Join the Queue! The Latest Way to Shop for Tickets to Popular Events
Smart Queue brings the latest tech to high demand onsales, creating a clear and fair way for thousands of fans to buy tickets in a short space of time. It also allows us to further protect your tickets against bots, slowing their progress and allowing us to identify and remove them from the queue – ensuring tickets get in the hands of REAL fans.
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.
How the Smart Queue works:
- Go to Ticketmaster, log into your Ticketmaster account then locate the event* you want to shop for.
- You can join the Waiting Room from approximately 30 minutes prior to the onsale time. We recommend joining the Waiting Room at least 10 minutes prior to the event going on sale. Please note: The time you join the Waiting Room does not determine your place in the Smart Queue.
- 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.
- Once it’s your turn to shop, you’ll use the map to select your seats and then proceed to checkout. Please note, that during high-demand sales, tickets are always based on availability, demand, and are not guaranteed.
Shopping Tip: If you’re planning to shop for an event on your mobile device, don’t allow your screen to dim or your Waiting Room will pause. Also, resist the urge to refresh. Your page will automatically refresh when you enter the Queue.
* Events using the Smart Queue may vary due to traffic and demand that impact wait times.
For a smoother shopping experience, we recommend…
- Sign in to your Ticketmaster account at least 10 minutes in advance of joining the Pre-Queue. 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.
In case you have more questions, we included a few commonly asked ones below.
What’s the difference between the Waiting Room and Smart Queue?
Waiting Room: The virtual Waiting Room allows fans to prepare for the queue to start. Fans gathered here will be automatically added into the Smart Queue when it opens.
Smart Queue: 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. Smart Queue is Ticketmaster’s virtual queuing solution to provide a fair ticketing experience for fans.
Do I have to join the Waiting Room?
No, you don’t have to join the Waiting Room to access the onsale but we recommend you do! Fans who don’t join the Waiting Room are placed into the queue behind those who did. So, when an event is high demand, fans that entered the Waiting Room will have the first chance to purchase tickets. Please note – while the Waiting Room opens approximately 30 minutes before the Smart Queue starts, the time you enter the Waiting Room does not determine your place in the Smart Queue.
Why is there a Smart Queue?
It’s to ensure the fairest possible purchase experience for all fans and to keep out the bots for added ticket security.
Is anything different when I shop for tickets with the Smart Queue?
Yes. An improved shopping experience. It creates a clear and fair way for thousands of fans to buy tickets in a short space of time. It also allows us to further protect your tickets against bots, slowing their progress and allowing us to identify and remove them from the queue – ensuring tickets get in the hands of REAL fans.
The one thing that having a Smart Queue won’t change, is that when you enter the ticket purchase page tickets are still always based on availability, demand, and are not guaranteed.
Do I have to stay on the page the entire time?
Yes. While you’re in the Smart Queue, your spot will be automatically and frequently refreshed, so please don’t refresh, close, or leave the page. When it’s your turn, your spot will be held for 10 minutes to begin shopping.
Can I skip the Smart Queue?
No, the Smart Queue may not be skipped. It’s set up to protect you from ticket bots, and because you can pick your exact seats from a venue map, provides a much better shopping experience for you. Fans that do not join the Waiting Room prior to the Smart Queue opening will be placed at the end of the line.
How am I allocated a position in the Smart Queue from the Waiting Room?
When the Waiting Room closes fans are placed into the queue. Fans who didn’t join the Waiting Room are placed into the queue behind those who did join.
Please note: if you enter the Waiting Room prior to the Smart Queue opening, the time you enter the Waiting Room does not determine your place in the Queue.
Will I get tickets if I have a spot in the Smart Queue?
Just like before, tickets are always based on availability, demand, and are not guaranteed.