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Not all the perks of having a premium credit card come in the form of points or cash back. Some credit card issuers and networks offer hefty benefits packages that include presale or advance tickets to entertainment, cultural and sporting events.
These tickets usually cost the same or cheaper than the public sale price—and you may get access with a credit card you already have.
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What Is a Presale for Tickets?
Presale tickets are exactly what the name implies: early access to tickets that will eventually go on sale to the broader public. If you’re interested in events that sell out quickly, presale tickets can get you in and out of the figurative ticket booth before everyone else faces the frantic, website-crashing rush of a public access sale.
Presale tickets can also be a precious advantage if your venue or ticket vendor uses dynamic pricing. In those situations, buying early means your ticket will likely cost less. Presale tickets usually offer the best selection of seats and event dates as you’re beating most of the competition to the punch.
How To Get Presale Tickets With Credit Cards
Each credit card issuer has its own entertainment or “experiences” portal for you to log in to, and that’s generally the place to start your hunt for presale tickets. Sometimes those entertainment portals also have exclusive, invite-only events for cardholders just like you.
American Express Presale Tickets
Amex presale tickets are managed through American Express Experiences. If you have an American Express card, getting your hands on exclusive tickets is as simple as clicking into the presale section of the site.
With that said, your Amex card can also give you access to presale venues through third parties or straight from other venues. For example, an American Express card gives you the option to buy presale tickets through Ticketmaster and Live Nation, or to direct-purchase early access tickets to specific big-name events like the U.S. Open.
Capital One Presale Tickets
If you hold a U.S.-issued, Capital One-branded rewards credit card, you have access to Capital One Entertainment. All you have to do is click into the presales section and shop away. You can also purchase presale tickets through Ticketmaster. For example, if you want to see “Wicked” on Broadway, your Capital One credit card can get you presale access to a reserved block of tickets.
Citi Presale Tickets
Citibank gives all holders of a Visa- or Mastercard-branded Citi credit card, and even those with a Mastercard-branded Citi debit card, access to presale tickets. Just click to the Citi Entertainment site and start browsing.
Citi Entertainment also offers presale tickets through Ticketmaster and Live Nation. In most cases, the early access passcode is the first six digits of your Citi credit or debit card, but in a few cases you might receive a pop-up box with a separate passcode to use.
Lastly, Citi Entertainment also offers perks like Citi preferred tickets (seats set aside specifically for Citi cardmembers during a portion of the public sales period), VIP packages and even occasional complimentary tickets—all designed to elevate your event experience.
Chase Presale Tickets
Although Chase doesn’t promote its presale tickets as a standalone category like many other credit card issuers do, it does offer presale access and preferred seating through Ticketmaster and Live Nation. In most cases, the presales code is the first six digits of your credit card account number.
Chase also offers additional perks through the different sectors of its Chase Experiences program. For example, Chase Sound Check can get you preferred seating and VIP meet-and-greet packages at music festivals, and Chase Pass gets you shaded seating and upgraded refreshments at the U.S. Open.
More Options for Finding Presale Tickets
If the entertainment portal or website for your credit card doesn’t have the presale tickets you’re looking for, you may still have options. If your credit card includes a concierge service, you can call them and ask if other tickets are available.
Information on your credit card’s concierge service—if it has one—is included in the initial welcome benefits package you received, but you can also call the customer service number listed on your card. There’s no charge for getting information from the concierge, but if you purchase something through them—like presale tickets—you’ll pay for that purchase.
Lastly, some credit card networks or issuers may have agreements with third-party sites that let you use a code to access discounts. For example, multiple credit card networks have agreements with Ticketmaster that let you purchase presale tickets straight from Ticketmaster, even using your accumulated credit card rewards instead of cash.
With that said, always check the actual redemption value you’re getting on points purchases, because it can vary.
You also have concierge access with a Visa Signature, Visa Infinite or Mastercard World Elite card.
Are Presale Tickets More Expensive?
There aren’t a lot of controls on pricing practices for tickets, but in general, presale tickets aren’t any more expensive than buying at the public sale. They might even be cheaper, whether they’re being deliberately offered at a discount or because you’re beating the rush for events that use dynamic pricing, which increases ticket prices as consumer demand goes up.
Bottom Line
Presale tickets allow you to jump the line and get access to concerts, games and other events, and having the right credit card can be the key that opens the door to saving both time and money.
There is one thing to note: The premium credit cards that offer perks like presale tickets tend to come with higher annual fees. If you’d only get a credit card—and thus pay the annual fee— to have access to the presale tickets, you’ll have to weigh the cost of the credit card fee against the value of the presale tickets and any other credit card perks you think you’ll really use.
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