Ticket Protection is an optional service offered by Ticketmaster that allows customers to get a refund on ticket purchases in certain situations where they can no longer attend the event. It provides protection against things like losing tickets, theft, illness, travel issues, and more.
What does Ticket Protection cover?
Ticket Protection covers a variety of situations where the ticket holder can no longer attend the event they purchased tickets for. Some examples of covered situations include:
– Illness – If the ticket holder or a member of their party gets sick and cannot attend. A doctor’s note may be required.
– Injury – If the ticket holder or a member of their party gets injured and cannot attend.
– Death – If the ticket holder or a member of their party passes away.
– Travel issues – Flight cancellations, delays, traffic issues, etc. that prevent attendance.
– Lost tickets – If the ticket holder misplaces their tickets and cannot find them in time for the event.
– Stolen tickets – If the ticket holder has their tickets stolen before the event. A police report may be required.
– Military leave – If the ticket holder is in the military and gets deployed or has a last minute assignment/training.
– Jury duty – If the ticket holder gets called for jury duty and has to miss the event.
– Pregnancy – If the ticket holder finds out they are pregnant after purchasing tickets and cannot attend due to pregnancy complications.
– Change of plans – Ticketmaster offers flexible refunds for change of plans within a certain timeframe.
So in summary, Ticket Protection covers a wide variety of unforeseen circumstances that could prevent a ticket holder from attending an event they purchased tickets for. It provides them with the option to get a refund even though the reason for missing the event is out of their control.
What costs are covered by Ticket Protection?
Ticket Protection provides a refund on the following costs associated with the ticket purchase:
– Base ticket price – The face value price of the ticket that was paid.
– Convenience fees – The fees charged by Ticketmaster for using their service.
– Shipping fees – If any shipping costs were incurred to have tickets mailed.
– Order processing fees – Any other small order processing fees.
So Ticket Protection refunds the entire amount paid to Ticketmaster for the tickets, including all service and processing fees.
It does NOT cover any additional costs not directly associated with the tickets, such as:
– Hotel costs
– Transportation costs like airfare or gas
– Food or beverages
– Souvenirs or merchandise
– Parking fees
So customers can get a refund on the amount paid just for the tickets themselves, but not other costs related to attending the event. Those are incurred at the customer’s own risk.
How does the Ticket Protection refund process work?
Here is how you go about getting a refund with Ticket Protection if you can no longer attend an event:
1. Request a refund online through your Ticketmaster account within 5 days of the event.
2. Select the eligible reason you cannot attend – illness, travel issue, lost tickets, etc.
3. Provide supporting documentation if required – e.g. doctor’s note, police report, etc.
4. Ticketmaster will review the request and documentation.
5. If approved, the refund amount will be determined based on what was paid for the tickets.
6. The refund will be issued back to the original payment method used to purchase the tickets.
7. The refund is usually processed within 3-5 business days after approval.
So the process is fairly simple – just request a refund through Ticketmaster, provide documentation if needed, and if eligible the refund will be issued back to the original payment method used.
Are there any limitations or restrictions?
There are some limitations to be aware of with Ticketmaster’s Ticket Protection:
– Time limit – Requests must be made within 5 days of the event. After that they do not qualify for a refund.
– Eligible events – Generally major league sporting events, concerts, theater performances. Small local events may not qualify.
– Season tickets – Game or season tickets often cannot be refunded, just single event tickets.
– Scalped/resold tickets – Only the original ticket purchaser can request a refund.
– Maximum refund – Typically up to $500 per ticket, $2,500 per order.
– Documentation – Proof may be required to confirm the refund eligibility reason.
– Fees – The price of Ticket Protection (around $8-$12 per ticket) itself is non-refundable.
So Ticket Protection does not cover every scenario and has limits on the amount that can be refunded and when requests must be submitted by. Customers should read the full terms to ensure they understand any restrictions.
