Access is exclusively for American Express cardholders. While most cards will grant you access to the standard "American Express Early Access" presales, some premium cards like the Platinum Card® or Centurion® Card can unlock higher-tier offers, sometimes called "Preferred Seating" or "By Invitation Only" events. The core requirement is simply that you use an Amex card to complete the purchase. It's always a good idea to check your specific card's benefits guide to see the full range of entertainment perks you're entitled to.

It's a premium perk that adds value to their cardmember experiences and rewards customer loyalty. By partnering with major event promoters like Live Nation and AEG, American Express provides a benefit that directly appeals to a customer base interested in entertainment, sports, and theatre. These perks strengthen the Amex brand and give them a competitive edge over other credit card companies, similar to programs offered by competitors like Citi. This partnership model creates a win-win situation, as promoters get dedicated marketing to a premium audience and Amex provides a tangible benefit to its members.

The process is straightforward. When you're on a ticketing site like Ticketmaster, you'll see an "American Express® Early Access" option for eligible events. Simply select that ticket type. During checkout, you must pay for the tickets with your American Express card. Some sales may ask for the customer service phone number from the back of your card as a "password" to unlock the sale, but the primary requirement is paying with the card itself. To ensure a smooth process, have your Amex card handy before the presale begins so you can enter any required details quickly.

Cardmembers get access to a dedicated block of tickets that are held back from the general public. This is a separate inventory of seats across various price levels. It doesn't automatically mean all the seats are in the front row, but it guarantees you a chance to buy tickets with less competition before the general on-sale begins. The size of this dedicated ticket block can vary greatly from one event to another.

American Express has been in the presale game for a very long time, and the numbers show their focus on premium events. We have tracked over 100,000 events that included at least one American Express presale. A significant portion of these are for Broadway shows and major theatre productions, making it one of the most reliable ways to get early tickets for the stage. This long-standing history suggests that Amex will continue to be a major player in live event ticketing for years to come.

Our data shows a clear focus on theatre, major concert tours, and sporting events. While you'll find Amex presales for a wide range of artists, they are most consistently available for Broadway shows covered by outlets like Variety, residencies in Las Vegas, and tours for established, multi-generational artists. They also frequently offer presales for tennis tournaments and basketball games. You can often find a calendar of upcoming presale events on the American Express Experiences website.

Not necessarily, but sometimes yes. For a standard "Early Access" presale, you are simply buying from the same seating map as everyone else, just earlier. However, for "American Express® Preferred Seating" offers, Amex has reserved a block of what they consider to be great seats. These are still sold at face value, but you need the right card to unlock the option to buy them.

Please do keep in mind that 'better' is subjective, as a Preferred Seating ticket in the 10th row might be less desirable to you than an Early Access ticket in the 3rd row of a different section. It happens.

There are some stories circulating that American Axpress isn't the best card for presales, but that really depends on how you read the article.

Usually, no. The "code" is your card itself. The ticketing system verifies that you are paying with an American Express card. In some cases, to unlock the ticket selection page, you may be asked to enter the 10-digit toll-free number from the back of your card. Note that for Canadian cardholders, this customer service number is often found on the front of the card, not the back.

No. Generally you are paying the same face value price for the tickets as everyone else. Someone is going to point out that there are events where the alloted tickets are more expensive because they are in a preferred section. Yes it happens, Not all the time or even close to it. American Express presales do not add any extra cost to the ticket itself but standard service fees from everyones favorite ticket and concert monopoly still apply. This may provide an advantage, especially for events that use dynamic pricing where ticket prices can increase as the general sale progresses.

For in-demand events, absolutely. The primary benefit of any presale is securing a ticket at face value, avoiding the stress of the general sale and the risk of inflated resale prices. If you see a ticket you're happy with during the Amex presale, it's almost always a good idea to buy it. While the absolute best seats might be reserved for VIP packages or other exclusive sales, the presale gives you a fantastic opportunity to get great seats with much less competition. Ultimately, the value lies in the peace of mind that comes from securing your tickets early for a show you don't want to miss.