There are a few reasons why the ticket transfer option may be greyed out on Ticketmaster when you are trying to transfer tickets to someone else:
The event organizer has restricted transfers
One of the most common reasons that transfers are disabled is that the event organizer or venue has put restrictions in place that do not allow ticket transfers. This is up to the discretion of the event organizer – Ticketmaster simply enforces whatever policy is set by the client.
For example, major sports leagues like the NFL or NBA often prohibit ticket transfers to try to curb scalping of tickets. Concert tours may also block transfers so that tickets stay within a fan club or go through official resale partners.
How to tell if the event organizer has restricted transfers
You can usually find details on transfer restrictions by going to the event page on Ticketmaster and looking for language like “Transfers are disabled for this event” or “Tickets cannot be transferred.” Restrictions will also be noted during the checkout process.
Are transfers always completely prohibited?
In some cases, transfers may only be limited rather than fully prohibited. For instance, the event may allow transfers but only within family members or friends. There may also be a deadline after which further transfers are blocked.
What are some other transfer restrictions?
Common transfer restrictions include:
- Limiting the number of times a ticket can be transferred
- Only allowing transfers up until a certain date before the event
- Charging a fee for ticket transfers
- Only enabling transfers to people designated ahead of time or on an approved list
Tickets are tied to a fan club or presale code
If you purchased tickets through a special fan club presale, those tickets are usually tied to your specific account and cannot be transferred outside of that fan club membership.
This is done to prevent fans from buying presale tickets and then scalping them to the general public. The band/team wants to make sure presale tickets go to their biggest fans.
Ways tickets might be tied to a fan club or presale
Some examples include:
- Tickets bought with a special fan club promo code
- Season ticket holders receiving early access to concerts at a stadium
- Priority purchase for fan club members before the general on-sale
In most cases, any tickets bought during a special presale will have transfer restrictions, even if regular tickets do not.
The tickets are “Credit Card Entry” only
“Credit card entry required” means the credit card used to purchase the tickets must be shown at the venue for entry. This prevents scalping and ensures tickets stay with the original buyer.
With credit card entry in place:
- The tickets cannot be transferred to someone else
- Only the person with the purchasing credit card can use the tickets
In some cases the name on the credit card must also match the ticket holder. This restriction is very common with high demand concerts or events where scalping is a big concern.
How are credit card entry tickets verified?
At the venue, the original purchaser will go to a special line and show their credit card and ID to have their tickets scanned. The name and card must match what is on file with Ticketmaster to gain entry.
Can you transfer these tickets?
No, credit card entry tickets cannot be transferred or sold. The person who buys the tickets must attend using the same credit card. Any transfers will invalidate the tickets.
You already transferred the ticket once
In some cases, tickets can only be transferred one time, after which further transfers are disabled. The original ticket buyer can transfer to someone else, but that person cannot pass the tickets to anyone else.
Limits like “tickets can only be transferred once” help maintain some accountability while still enabling some flexibility in ticket sharing.
How do single transfer limits work?
The steps involved when a ticket can only be transferred once are:
- Person A purchases the ticket from Ticketmaster
- Person A elects to transfer the ticket to Person B
- The ticket is now tied to Person B and cannot be transferred again
Person B would need to attend the event and could not transfer the ticket further to anyone else (Person C).
You already accepted a ticket transfer
Similarly, if you received a transferred ticket from someone else, you most likely cannot transfer it again to a third party.
Once a ticket has been transferred to you, your name is now tied to the ticket in Ticketmaster’s system. You are the new owner, so you would not have the option to transfer again.
This prevents endless chains of ticket transfers which could enable scalping. The event organizer or team wants to minimize transfers to avoid issues.
Who can’t re-transfer a ticket?
If Person A transferred you a ticket, then you (Person B) would be prohibited from passing the ticket along to Person C, Person D, etc.
Whoever ends up as the ticket owner after a transfer usually cannot transfer again.
Ticket transfers were not enabled originally
If the tickets were originally purchased with the “ticket transfer” option disabled, then transfers will never be possible for those specific tickets.
For example:
- Person A buys tickets with transfers disabled
- No transfers will ever be permitted for those tickets
It does not matter who ends up with the tickets – the “no transfer” setting sticks with the ticket permanently once purchased.
How to tell if ticket transfer was originally disabled
There will usually be a notice during checkout that transfers are disabled. Language like “Ticket transfers are prohibited for this event” is commonly used.
If ticket transfers are disabled upfront, they can never be enabled later for those tickets.
You have wait-listed tickets
If you are currently on the waitlist for tickets, then transfers will be disabled until you are assigned actual ticket. Waitlist spots cannot be transferred.
Waitlist tickets only become valid when:
- You are taken off the waitlist and given real tickets
- At that point, transfers may or may not be enabled depending on the event
So in summary, waitlist spots cannot be moved or transfered – you must wait to receive real tickets before transfer options are even available.
