Single people can't get good If/Then seats?!- Page 2

[veronicamae]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 4:21pm

This has happened to me with other shows/concerts.

Obviously it's designed so seats don't go un-sold because "most" people want two together and leaving singles all over does not result in selling to those that want a pair.


*edit* Obviously I am not the first one to explain this. lol


Updated On: 3/1/14 at 04:21 PM

[delongpre]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 5:14pm

A side note: when trying to buy tickets to WICKED last week I noticed that single seats in the orchestra that were located near pairs of seats were offered at a cheaper price than each of the seats in the pair. Meaning, the seats in the pair were $217 each and the singles were $147, even though they were in the same rows. Ironically, I ended up buying 2 of the single seats that were separated by a pair of sold seats, and when we got to the theater we politely asked and the couple shifted one seat for us. I had never seen single seats being sold cheaper before. Anyone else? This was 2 days before the show.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 10:37pm

To add to the ranting, TM also wont let you leave a single seat. I wanted to buy two tickets in the first row of the mezz and there were three seats available. I clicked on the two I wanted and it would not let me purchase them and leave a single seat. I ended buying the third seat and hoping I could sell it because the only other seats left were rear orch and I didnt want those.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 11:15pm

So, based on that ^, when I saw four seats in the front row for the date I wanted to attend, and bought one of them, leaving three, the only people who can purchase those three remaining seats are a party of three?! Crazy...

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/1/14 at 11:20pm

"this has nothing to do with If/Then"

One imagines this is an option the seller of the tickets has to decide to enable, since I've bought enough Ticketmaster shows to other Broadway shows without encountering this issue. So, it is about If/Then to the extent that they decided to let TM add this bizarre option.

That said, there is also a different reality where people can buy single If/Then tickets with no hassle... had I only not stopped to watch that guitar player in the park that day...

[Patash]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 9:11am

I'll go one further. Signature Theatre. Three seats left together at end of row. I tried to buy two of them and it wouldn't let me buy the two on the aisle leaving one isolated, but it would let me buy the two leaving the single at the end of the aisle. Why should a single have the right to the aisle seat but not a couple?

But honestly, as I often buy single tickets, I've been at an advantage many times of finding an available single much better than any pair of seats available, so I wouldn't complain.

[justherehanging]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 10:13am

I was trying online to buy a single seat for IF THEN and ticket master online would not allow me, BUT if you call the main 800 # and ask for that seat no issues at all.

Very easy to call, no hassles.


BTW there is a code: IFTHEN

I am going solo in March to see the show

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 10:19am

Any word on a rush/lotto yet?

MCC also does at the Lucile Lortel theater… this single ticket rule; but as people have mentioned that going to the box office will usually bypass the system. I had a friend who wanted to see a show with me that I had already gotten tickets for. She went online to purchase a seat next to me on their interactive seating map and was not allowed because she left a single seat. Went to the box office later that day and they sold her the exact seat that it wouldn't allow her to buy online with no problem. I know this is an issue for people who can't just make a trip to the box office for this reason but worth knowing.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 11:01am

"Why should a single have the right to the aisle seat but not a couple?"

Using their logic, I'm guessing it is based on desirability. The aisle is better than a single seat three deep into the row.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 3/2/14 at 11:13am

Different industry same result. Two weeks ago I was working in Tampa and my flight home got canceled because of snow. When I went online to print my new ticket I was given the option of a first class upgrade. After I chose one of the available seats - only two together being left - I was told that the seats were no longer available.

You know the end of the story.

I got on the plane and the two seats were left empty in first class for my flight.

[Patash]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 8:01am

I'll never understand the comparison of single supplement on hotel rooms. Anyone who can't understand why one person with a private room shouldn't pay more than each of two people sharing that same room with someone else (even if it is a spouse or friend) really isn't thinking very hard. Of course a room for two will be cheaper divided by two than it will divided by one! Why is that so hard to understand? But by the way some tour companies actually don't charge a single supplement, making a deal with hotels to allow them to charge half price for a room that is only going to have one person.

I guess a more logical comparison of single hotel supplements would be saying "I want two seats in the theatre but only want to pay for one", just like "I want a room for two but only want to pay for one".

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 8:47am

Yes - the single supplement conversation has nothing to do with the ticket-selling policy in the theatre.

It's inventory management. Pairs sell more frequently than single tickets, so the theatre/seller has the right to manage how they sell their inventory to maximize ticket sales.

If you enter that you only want 1 ticket in the 'number selection' on the site it will only show you the single seats available for sale, so not sure how you ended up in this situation. Unless you had entered more than one ticket in the drop-down menu.


Edited to add: Telecharge does the drop-down ticket number selection. Not Ticketmaster. They manage it with the message about not leaving single seats. It would probably make sense for them to update it, so they can manage their inventory more efficiently)

Updated On: 3/3/14 at 08:47 AM

[ArtMan]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 9:05am

In reference to the single supplement, I brought it up, because Goth mentioned it first. But to Patash, since you chose to add a comment about it. I fully am aware of why as a single traveler I would pay a single supplement. My point is if I am paying for two people then my room should Not be a single room (as in size) but the same size that two people are paying for. The amount I pay for a single supplement is the same price if the company was getting two travelers for the land portion. Your comparison to buying two tickets, but only paying for one and comparing it to single supplement is DUMB. As far as the single tickets are concerned, Many including myself have posted way back, it is their computer systems that is not allowing you to do so. If you pick up a phone and speak to Ticketmaster, telecharge, etc. reps live you will not have this problem. Or simply, if able, buy the tickets in person. No fees and no aggravation.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 9:05am

Double post

Updated On: 3/3/14 at 09:05 AM

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/3/14 at 10:43am

"If you enter that you only want 1 ticket in the 'number selection' on the site it will only show you the single seats available for sale, so not sure how you ended up in this situation. Unless you had entered more than one ticket in the drop-down menu."

Ticketmaster's Interactive Seat Map shows you all of the available seats. With the Interactive map, I'm not sure that you have to enter a number at all, just click on the seats you want to purchase.

I'm not sure the solution is to not show the seats, though, since it's the policy seems to be a bit off to me. Obviously, they can choose to sell tickets however they want, but like anything else, it will only create a new workaround.

I know they do the same thing at concerts, so I already buy a single VIP ticket for shows I attend (since they still seem to let VIPs buy what they want, where they want it), and then I pick up a few extra pairs to pop up on Stubhub, selling my extras at a higher price that often brings my eventual cost of that one ticket below what I would have paid for a single non-VIP ticket, sometimes even making my VIP ticket free.

It's a hassle, and I'd rather just buy a good single to begin with, but I can adjust however is necessary.