When purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster, you may see options for seating labeled as “best available.” This refers to the best seats that are still available for purchase for a particular event. Here’s a deeper look at what “best available” means on Ticketmaster and how it works when selecting your seats.
How Ticketmaster Determines Best Available Seating
Ticketmaster utilizes an algorithm that takes into account several factors to determine which seats are the “best available” for an event. This includes:
- The layout and configuration of the venue
- The classification of seats (reserved vs general admission)
- The location of seats in relation to the stage or field
- The price and value of the seats
- Obstructed views or restricted legroom
- Fan feedback on seat quality
- Special VIP seats or experiences
Using these criteria, Ticketmaster’s system assigns a ranking to all remaining tickets so when customers search for the “best available” seats, they are presented with options prioritized by seat quality and value.
What Types of Seats are Typically Considered “Best Available”?
When you select “best available” seating on Ticketmaster, you will typically be shown options like:
- Front row or floor seats – These put you closest to the action and are highly coveted.
- Lower bowl or lower level seats – The front sections of stadiums and arenas, nearest the floor or field.
- Center stage sections – The middle sections directly facing the front of the stage.
- VIP packages – Come with perks like premier parking, food and drinks, exclusive merch, etc.
- Suite or box seats – Private, enclosed luxury seating with premium amenities.
- Official platinum seats – Top remaining seats priced higher than original cost.
These are typically among the highest quality seats remaining for a given event. However, the exact seats marked “best available” can vary greatly depending on the venue setup and tickets already sold.
When to Use the Best Available Seating Filter
Here are some of the best times to use the “best available” filter when searching for tickets on Ticketmaster:
- The event is almost sold-out, so you want the top remaining seats.
- You want the closest seats within your budget.
- You’re buying tickets as a gift and want great seats.
- You waited until last minute to get tickets.
- You want to spend a little extra for a premium experience.
- You’re taking someone to their first concert or game.
Using the “best available” feature helps remove the guesswork of selecting seats and ensures you’re getting seats of the highest caliber still available for purchase.
Comparing Best Available Seats Across Price Levels
Ticketmaster will show you the best seats available across all active price levels for an event. For example, you may see:
- Best Available in Price Level 1 – $250/ticket
- Best Available in Price Level 2 – $175/ticket
- Best Available in Price Level 3 – $100/ticket
This allows you to compare the quality of the best seats across different budget levels to find those that meet your needs and price range.
When Best Available Isn’t the Best Option
While “best available” is designed to provide you with optimal seat options, it isn’t always the best choice. Here are some cases when you may want to avoid it:
- You’re on a tight budget – Best available seats tend to be more expensive.
- You have a large group – It may be hard to get enough best available seats together.
- You want a specific location – Best available won’t let you filter by section.
- There are obstructions – Some “best” seats may have obstructed views.
- You prioritize amenities – Best available doesn’t account for club access, etc.
In these cases, taking control of choosing your exact seats may get you better options than relying on best available.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Best Available Seating
Here are some tips to use best available seating most effectively when purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster:
- Act quickly when tickets go on sale to have the most choice of seats.
- Adjust filters for number of tickets needed if you are buying a group.
- Compare seat options and views using the interactive seat maps.
- Scroll down to view multiple price levels of best seats.
- Hover over seats to see all details like row, view, and value rating.
- Use the filtering tools to narrow by location, price, amenities, etc.
- Toggle between standard and ADA accessible seating if needed.
- Read the fine print for any disclosures on obstructed views or restrictions.
Using these tips will allow you to more efficiently navigate the best seats for your needs and budget.
Does Best Available Guarantee Good Seats?
While best available aims to provide quality options, there are no absolute guarantees you’ll get amazing seats using it. Some things to keep in mind:
- Best is subjective and depends on personal preferences.
- It only includes seats that haven’t yet sold, not ALL the best seats.
- The algorithm isn’t flawless – some subjective human judgment is involved.
- Venue and show specifics play a big role in determining quality.
- Obstructed views may still exist even in “best” seats.
- You still need to set filters for number of seats, budget, etc.
So while best available seating should get you seats considered by Ticketmaster to be of good quality and value, look at all options carefully. There are no absolute guarantees you’ll get the “perfect” seats for you.
Best Available vs. Official Platinum Seats
In addition to best available, you may also see official platinum seats listed on Ticketmaster. What’s the difference?
- Best available – Remaining seats ranked by overall quality and value.
- Official platinum – Top unsold seats priced higher than original cost.
So platinum seats are a subset of the best available seats that are dynamically priced based on demand to be higher than the standard ticket price. These premium-priced seats appear once a show starts selling well.
Is Best Available Seating Worth It?
Whether selecting best available seating is “worth it” depends on your individual priorities and budget. Here are some pros and cons to weigh:
Pros
- Saves time – no need to research specific seats.
- Gets you closest to the action.
- Higher likelihood of a good view.
- More comfortable and desirable spots.
- Provides peace of mind you got optimal seats.
- Delivers an elevated experience.
Cons
- Best seats typically have higher prices.
- You lose control of choosing exact location.
- Obstructed views still possible.
- No way to filter by specific amenities.
- Harder to get enough best seats for large groups.
For many, the convenience and quality of best seats outweighs the higher cost. But it depends on your particular needs and budget. There are still good seats available without using best available.
Conclusion
Ticketmaster’s best available seating provides an efficient way to access a venue’s top remaining seats in various price tiers. While not a flawless guarantee of ideal seats, it simplifies the process of securing quality seats without having to manually hunt through every option. Best available aims to deliver convenience and strong value on seats ranked highest by Ticketmaster’s algorithms. For those willing to pay a premium for the best sight lines and experience possible, best available seats are often the way to go for events with high demand.
