Want first crack at tickets before the everyone else? Presales are how you beat the rush, secure better tickets at better prices, and scale a ticket business intellegently. Below is the no-fluff guide to where codes come from, how to qualify, and how to avoid the common mistakes that get buyers throttled or locked out. (We’ll also flag the rules that can bite you.)
Quick Wins (Do These First)
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Follow the artist + join their email list (artist/venue newsletters routinely send presale links/codes).
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Enroll in Ticketmaster/Live Nation presale programs and set your favorites for alerts.
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Link eligible credit cards (Citi / certain Visa/Chase promos) to your TM or Live Nation account; some presales require no “code,” just a linked, eligible card at checkout.
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Watch for platform-driven presales (e.g., Spotify emails “biggest fans” for select tours).
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Use a Presale Provider Service: Services like Ticketflipping Flare collect and provide presale codes for all events in one simple dashboard. (Recommended for resellers and professional brokers) Ticketflipping Presale Codes Info
The Playbook (Step by Step)
1) Identify which presales exist for your event
On the Ticketmaster event page, look for tabs or callouts like Artist Presale, Venue Presale, Citi® Cardmember, Verified Fan, Live Nation Presale, or Fan Club. Each has different eligibility. Start a simple tracker per event so you don’t miss windows.
2) Qualify for each presale type
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Artist / Fan Club Presale — Join the artist’s list or paid fan club; codes arrive via email or account portal.
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Verified Fan — Apply ahead of time; if selected, you’ll get a unique code + purchase window. Supply and access are controlled to reduce bots.
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Credit-Card Presales — Link your eligible Citi (and other participating cards when available) to your TM/LN account; sometimes no password is needed after linking—access unlocks when you’re signed in and you pay with that card.
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Promoter / Live Nation Presale — For LN shows, the presale access code (or unlock method) appears on the Live Nation show page/app at presale time. Consider Live Nation All Access to get notified and manage favorites.
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Platform Signals (Spotify Fan First) — High-engagement fans get targeted emails with links/codes; there’s no universal signup beyond using Spotify and following the artist.
3) Collect and store codes the right way
Keep codes event-specific in your tracker (many are unique/one-time). Store the source (artist email, LN app, card program) and any purchase rules (ticket limit, seat types included).
4) Enter the code correctly at checkout
On Ticketmaster: open the event, click Unlock (near Filters), paste the code, then shop the map. If there’s a queue, you may enter the code after the queue. Don’t refresh while your place is held unless instructed.
5) Respect ticket limits and payment requirements
Many presales verify limits per person/household/payment method. Credit-card presales typically require you to pay with the same eligible card you used to unlock access. Violations can cancel orders.
Where Presale Codes Come From (and How to Get Them)
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Artist/Fan Club — Sign up on the artist site; codes sent by email.
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Ticketmaster “Offer/Presale” — See the TM help article listing common presales and how to access each.
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Verified Fan — Application window opens before the sale. Watch the event page and artist socials; approval = unique code + time slot.
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Credit Cards — Citi (and sometimes others) offer Cardmember or Preferred presales. Newer flows let you link your Citi account to unlock access—no public password required.
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Live Nation Presales — Code/access method posted on the Live Nation show page/app at presale time; enable All Access notifications.
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Spotify Fan First — Emails to top listeners with unique links; code support is handled by the ticketing company in the email.
Objections & FAQs (Straight Answers)
“Do I really need a code? Can’t I just show up at start time?”
If a presale is code-gated, you won’t see inventory without unlocking. Some cardmember sales are code-less but still require a linked eligible card and payment with that card.
You can always skip the presale and buy the next day during the onsale (no code needed) but tickets are usually a bit more expensive.
“Are there universal ‘secret’ codes that work everywhere?”
No. Codes are often event-specific (or program-specific) and change frequently. Live Nation posts valid codes/methods on the actual show page/app when the presale opens.
One exception to this is Citi Card Presale Code, which is always: 412800
“Can I reuse a friend’s code?”
Risky. Verified Fan and many artist presales issue unique codes tied to a specific account and window. Misuse can fail at checkout or get reversed.
“What’s the ticket limit in presale?”
Varies by event (often 4–6). Limits apply per person/payment/household and are enforced; repeated violations can trigger cancels. Check the limit posted during purchase.
“Is it legal to exceed limits if I can?”
No. The FTC has pursued cases against resellers who evade limits or safeguards. Build inventory the right way.
“Where do I enter the code?”
On Ticketmaster, click Unlock near Filters on the seat map (or after the queue on some events).
Pro Tips (From a Reseller’s POV)
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Stack eligibility. It’s common for one event to have several presales across 1–3 days. If you miss Artist, you might still catch Cardmember or LN. Keep a mini-calendar per tour.
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Link cards in advance. Citi account linking takes a minute—do it before on-sale to avoid fumbling at unlock.
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Prep the cart rules. Some presales restrict sections/price levels; knowing that prevents wasted clicks.
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Throttle risk. Don’t hammer refresh or open excessive parallel sessions—respect queue mechanics and limits to avoid soft locks or cancellations.
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Document everything. Save the presale email, the source, the time window, and screenshots of the limit. It helps if anything is reviewed later.
Mini Checklist You Can Reuse
Artist email list + fan club joined
Live Nation All Access + favorites set
Citi (or other eligible) card linked to TM/LN
Spotify follows for target artists
Event-specific limits noted (4–6 typical)
“Unlock” flow rehearsed on an old event page
How TicketFlipping Tools Help
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Flare Presale Codes Dashboard: complete event dashboard with every publically availbile presale code. A major time saver and one of the key tools used by ticket resellers.
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Presale Codes Slack Channel: Ask other members for unique codes and work together with other sellers to crowdsource hard to find presale codes.
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Verified Fan Reminders: Ticketflipping send regular reminders to sign up for verified fan events which require early registration for a shot at getting unique presale codes specifically for your Ticketmaster account.