Audience Rewards redemption

[Patash]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 9:02am

I've had an audience rewards number for a couple of years.  I've probably bought 50 or more tickets using that number.   Finally I noticed I had just over 10,000 points, so I thought I'd check on how to redeem them.  I was under the (obviously false) impression that when it listed "anytime orchestra or front mezzanine for 10,000 points" that meant that any seats available in those areas -- other that premier seating -- would be available.   So I called and worked on both Waitress and Shuffle Along.   The best seat they could give me for Shuffle Along on my Wed. Matinee date (April 13) was side mezzanine 5th row.  (Worse for Watiress).   But online using a discount code, I found seats in front row mezzanine for $99 -- and bought one.  I mentioned that I was surprised that Audience Rewards was even more limiting than the the discount codes, but just got a "yea, that's true".    So am I missing something?   Or is that really the way it is.  Is it the same or even worse if trying to use a points plus cash redemption? 

 

And yes, I admit I'm pretty picky about seats.  I do NOT like sitting in the orchestra further than maybe one row back under the overhang and I really don't like being any further back than first row mezzanine if possible.  I really cannot see facial expression and detail from further back -- very important to me in enjoying a show fully.  

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 9:40am

Its whatever is available. No agenda, no scam. I've redeemed many times and have never had a bad experience 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 9:44am

I redeemed for Finding Neverland and had a great experience. I got row P of the orchestra. I redeemed my points and bought a ticket ($30 something) and got my email with a confirmation of my seat less than three hours later.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 9:45am

I've redeemed a few times - I usually go for the "show points and cash" option which is noted as select orchestra. I have been given right orchestra row L at Mamma Mia twice (they reserved four seats off the center aisle). For finding Neverland I received center orchestra row P, for On Your Feet I got center orchestra row P as well. All were great seats. 

[Patash]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 11:05am

"Its whatever is available."

 

I guess my point was -- "it's only what they make available for audience rewards" and not really "whatever seats are still available".     As I mentioned, their availability is far less than the availability for the same performance even using discount codes.  I guess that's what surprised me, only because I always had this false impression that with the maximum points you could get "best seats available" not just "best seats we are offering with the redemption."

By the way -- and again I admit I'm picky -- but sitting in row P for Finding Neverland -- 7 rows under the mezzanine-- it not what I call "great seats".  I find those "sound muffling" and slightly claustrophobic.  And especially not if one could get front row mezzanine or something not under the overhang in the orchestra with standard availability even with a discount code.   Guess that's just me.   Yes, I admit I'd rather pay something like $99 to get a front row mezzanine seat, than using up a couple of years worth of accumulated points to get a considerably less favorable seat for the same performance. 

Updated On: 2/23/16 at 11:05 AM

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 11:11am

Anyone knows where their reserved seats for Fun Home are located? 

[ozone81]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 11:17am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Anyone knows where their reserved seats for Fun Home are located? 

 

"

I used the select orchestra option for 4,500 ShowPoints and got Orch F Seat 116

 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 12:04pm

ozone81 said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "Anyone knows where their reserved seats for Fun Home are located? 

 

 

 

"

 

I used the select orchestra option for 4,500 ShowPoints and got Orch F Seat 116

 

 

 

"

Thank you so much! Do you think the seat is worth it?

[ozone81]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 12:22pm

Was the seat worth 4,500 points and no money out of my pocket.  Absolutely.  I prefer to be as close as I can be so if I were paying I would have bought a ticket in the first row, but the seat was great and I really liked the show.  

[fyeahmaria]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 12:33pm

I've used the select orch points + cash option there times the past year and I've gotten great center orch seats for all: Row H - Hand To God, Row P - On Your Feet, Row J - Eclipsed (upcoming).

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 2:19pm

Points + cash is the best option to get prime seating. Point only doesn't always go to prime seats, depending on how the producers have told them to allocate their seats. On a couple of occasions when I've dealt with them, despite there being a wide range of tickets available, they tried to stick me in what is normally rear mezzanine pricing.

[Patash]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 3:05pm

So are you saying that if you use points AND cash, the seats can be better?   Especially just looking for a single -- that really threw me that I could see many good single seats open but they wouldn't include those in availability for points only. 

