How to beat the Ticketmaster queue: Top tips for securing tickets
Securing tickets to see your favourite artist can be a stressful experience to say the least, so we’ve put together some top tips and tricks to improve your chances of bagging those all-important concert tickets.
Ah, Ticketmaster. We haven’t had a love/hate relationship like this since Crocs came back into fashion.
When we get the notification that we’re next in the queue, we’re practically kissing the screen and already silently thanking Ticketmaster for bringing us one step closer to seeing our favourite artist live. However, when we’re 28,000th in the queue, and our sixth sense tells us ticket prices are hiking beyond our budget, it’s a punch in the gut.
Ticketmaster has competitive, or as it's now known, dynamic pricing, which means the more in-demand an artist is, the more expensive the tickets will be.
Many artists like Iron Maiden have rejected the pricing system, while others have introduced a registration system for their sales. For stars such as Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and Pink, fans had the opportunity to register for tickets in a ballot. They would then be given a code to access the general sale, giving them a much better chance of securing those all-important seats instead of pesky bots or re-sellers.
Here at RadioTimes.com, we're on hand to help you navigate the trying Ticketmaster world. Read on for top tips and tricks to beat the Ticketmaster queue, including how to sign up to presale release, what devices to queue on, and the crucial refresh rules.
For more amazing ticketing events, check out our Going Out page which includes our guide to ABBA Voyage and the best West End shows. Plus, how to get tickets to see The Pogues, Katy Perry and The Fast Show.
How to get pre-sale tickets on Ticketmaster
Firstly, what is a presale? Presale tickets are available to buy before they’re released to the general public. It’s a way for artists' biggest fans to get early access.
There are a few ways you can sign up for presale tickets, for example, by joining an artist's mailing list or purchasing their most recent record. You can also get access through a network provider like O2 and Three UK, through event organisers like Live Nation, and credit card companies like American Express.
Event organisers like Live Nation will send email alerts about their upcoming presales, and the best way to find out if an artist is hosting a presale is by following them on social media.
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How can I improve my chances of getting tickets on Ticketmaster?
So you’ve missed out on presale tickets, and now you’re preparing for the dreaded general on sale. Here are our top tips for beating the Ticketmaster queue.
Create a Ticketmaster account in advance
If you don’t already have a Ticketmaster account, create one before general on sale tickets are released.
With an account, you can save your address and payment card details, so you don’t have to rush to type them all in when you’re trying to book. The queuing and buying process can be quite stressful, so having this information already stored will give you the chance to double-check you’re happy with your purchase and the cost.
It's worth noting that there are different Ticketmaster sites depending on where you live. For example, UK based concert goers will visit Ticketmaster.co.uk, whereas American ticket buyers will visit Ticketmaster.com, Irish gig lovers will head over to Ticketmaster.ie, and so on.
Sign-up to the free RadioTimes.com Going Out newsletter
If you've kept up to date with the RadioTimes.com Going Out page for a while, you'll know that we share the latest ticketing announcements when the tickets are about to get released, so you can always stay on top of what your favourite artists are doing.
The Going Out newsletter is another means to that: every Thursday afternoon, the newsletter will land straight in your inbox, and our dedicated 'Tickets' section will include the hottest UK concerts and tours going on sale the following day. With links in the article which will take you straight to the Ticketmaster site, you can be sure you'll never miss a general on sale.
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Load Ticketmaster in one browser window only
Although it can be tempting to load Ticketmaster in multiple windows to increase your chances of securing tickets, this will actually hinder you. This is because the Ticketmaster website will only allow you to make one booking at a time, so you might end up losing tickets if you’re flicking between the widows.
Instead, we suggest joining the Ticketmaster queue on multiple devices, as we’ll explain in our next tip.
Is it better to use the Ticketmaster app or website?
Use both!
From our experience, buying tickets on the Ticketmaster mobile app is smoother and we seem to get to the front of the queue quicker. A few people online have speculated as to why this might be, suggesting Ticketmaster prioritises mobile sales because scalping bots (software programs which automate online purchasing) don’t work on mobile devices, so it increases your chances of bagging tickets on the initial click.
Also, on the mobile app, you bypass the CAPTCHA test, which generally makes the experience faster.
Secure internet connection
If you lose connection, even for a second, you could have to start a booking all over again. Now, we don’t know about you, but losing our spot after queuing would tempt us to throw our laptops out the window…
Make sure you have a reliable connection. Wi-Fi is always better than 4G/5G as you may lose signal.
Is your internet letting you down? It might be time to switch providers. You can check out the latest deals in Sky's Black Friday sale.
Not sure which broadband you need? Check out our tips on what broadband speeds do I need? And what is the best broadband for gaming?
Consider hospitality ticketing options
In the last couple of years, we've seen ticket prices really increase in price especially for high-demand acts like Oasis and Taylor Swift. In these instances, where you know ticket prices could easily reach £100+, we'd recommend scoping out hospitality options.
Yes, hospitality options are generally more expensive but they can often start at £150 and, for that price, you are normally guarantee a good seat and often other benefits such as programmes, drinks or early access.
Sites such as Seat Unique, Daimani, and P1 Travel also often have less of a queue than the main sites like Ticketmaster, so tickets can be easier to come by.
Take a look at hospitality tickets at Seat Unique
When can you join the waiting room on Ticketmaster?
It would be fantastic if you could join the Ticketmaster queue as soon as an artist announces they’re going on tour; we’d be up at the crack of dawn, days before presale, with a tab open.
But, alas, you can’t do that.
On the day of the ticket sale, get onto the site ten minutes before the tickets are released, then refresh the page 10 seconds before the release time to improve your chances of getting to the front of the queue. For example, if tickets go on sale at 9am on a Friday morning, hop on the Ticketmaster site at 8:50am, then refresh the page 10 seconds before 9am.
Can I refresh the Ticketmaster queue page?
Absolutely under no circumstances do you refresh the Ticketmaster page while you’re in the queue!
When you're in the queue, your spot will be automatically updated, so avoid refreshing the page as tempting as it may be. If you do refresh, you may lose your place and be booted to the back of the queue.
Do these tips apply to other ticketing releases, like sports?
Although we’ve spoken exclusively about concerts here, this advice applies to all ticket releases on Ticketmaster, such as festivals and sporting events.
For great ticket deals, take a look at our how to get cheap cinema tickets, how to get cheap concert tickets, and how to get cheap theatre tickets guides.
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Did you know that Black Friday season has already begun? You can shop some early Black Friday deals at Currys, Apple and even Merlin Attractions, such as Alton Towers and Thorpe Park.
