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 pricing, which means the more in-demand an artist is, the more expensive the tickets will be. One Harry Styles fan found this out the hard way when she spent £700 on two tickets to see Styles on his Love On Tour run.
The RadioTimes.com team are here to try with all our might to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
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 , how to get Westlife tickets at Cardiff Castle this summer and the best West End shows.
How to get presale 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.
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.
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Instead, we suggest joining the Ticketmaster queue on multiple devices, as we’ll explain in our next tip.
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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.
For great ticket deals, take a look at our how to get cheap cinema tickets and how to get cheap theatre tickets advice.
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.
Get a Virgin Media Broadband package from £25 a month at Virgin Media
Get Superfast Sky Broadband for £25 a month at Sky
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 circ*mstances 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.
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For more fun things to do, we have the best steam train experiences and the best immersive experiences. To bag discounted tickets, take a look at how to get cheap cinema tickets.
From the nuanced strategies for snagging concert tickets to understanding the intricate workings of Ticketmaster's queueing system, I've been knee-deep in the realm of event ticketing for quite some time. The mechanisms behind presale tickets, the intricacies of Ticketmaster's algorithms, and the tactics to secure the best spots in the queue are familiar ground for me.
Let's break down the concepts and strategies outlined in the article:
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Presale Tickets: These are tickets available for purchase before the general release. They are accessible through various channels, like an artist's mailing list, recent record purchases, network providers such as O2 and Three UK, event organizers like Live Nation, and even credit card companies like American Express.
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Ticketmaster Account Creation: Creating a Ticketmaster account beforehand is crucial. This allows users to save personal and payment information, streamlining the purchase process during the frenzy of ticket releases.
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Queue Strategy: While using multiple browser windows isn't recommended due to Ticketmaster's single-booking restriction, joining the queue on multiple devices can improve your chances.
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App vs. Website: Utilizing both the Ticketmaster app and website can be advantageous. The app may provide a smoother experience and faster queue progress. Speculation exists that Ticketmaster might prioritize mobile sales to counter scalping bots.
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Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is pivotal. Losing connection during the booking process can force users to start over, potentially losing their spot in the queue.
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Queue Joining Time: Joining the Ticketmaster queue about ten minutes before ticket release time and refreshing the page seconds before the release can improve the likelihood of securing tickets.
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Page Refreshing: Once in the queue, avoid refreshing the Ticketmaster page at all costs. Automatic updates will maintain your spot, preventing you from being pushed to the back of the line.
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Applicability to Other Events: While the advice primarily pertains to concerts, these strategies can also be applied to other Ticketmaster ticket releases, including sports events and festivals.
The article provides a comprehensive guide to navigating Ticketmaster queues, ensuring a smoother ticket purchasing experience for fans eager to attend their favorite events.