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 3:21pm

The "Select Performances" option offer the best deals and I've never gotten a bad seat, they usually specify select orchestra and/or front mezzanine. The other "Anytime" option can be for either orchestra, mezzanine or balcony depending on the amount of points used and what the reward specifies. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 3:33pm

Patash said: "So are you saying that if you use points AND cash, the seats can be better?   "

 

Yeah, I think so.

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 3:38pm

I recently cashed out a few 10,000 pointers, and was able to pick any non-premium seat I wanted. I got within the first three rows of the orchestra for both Spring Awakening and Allegiance, so not sure why they didn't let you do the same. I specifically had the seating charts up and was like, I want B114 or somesuch, and even picked seats that had been listed as premium a day earlier.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/23/16 at 5:46pm

I used points only for Beautiful and had 5th row side rich....just a few seat in from the aisle

 

This was within the first 6 months if the show opening.  

 

All other tix I've gotten through them have also been orchestra.

[Patash]

Posted: 2/24/16 at 5:21pm

haterobics, thanks for speaking specifically to my point.   It wasn't merely "how good are the seats you got using points?" but rather -- were you given the option of ANY non premium available seat?  Many answers tell which seats they got, but it doesn't tell if there were better seats open which they wouldn't release for points redemption.    You state that yours were all open seats,  which is actually what I had expected.  But my situation was totally different.  I also had the seating chart open and there were tons of great seats open, but they wouldn't let me redeem them with 10,000 points (the maximum award).    Maybe it's like discount codes.  Nearly all used to be for any available seat in any particular category, but today that rarely happens as they "select" which seats (obviously not the best ones) that are available with the discount.   I used to ALWAYS get front row center mezzanine with discounts -- today that is rarely possible, even when those seats are not premium and they are still available.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 3/21/16 at 3:53pm

Jumping on this thread to ask if anyone has recently gotten tickets for Finding Neverland, An American in Paris, On Your Feet, Eclipsed, or Fiddler on the Roof. If so, could you please tell me where your seats were or more generally in what section? Thanks!

[DivaProf]

Posted: 3/21/16 at 10:01pm

I used 10,000 points to obtain a ticket to Fiddler, Center Orchestra row D.  I checked Telecharge first and then called Audience Rewards and requested that seat (they offered me another seat initially).

[@z5]

Posted: 3/21/16 at 10:05pm

Did Eclipsed last week, center orch, row J; was a perfect seat.

[Taryn]

Posted: 3/21/16 at 11:59pm

I redeemed for Eclipsed when they were running a special promo (Orchestra for 2,000 points) and got side orchestra row J.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 3/22/16 at 8:36am

VintageSnarker said: "Jumping on this thread to ask if anyone has recently gotten tickets for Finding Neverland, An American in Paris, On Your Feet, Eclipsed, or Fiddler on the Roof. If so, could you please tell me where your seats were or more generally in what section? Thanks!

 

"

Center orchestra row P For On Your Feet, center orchestra row M for Fiddler and center orchestra Row J for Eclipsed.  All seats were obtained using their "Select Performances" cash + points offer. 

And these as well, Bright Star, side orchestra one seat off of aisle Row H and Disaster Center Orchestra Row H

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/22/16 at 8:40am

I guess the old adage, "you get what you PAY for" really rings true here.     While it doesn't seem "right", to use more points for a seemingly lesser seat, the other side of the coin is: paying for part of the ticket yields you a better seat.

 

As I said, I've been very happy with all my seats through audience rewards.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 3/27/16 at 3:07am

Taryn said: "I redeemed for Eclipsed when they were running a special promo (Orchestra for 2,000 points) and got side orchestra row J.

 

"

Got the same seat! It seems the seats for audience reward online redemption are fixed. Umm... Maybe we can all post the seats we get so people can know what they are paying their money for?

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/27/16 at 8:27am

I have been an AR member for a while now but just linked all earned rewards into my Delta Frequent Flyer account.  Last week I recieved an email stating that this would not continue.  It was sort of cryptic but I gather that AR will no longer partner with Delta.  Now I will actually have to figure out the best way to use AR points earned moving forward.   

 

It sounds from other feedback that you have the best chance of your preferred seat selection if you check inventory through Telecharge and then call AR and ask for specific seats that could qualify?  

 

Also, if you use the online redemption method will you know the exact row and seat # before confirming the order?

Updated On: 3/27/16 at 08:27 AM