When do waitlist tickets become transferrable?
If you are offered tickets off the waitlist, check the transfer policy at that point. Some events will enable transfers on newly purchased waitlist tickets, while others may disable transfers.
There is no way to transfer a pure waitlist spot – only after it converts to tickets.
The tickets are mobile-only without an option to transfer
“Mobile ticket only” means the tickets will only be valid within the Ticketmaster app on your smartphone. There is no option to transfer these kinds of tickets.
With mobile-only tickets:
- The tickets live exclusively on the original purchaser’s app
- Screenshots or print-outs will not be valid for entry
- Whoever first downloaded the tickets into their app owns them
In this case, no transfers are permitted at any point. Whoever initially bought the mobile tickets must attend the event.
Are mobile tickets impossible to transfer?
Correct, mobile-only tickets cannot be transferred under any circumstances. Without a PDF option, there is no way to transfer ownership outside of the app.
The person who purchased the mobile tickets must enter the venue with those exact tickets on their device.
You already sold the tickets
Once you have sold event tickets to another person, such as through a secondary resale site, you no longer own the tickets. As a result, Ticketmaster will no longer show a transfer option for tickets you no longer own.
The transfer option essentially transfers ownership. If you already sold the tickets via another means, Ticketmaster’s system no longer recognizes you as the owner.
Does reselling tickets elsewhere affect Ticketmaster transfers?
Yes, Ticketmaster’s transfer option disappears once you sell or transfer ownership of tickets through any other channel:
- Reselling websites
- Ticket exchange groups
- Direct sale to someone you know
Any transfer of ownership outside of Ticketmaster means you can no longer transfer within their system.
It is past the transfer deadline
Most events have a firm cutoff date and time after which no further ticket transfers are allowed. This is typically 1-3 days before the event takes place.
If you attempt to transfer tickets after the posted cutoff, the option will be greyed out and marked as expired.
Transfer deadlines help prevent last minute scalping and ensure all ticket owners are finalized before the event starts.
Where can you find the transfer deadline?
The deadline for transfers will be prominently displayed on the event page on Ticketmaster. There will also be warnings during the transfer process if you are past the cutoff point.
Some example language:
- “No transfers after XX/XX/XXXX at XX:XX am/pm”
- “Transfers expire DAY, DATE TIME”
If you see a warning that the transfer expiration has passed, it is too late to complete a transfer.
The ticket type is non-transferrable
Less commonly, certain ticket types or sections may be completely non-transferable even when other tickets are transferrable. This restriction tends to apply to specific premium ticket packages.
For example, VIP packages may cannot be transferred to prevent scalping or resale. Season tickets are another case where transfers are often prohibited.
How to identify non-transferrable ticket types
There will be clear language during the purchase flow if certain ticket selections cannot be transferred under any circumstances. For example:
- “VIP packages cannot be transferred or resold.”
- “Season tickets cannot be transferred outside account holder.”
If you see tickets marked “non-transferrable” at the time of purchase, assume those tickets can never be transferred via Ticketmaster.
Troubleshooting greyed out Ticketmaster transfers
If you are unable to complete a Ticketmaster ticket transfer, first check the following:
- Review the event transfer policy for restrictions
- Make sure the transfer deadline has not passed
- Confirm you have not already sold the tickets elsewhere
- Check if the tickets are tied to a fan club presale
- See if “credit card entry required” applies
- Try transferring from a computer instead of mobile device
If issues persist, you will need to contact Ticketmaster directly. There is typically no way around transfer restrictions imposed by the venue or event organizer.
Getting help with Ticketmaster transfers
If you cannot sort out why Ticketmaster ticket transfers are disabled, follow these steps to get assistance:
- Check the Ticketmaster help articles for troubleshooting tips
- Review the event details and transfer FAQ for specifics
- Reach out to Ticketmaster Fan Support via chat or phone
- Contact the box office at the venue or event organizer
- Sell through Ticketmaster’s resale marketplace if transfers are blocked
In most cases, the problem is either a policy by the organizer or user error that Ticketmaster support can identify. Resale is an option if all else fails.
Key takeaways on Ticketmaster transfer limits
- Event organizers can disable transfers to restrict scalping
- Fan club presale tickets are usually non-transferable
- “Credit card entry” tickets must be used by the original purchaser
- Transfer limits may allow only a single transfer
- Transfer deadlines restrict last minute transfers
- Reselling tickets elsewhere invalidates Ticketmaster transfers
- Contact Ticketmaster support if you cannot determine why transfers are blocked
Conclusion
Ticket transfer restrictions are typically enforced by the event organizer through Ticketmaster. Policies are put in place to curb scalping and ensure tickets end up in the right hands.
Before attempting to transfer a ticket, always review the specific transfer rules. Transfers may be fully blocked, limited to certain windows, or only allowed once. If a transfer seems prohibited for no clear reason, be sure to reach out to Ticketmaster Fan Support for assistance.
