Guide To
How To Guide
Ticketmaster’s Guide to Preparing for an Onsale
Tickets to your favourite event about to go on sale? Here is everything you need to do and should know before logging on for the onsale.
Tickets to your favourite event are about to go on sale and you’re wondering if there anything you can do to give yourself the best chance of getting tickets? Get prepared for the basics of every onsale with our top ticket tips – good luck!
Preparing for the Ticket Sale
Before tickets go on sale, follow these tips to get ready.
The best place to start is by getting the basics in order. To purchase tickets to any event via Ticketmaster.com.au, you will need to set up a Ticketmaster account. You can do that here.
Check Your Ticketmaster Account
Do a quick check to make sure your account is ready with your current payment info, email and phone number. If you don’t have an account yet, set one up — it only takes a minute, and you’ll need it to be ready to buy those tickets. You may also need to verify your email and phone number. In that case, you’ll receive instructions about how to complete the process using a one-time code.
Confirm Your Card Info
For faster checkout, confirm that your credit card information is up to date — it’s also a good idea to review your credit card expiration date to make sure it’s current. If you’re buying tickets for an international event, you may want to notify your credit card company in advance. Be aware of anything else that might delay your purchase, like if your credit card has a spending limit or a required bank pre-authorisation.
Day-Of Ticket Sale Checklist
It’s go time — here are a few more tips you may find handy on the day tickets go on sale.
Avoid Public Wi-Fi
The most reliable way to shop for tickets is from a safe internet connection or via your phone’s mobile network. Avoid public Wi-Fi when possible, because connections are not secure and may be disrupted. Also, turn off any VPNs or other tools that let you mask your IP address. Your unique IP address is how we know you’re not a bot!
Our Favorite Number is 1
Make sure you only join the queue from one device, one browser, and one tab. Attempts to join from an additional device using the same account details will result in an error message. You can shop across multiple dates, but you can only enter any given event’s queue one time.
No Automations, Please 🚫 🤖
As the wise Daft Punk once said, we want to see that you’re human after all — so no employing AI bots or any other browser extensions to try and game the sale.
Take It to the Limit
Some shows will have a limit on how many tickets you can purchase. Ticket limits for an event are noted next to the artist’s name behind the More Info button on the event details page (or the “i” when viewed on mobile). Also, keep in mind that there’s limited time allotted for you to complete your sale, and ticket availability will change quickly for events that are in high demand.
Don’t Refresh Your Browser
Once you’ve added tickets to your cart, don’t refresh your browser or leave the tab — this could cause your purchase to be disrupted.
You’ve Bought Tickets
You got the tickets! Here’s what to expect now that you made your purchase.
Access Your Tickets
Make sure your mobile tickets are ready to go for your upcoming event. Download the Ticketmaster app, sign in to your account, and go to My Events to easily access your tickets — you can also add them to your mobile wallet. On event day, scan your ticket directly from the Ticketmaster app or your wallet, and you’re in!
Sharing is Caring
If you’re going to the show with a group and are the one who bought the tickets, we applaud you, Ticket Captain! Use the Transfer feature (when applicable) to share individual tickets with your friends. You’ll all get into the venue quicker, leaving more time to enjoy that magical live experience.
Change of Plans?
Sometimes, no matter how much you’ve been looking forward to an event, you end up not being able to make it — luckily, selling your tickets is easy. If the artist has enabled resale for your event, you’ll be able to sell your tickets to a marketplace of millions of other fans in just a few steps.
Get to know Ticketmaster’s Smart Queue
If you aren’t familiar with Smart Queue, it is Ticketmaster’s way of creating a clear and fair process for thousands of fans to buy tickets in a short space of time. Fans enter the virtual Waiting Room prior to onsale time before joining the Smart Queue – which acts as a ‘virtual line’, helping us protect you and your tickets in a more effective way.
- The time you join the Waiting Room does not determine your place in the Smart Queue, so we recommend joining at least 10 minutes prior to the event going on sale.
- When the sale begins, the Smart Queue will open and everyone in the Waiting Room is given a place in line. Those who did not join the Waiting Room will be placed at the end of the line.
