American Express Advance Tickets

Catch&Release · Post by **Catch&Release** » December 17, 2006 4:10 pm

I just upgraded to the American Express Gold card mainly because I was told that you can get advance tickets to any show sold through Ticketmaster.

If this is true, how does it work?

Thank you!

Gypsy In The Palace · December 17, 2006 4:35 pm

Never personally had experience with this, but I sat next to a guy at the NCAA Final Four a few years ago who said that he called Amex and inquired about getting ten Final Four tickets through this. They told him that it would be no problem. He said that he got back from lunch and had a voice mail telling him that they had his ten tickets ready and that they wanted to know if he wanted it charged on his Amex card or some other card. He said that they told him in the message that his total was $70,000.

He said that he called them back and said, "Did I hear that right?" They again reported that his total for ten tickets was $70,000. He said, "Thanks, but no thanks."

I got tickets off ebay for a little over $400 each--expensive but around $6600 less than what they tried to charge him. And, he said that he had paid between $300 and $400 for the seat that he was sitting in which was right next to me.

Maybe he just had a bad experience, and it isn't quite that bad most of the time. I don't know because I've never used it; I just remember him telling me that story.

ejr · Post by **ejr** » December 17, 2006 4:44 pm

I don't know that it is every show. I know that for some theater premiers here in Chicago, they have been exclusive to the Gold Card for a couple of weeks, and that is how we got to see The Producers, and Spamalot.

jimsig · Post by **jimsig** » December 17, 2006 5:14 pm

Sometime they do presales for some shows if you have the Gold card. Check out http://www.ticketmaster.com/amex/ for more info.

txaggirl91 · Post by **txaggirl91** » December 17, 2006 5:45 pm

never had any luck with it...

my sister even has a platinum card and we still couldnt get tickets in advance. the ones am exp had were from brokers...

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » December 17, 2006 5:59 pm

it's "selected shows" only.

buffett tixs has never participated in the AMEX promotion.

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » December 17, 2006 9:14 pm

As others have mentioned, you CAN get tickets early with AMEX. Usually the tickets available are for tennis, golf, or plays. This year I did get an offer for the Rolling Stones.

When it is not an AMEX event, you do pay premium prices but you can get tickets.

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » December 17, 2006 9:26 pm

land_shark3 wrote:As others have mentioned, you CAN get tickets early with AMEX. Usually the tickets available are for tennis, golf, or plays. This year I did get an offer for the Rolling Stones.

When it is not an AMEX event, you do pay premium prices but you can get tickets.

Hmmmm....sounds like if it's not an "AMEX" event (where they have "dibs" arranged for an advance sale) that what they provide is basically a concierge service...they'll do the legwork of going through brokers/scalpers to get you the tix.

So, to the original question from Catch&Release, I'd ask AMEX about the price for their guaranteed tickets to any Ticketmaster event

....and do let us know what they say....

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » December 17, 2006 9:48 pm

Quiet and Shy wrote:Hmmmm....sounds like if it's not an "AMEX" event (where they have "dibs" arranged for an advance sale) that what they provide is basically a concierge service...they'll do the legwork of going through brokers/scalpers to get you the tix.

So, to the original question from Catch&Release, I'd ask AMEX about the price for their guaranteed tickets to any Ticketmaster event ....and do let us know what they say....

I've got the Platinum, which does have the Concierge service. They can make my travel arrangements and even find random things for me.

On the guaranteed tickets, they are typically at face, lower, or come as some type of package deal (hotel, car, VIP tent, etc.).

Buffett PHan · Post by **Buffett PHan** » December 18, 2006 7:40 am

Iv'e seen several concert events where American Express card holders had opportunity to purchase tickets early on Ticketmaster. I looked at the seats available and didn't think they were very good. Everybody has a marketing strategy........

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » December 18, 2006 8:35 am

Saw the commercial w/ Ellen Degeneres last night. All I can think of now is, "Be the ticket."

Pleasin & Teasin · Post by **Pleasin & Teasin** » December 27, 2006 10:32 am

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:it's "selected shows" only.

buffett tixs has never participated in the AMEX promotion.

Now they tell me!!! Thats what i got the card for...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

But, so far, it has gotten me preferred seating at a Jerry Jeff Walker concert at BB Kings....and will do so again when Little Feat play there in March 2007

Pleasin & Teasin · Post by **Pleasin & Teasin** » December 27, 2006 10:37 am

buffettbride wrote:Saw the commercial w/ Ellen Degeneres last night. All I can think of now is, "Be the ticket."

Funny funny commercial---dont let them be next to the guy who feels he has to sing every word..............but must have been talking about tickets for something other than a Jimmy Buffett concert, cause at his concerts, you wouldnt hear whether the guy next to you was singing or not cause you'd be singing so loud yourself

I think of that every time I hear this commercial....

CrznDnUS1 · Post by **CrznDnUS1** » December 27, 2006 11:41 am

Gypsy In The Palace wrote:He said that they told him in the message that his total was $70,000.

Sounds like they just went to a tkt agency. Anyone can do that and get $7000 tickets.

parrothead216 · Post by **parrothead216** » December 27, 2006 11:47 am

land_shark3 wrote:
Quiet and Shy wrote:Hmmmm....sounds like if it's not an "AMEX" event (where they have "dibs" arranged for an advance sale) that what they provide is basically a concierge service...they'll do the legwork of going through brokers/scalpers to get you the tix.

So, to the original question from Catch&Release, I'd ask AMEX about the price for their guaranteed tickets to any Ticketmaster event ....and do let us know what they say....
I've got the Platinum, which does have the Concierge service. They can make my travel arrangements and even find random things for me.

On the guaranteed tickets, they are typically at face, lower, or come as some type of package deal (hotel, car, VIP tent, etc.).

LS do you feel there is a benefit to carrying the Platinum Card to justfy the $375.00 a year fee!
I 've been invited to carry it numerous times , but always declined!

I have carried the Gold Card for about 20 years, but I only pay 20.00 a years for it! I get a discount!

The Gold Card Events have never been anything I want to go to!

You must be rich!

BadgerBreeze · Post by **BadgerBreeze** » December 27, 2006 12:45 pm

We have a few corporate accounts and they have offered opportunities to various events, have not seen Buffett show available. The only ticketmaster advantage is to have account information and a password for quick service, this works for most shows but again never able to get great seats for Buffettshows at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin

LesPaul30 · Post by **LesPaul30** » December 27, 2006 8:49 pm

I'm not sure if being an amex member had anything to do with it, but when I got the MSg tickets, I originally went through my VISA the first time and got real horrible seats. About 20 mins later I tried again with the AMEX and was able to get a whole different range of seats including the VERY overpriced 200 a pop ones (which I wish now I hadn't bought- thats just way too high not to mention the gf at the time just didn't "get it"). But it could have been alot of 'declined card' seats that reopened up.

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » December 27, 2006 9:03 pm

parrothead216 wrote:LS do you feel there is a benefit to carrying the Platinum Card to justify the $375.00 a year fee!
I 've been invited to carry it numerous times , but always declined!

I fly quite a bit, so the access to the airport lounges is worth the fee. The Platinum rate is the same as any one airport lounge, but the card gets me in most of them.

The travel service is decent for last minute travel or if you know exactly where you want to stay and what dates. Not to mention, they have a decent rate for renting international phones.

The rest of the benefits, I could take or leave. I've been a Platinum member for 5 or 6 years now. I've thought about letting it go, but if I did I would drop all the way down to the free card. I really didn't see that many benefits with the Gold card.