Ticket Concert

Day of sale: make a successful purchase

For highly anticipated concerts, everything happens in just a few minutes. When the sale opens, tens of thousands of people click at the same time, a virtual queue forms, and the best places go quickly. The good news: success comes mainly from preparation. By thinking ahead the day before, understanding how the queue works and getting straight to the point when paying, you put the odds in your favor. Here is the method, in three stages: before opening, during the queue, and at payment.

Why does everything go away so quickly?

A general sale is a massive and simultaneous influx. When the supply of seats is limited and demand is enormous, the ticket office sets up a “T0” virtual queue “T1” to absorb the traffic: everyone waits, then accesses the selection of seats in turn. Understanding this mechanism avoids two classic mistakes: refreshing the page in a loop (which can send you to the end of the queue) and panicking when you see the counter. Preparation makes the difference between a winning position and a “complete” message.

Before opening: preparation

  1. 1

    Create your account in advance

    Register at the ticket office several days in advance and check that your payment method is valid and up to date. On the big day, every minute counts: creating an account urgently means that your place flies away.

  2. 2

    Note the exact time and time zone

    Find the precise opening time on the official source, and convert it to your zone if the event is abroad. Set an alarm a few minutes before.

  3. 3

    Decide your budget and your places

    Determine in advance your target category, a plan B (other category, other date) and your maximum budget including fees. Deciding quickly when choosing avoids losing your place while you hesitate.

  4. 4

    Prepare your connection

    A stable connection, only one tab open on the ticket office, the device charged. Avoid multi-tabs and multi-devices, which are sometimes detected and can work against you.

During virtual queue

  1. 1

    Enter as soon as it opens, then wait

    Log in at opening time to join the line. Once inside, you have a position: it is now a matter of waiting your turn, not of relaunching the page.

  2. 2

    Do not refresh the page

    Reloading or opening a second tab can cause you to lose your position and be sent to the back of the line. Let the page work, even if the counter seems frozen.

  3. 3

    Stay attentive in your turn

    When it's up to you, you usually have a limited time to choose and pay. Keep the tab visible and be ready to act as soon as seat selection opens.

On payment: finalize without giving up anything

  1. 1

    Check the summary

    Date, room, category, number of places and total fees included: a quick glance to confirm that everything is correct before validating.

  2. 2

    Pay without changing pages

    Enter your prepared payment method and validate in one go. Avoid going back or opening another tab, which can interrupt the transaction.

  3. 3

    Wait for confirmation

    Let the page load until you see the confirmation message, even if it takes a long time. Do not validate twice: you risk a double order.

If you didn't succeed the first time

  • Watch for additional dates: when a date is full, others are sometimes added in the days that follow.
  • Activate the alerts from the ticket office to be notified of a resale of tickets.
  • Think of the official resale, where places put back into circulation by other buyers reappear, sometimes until the last moment.
  • Broaden your criteria: another city, another date or a different category increase your chances.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to refresh the page to move forward in the queue?
No, it's even counterproductive. The virtual queue automatically manages your position. Reloading the page or opening multiple tabs can cause you to lose your place and be sent to the back of the line. Leave the page open and wait.
How long do I have to pay once my places are reserved?
This varies depending on the ticket office, but a timer of a few minutes often goes off after booking. Beyond that, places go on sale again. Hence the benefit of having prepared your means of payment in advance to finalize without hesitation.
Is it better to buy on computer or on phone?
Both work. The important thing is to have a stable connection, the device charged and your account already created. Choose the device on which you are most comfortable going quickly, and only open one tab on the ticketing.
I didn't have a place at the opening, is that ruined?
Not necessarily. Watch for the addition of additional dates, activate ticketing alerts and check the official resale: seats recirculated by other buyers reappear regularly, sometimes up to a few days before the concert.