- Sign in to your Ticketmaster account at least 10 minutes before joining the Waiting Room. This will speed up your purchase later.
- Confirm you have a valid form of payment in your account with current email and billing information. This will make checkout a breeze.
- Resist the urge to refresh. Your page will automatically refresh when you enter the Smart Queue.
- Keep an eye on the time! When it’s your turn, your spot will be held for 10 minutes to begin shopping.
- Just like before, tickets are always based on availability, demand, and are not guaranteed.
How do I purchase Accessible Seating?
Most venues on sale in Australia via Ticketmaster have Accessible Seating tickets for wheelchair and companion card holders (where applicable) available to purchase online. All you have to do it navigate to “All Ticket Types”, and select the Accessible Tickets Type that is most relevant to you.
If you have accessible booking requirements, including wheelchair and/or companion card requirements and tickets aren’t available online – you also have a few options:
Accessible tickets (including Companion Cards) can be purchased by calling our Customer Service team on the Accessible Bookings line Monday – Sunday 9am – 5pm AEST: 1300 446 925. This phone number is reserved for patrons with accessibility requirements and companion cardholders and cannot process any other ticketing requests.
Fill out our request form ahead of time here. When using the online request form please be sure to select “Accessible bookings” from the ‘Select a topic’ drop-down menu and fill in all the fields with as much information as you have on hand.
Find more information about Accessible Bookings via Ticketmaster here.
What is a ticket limit?
Many events will have a ticket purchase limit in place. This means that each person can only purchase up to a certain number of tickets to any event. This restriction is in place in order to give as many people as possible a fair chance to buy tickets.
If you are purchasing for a group, please ensure you are aware of the ticket purchase limit before entering the onsale. If your group exceeds the ticket purchase limit a different person, with a different Ticketmaster account, and a different card will need to try and purchase any extra tickets.
Please note: Any and all transactions that are detected as bot purchases, patrons creating duplicate accounts in order to purchase more than the ticket limit, or any action that indicates a suspicious purchase in excess of the ticket limit may be cancelled.
Why can’t I access my tickets right away?
Many events have a ticket delivery delay in place, meaning in your Ticketmaster account/app you will see a placeholder confirmation with the text “this is not your ticket” displayed on it.
Events may use a ticket delay for many reasons, including to help avoid ticket scalping and ensure tickets remain in the hands of loyal fans.
Once the tickets have been purchased, you will receive a confirmation email as proof of purchase. This is NOT your ticket or ticket(s). The ticket purchaser will receive information closer to the event date about when your tickets will be available to access.
Hints and tips for improving your chances of getting tickets
Make sure you have a My Ticketmaster account
Get the basics covered before tickets go on sale by logging in and checking your Ticketmaster account ahead of time. If you don’t have a Ticketmaster Account then make sure you sign up in advance – Ticketmaster.com.au.
Sign into your My Ticketmaster account ahead of time
Remember to triple check your passwords, account information, and billing information are all filled in correctly in advance, that way you’re not facing any last-minute account updates when trying to process your order.
Keep an eye on the clock
There will be a time limit applied to all transactions as you are progressed through the ticket purchasing stages. Remember to keep an eye on the timer on your screen and move through the processing pages as quickly as possible (this is even easier when you’ve completed the account set-up stage we mentioned above).
Don’t refresh your screen
Stick to one window while you’re in the Waiting Room and when you’re being pushed through the Smart Queue and always resist the urge to refresh.
Hitting the refresh button means you’ll lose your place in the queue and, as frustrating as it can get, patience is the only way to win this game. Ticketmaster is equipped with sophisticated systems that are designed to manage and process ticket purchases as quickly as possible. The queuing system that appears on your screen will place you at the front of the line as soon as possible.
Remember: there are a lot of fans
We’re expecting this to be a very popular event. When a popular event goes on sale there are hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of customers all attempting to purchase tickets at the same time. Tickets are sold as long as seats are available, and when an act is this popular, sometimes they go very quickly.
Be sure to follow the above tips to ensure you have the best chance of snapping up some tickets.
