-30 minutes |
| Manual review | 30-60 minutes (if selected) |
| Ticket issuance | 1-10 minutes |
So in normal conditions, most “in progress” orders will complete within 10-15 minutes. But the duration can be longer if any issues come up with availability, payment, website traffic, or order review. Be patient, avoid duplicate orders, and reach out to Ticketmaster customer service if your order is stuck “in progress” for over an hour.
Monitoring Your Order Status
You can check the status of your Ticketmaster order at any time by:
- Logging into your Ticketmaster account online
- Checking your confirmation email for updates
- Looking for status alerts via the email or phone number used at checkout
- Contacting Ticketmaster customer service by phone or online chat
Your order details will show the current status – “in progress”, “completed”, “cancelled”, etc. If you have concerns about a delayed order, reach out to Ticketmaster customer support for assistance.
Can I Cancel an “In Progress” Order?
You can attempt to cancel a Ticketmaster order that is stuck “in progress” for an extended time. But there is no guarantee the cancellation will go through until the order is finalized.
To request cancellation, contact Ticketmaster customer service by phone or chat. Explain your situation and provide the order details. If the order has not yet been finalized, they may be able to manually cancel it and refund the charges.
However, if your order completes during your contact with the customer service agent, the tickets are considered sold and cancellation will not be allowed under Ticketmaster’s policies.
For best results, request cancellation as soon as possible while the order is still pending. Be ready to forfeit the tickets if the sale ends up finalizing before your cancellation request can be processed.
Is the Event Sold Out?
In very rare cases, an “in progress” order may end up cancelled if the event sells out completely before your transaction can be completed.
This can happen if inventory ran out shortly after you placed your order, but before the system could confirm availability and reserve the tickets.
If this occurs, you will receive a cancellation notice from Ticketmaster and automatic refund of your payment. You can then try again for any newly listed tickets, or check other sources like resellers if the event is sold out.
Improving Your Order Experience
While “in progress” delays are often temporary, here are some tips to help optimize the ordering process:
- Shop early – Purchase tickets as soon as sales open to secure inventory
- Use expedited checkout options – Save payment details and create an account for faster checkout
- Avoid peak traffic times – Order on weekdays or outside of busy sales “rush hour”
- Be ready at your computer – Don’t start an order if you may have to abandon the checkout process
- Use a strong, stable internet connection – Avoid public Wi-Fi or other unreliable connections
- Only place the order once – Duplicate orders can slow down processing
- Contact support promptly if an issue arises – They can attempt to expedite or cancel if needed
Bottom Line
It’s common for Ticketmaster orders to temporarily show “in progress” status for a period of time before ticket delivery. This is part of the standard process of confirming availability, authorization payment, and issuing the tickets.
Most orders will finalize within 15-30 minutes, but the duration can be longer during website slowdowns or if delays arise with inventory checks, payment processing, or manual reviews. Be patient and contact customer service if your order is stuck “in progress” for over an hour.
With high-demand events, also be prepared for a small chance of missing out if tickets sell out completely before your transaction can be completed.
Use Ticketmaster’s order tracking tools and customer service for updates on any “in progress” orders. And optimize your ordering process when possible by purchasing early, using expedited checkout, avoiding peak times, and having backup payment options in case any issues arise.