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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
How this underrated credit card perk got me into Harry Styles and the US Open
Stephanie Stevens is an associate writer with TPG's credit cards team. She focuses on creating timely credit cards content for TPG readers.
August 21, 2026 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Presale access through select credit cards can help secure tickets to high-demand concerts and sporting events at face value, often before they sell out.
Using points for hotel stays can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses during popular travel periods, such as holiday weekends.
Presale perks are not limited to premium cards; many cards with varying fee structures offer this benefit.
Planning ahead and preparing accounts in advance increases your chances of successfully purchasing presale tickets.
What to consider
Presale ticket availability is limited and not guaranteed, so early action is important.
Eligibility for presale access varies by card and event, and some presales may require registration or access codes.
Redeeming points for hotels may yield different value depending on the timing and property, and resale ticket prices can fluctuate.
What you'll miss from the article
Tips for maximizing presale ticket opportunities and strategies to prepare for high-demand sales events.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
I’m spending Labor Day weekend in New York City, and my itinerary is almost entirely built around one credit card perk: presale access.
Getting tickets to popular concerts and sporting events at face value can be an accomplishment in itself — and missing the initial sale can mean paying significantly more on the resale market.
But card presales are the reason I’ll be attending two bucket-list events on back-to-back days: the U.S. Open on Friday and Harry Styles at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
First up was Harry Styles. I joined the Amex presale in January and got tickets to his Sept. 5 show, which falls on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. I bought my tickets more than seven months before the concert, which shows just how far in advance you may need to plan if you want to take advantage of cardmember presales.
I paid $175 per ticket during the presale. Now, the show is sold out, and tickets in the same section are selling for more than $300 on the resale market.
SAMIR HUSSEIN/WIREIMAGE
A few months later came another Amex presale: the U.S. Open.
Going to the tournament has been a dream of mine, so I was excited to snag two tickets during the late-May presale. My tickets are for Friday, Sept. 4, the men’s and women’s third round at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium.
I paid $199 per ticket, and tickets in my section are now selling for more than $250 on resale sites. Inventory is also pretty limited, which makes me even happier that I bought when I did.
Those two presales effectively built my Labor Day weekend. Once I knew I'd be in New York for two events I really wanted to attend, the next challenge was finding somewhere to stay.
I booked my New York City hotel entirely with points
I booked three nights at Hotel 50 Bowery for 25,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per night, which I earned with my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see ).
The same stay would have cost $1,253.45, including taxes and fees, giving me about 1.67 cents per point in value. That’s slightly below TPG’s current valuation of Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents per point, but using points allowed me to avoid more than $1,250 in hotel costs over an already expensive holiday weekend.
ALEXANDER SPATARI/GETTY IMAGES
For me, though, the tickets were what drove the trip. The presales gave me the chance to build a weekend around two events I really wanted to attend, while my Chase points helped cover one of the biggest remaining expenses once I knew I was going to New York.
What my Labor Day weekend would've cost without points and presales
The hotel redemption was a nice bonus, but the ticket prices really show why I value presale access. Here’s how the prices I paid compare with current prices for similar tickets and what my hotel would have cost in cash.
Expense
What I paid
Comparable cash/resale price
Difference
Harry Styles ticket
$175 per ticket
More than $300 per ticket
More than $125 per ticket
U.S. Open ticket
$199 per ticket
More than $250 per ticket
More than $51 per ticket
Hotel 50 Bowery
75,000 Chase points total for three nights
$1,253.45
Saved $1,253.45 by using points
These aren’t perfectly apples-to-apples comparisons; resale ticket prices can fluctuate, and I redeemed points rather than paying cash for the hotel. Still, the numbers illustrate why these perks can be so useful when planning an expensive weekend around popular events.
You don't need a premium credit card to get presale access
One thing I particularly like about cardmember presales is that you don’t necessarily need a premium card with a hefty annual fee to take advantage of them.
Of course, eligibility can vary by presale, so I wouldn’t open a card solely for access to a particular event. But if you’re already considering a card and regularly spend money on concerts or sporting events, presale access is a perk worth adding to your list.
Cardmember presales are pretty straightforward: For select concerts, sporting events and other live events, issuers give eligible cardmembers the opportunity to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
With Amex, eligible cardmembers can access Amex Presale Tickets for select events and seats during a specified period before the general on-sale date. You’ll need a qualifying Amex card to purchase the tickets, and availability is limited, so having access to a presale doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get tickets.
Jimmie Vaughan performs in concert during the 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival. GARY MILLER/GETTY IMAGES
Capital One and Citi also offer presale opportunities for select events through their entertainment programs. For example, I used my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to get access to a Capital One presale for Gracie Abrams later this year.
Eligibility and the purchasing process vary by issuer and event, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the entertainment offerings from the issuers whose cards you carry. You can learn which Amex cards qualify for Amex Presale Tickets on the issuer’s website.
Getting access to a presale is only half the battle. If you’re trying to buy tickets to a highly anticipated concert or sporting event, a little preparation can go a long way.
Here are some of my top tips:
Sign up for artist, team and venue mailing lists. Cardmember presales aren't the only way to get early access, so sign up for email alerts and follow your favorites on social media to stay on top of ticket announcements and presales.
Get your accounts ready ahead of time. Set up your Ticketmaster or other ticketing account in advance, confirm you have a qualifying card and save your payment information so you're ready when tickets go on sale.
Know when the waiting room opens. Check the event instructions ahead of time so you know when to join the queue. Ticketmaster recommends joining the waiting room before the sale begins and using just one browser or device.
Decide what you want to spend before tickets go on sale. Before the presale starts, have an idea of how much you're willing to spend and where you're willing to sit. That way, you can make a decision quickly when it's your turn to buy.
Move quickly, but don't panic. Popular events can have limited inventory, so be prepared to buy if you find tickets that fit your budget — but don't let low-inventory warnings pressure you into overspending.
Pay attention to the rules for each presale. Requirements vary: Some presales require registration or an access code, while others simply require you to pay with an eligible card. Check the rules before the sale begins.
My Labor Day weekend in New York essentially started with two presales.
First, I got Harry Styles tickets for Saturday. Then I scored U.S. Open tickets for Friday. Those two purchases turned what could have been separate bucket-list events into an entire weekend trip — and redeeming 75,000 Chase points for my three-night stay at Hotel 50 Bowery kept $1,253.45 in hotel charges off my credit card statement.
I love automatic elite status and hotel perks, but cardmember presales have become one of my favorite credit card perks. If you love going to concerts or sporting events, having another opportunity to buy tickets before the general public can be incredibly valuable, particularly when an event is expected to sell out.
That said, I wouldn't choose a card solely for its presale access. Instead, look for a card that fits your spending habits and offers benefits you'll actually use, with presale access serving as a nice bonus.