When to Buy Ticket Protection
Here are some recommendations on when it may make sense to add Ticket Protection to your Ticketmaster order:
You are purchasing expensive tickets
If you are spending a lot of money on tickets to a big event like a championship game or music festival, Ticket Protection can protect you from losing that investment if you cannot attend for a covered reason. For expensive tickets, the peace of mind can be worth the small fee.
It is a long time until the event
If you are buying tickets well in advance, closer to when they first go on sale, there is a higher chance that something could come up before the date arrives preventing your attendance. Buying protection immediately covers you for any issues that arise between purchase and event dates.
You are traveling to the event
If you have to travel via plane, train, etc. to get to the event location, there are more opportunities for travel-related issues to arise. Flight cancellations, delays, and other transit issues could prevent you from making it. Ticket Protection provides refund coverage for unforeseen travel disruptions.
You often have to cancel plans
Some individuals and families tend to have higher rates of injury, illness, or sudden schedule changes. If you regularly have to cancel appointments or events at the last minute, protection can give you the ability to back out without losing all the money spent on tickets.
It is a very popular event
For concerts, games, and shows that are in really high demand with limited tickets available, getting Ticket Protection ensures you can get your money back if needed even when no alternate tickets are available to purchase.
So in general, the more money spent, further in advance, and higher likelihood of issue – the better value Ticket Protection provides.
Pros and Cons of Ticketmaster Ticket Protection
Here are some key pros and cons to consider regarding Ticket Protection:
Pros
– Provides refunds for otherwise non-refundable tickets
– Covers a wide range of circumstances for refund eligibility
– Refunds all fees associated with ticket purchase, not just base price
– Gives peace of mind in case issues arise preventing event attendance
– Convenient to add when buying tickets on Ticketmaster already
Cons
– Additional non-refundable cost per ticket to purchase protection
– Documentation and information required for refund requests
– Limits on maximum refund amount per ticket
– Must request within 5 days of event to qualify
– Does not cover outside costs beyond ticket purchase fees
So while Ticket Protection fills an important niche by offering refunds in common situations that would otherwise not be possible, there are extra costs and requirements to take into account. Customers need to decide if the benefit outweighs the small added fee per ticket to have coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about Ticketmaster’s Ticket Protection program:
Does Ticket Protection guarantee I will get a refund if I can’t go?
No, Ticket Protection does not guarantee a refund. The request still has to meet eligibility terms and requirements. Customer needs to provide necessary details and documentation on why they cannot attend. Refund depends on successful verification of the stated refund reason.
Can I buy protection after I purchased my tickets?
Unfortunately, no. Ticket Protection needs to be added at the time the ticket purchase is made. It cannot be added after the transaction is processed.
What if part of my group can still go – will I get a partial refund?
No, Ticket Protection only provides refunds if the entire group or order is unable to attend. If some members can still go, Protection would not apply. Only individual tickets that cannot be used are eligible for refund.
My event was rescheduled – does Protection cover that?
It depends. If the rescheduled date does not work for you, Protection may provide a refund. However, if you can attend the new date, then Protection would not refund just because the date changed.
What happens if Ticketmaster cancels the event – do I get an automatic refund?
Yes, if Ticketmaster or the event host cancels the event altogether, that qualifies you for an automatic full refund including fees under their standard policies. Ticket Protection would not even need to be used.
Can Ticket Protection refunds be denied?
Yes, Ticketmaster can deny Protection refunds if they determine the stated reason is invalid or not sufficiently documented. Customers need to provide truthful and accurate information when requesting a refund. Deception or fraud can result in a refund denial.
Conclusion
Ticket Protection through Ticketmaster provides valuable coverage against losing your ticket investment if you cannot attend an event for reasons out of your control. While it does come at a small added cost, the peace of mind and ability to get a refund in otherwise non-refundable situations is often worth it to customers buying expensive tickets or traveling to events. There are limitations to understand and documentation requirements when requesting a refund, but overall Protection can be a beneficial option for certain event ticket purchases through Ticketmaster.