Buying & on-sales · Ticket resale glossary
Virtual Queue
Also known as: Waiting room, Online queue, Smart Queue
A virtual queue is an online waiting room that ticketing sites put in front of high-demand on-sales. Buyers are placed in line and let into the purchase page a few at a time so the site isn't overwhelmed.
Most queues randomise everyone who arrives before the sale opens, then serve later arrivals in order. Ticketmaster runs its own Smart Queue; many other sites use providers such as Queue-it.
Queues also act as a defence against bots: they may require a captcha, a logged-in account or a presale code before letting a buyer through. Opening the same queue in many tabs or devices is often against the site's terms.
The queue length is a rough demand signal. When hundreds of thousands of people queue for a few thousand seats, expect a fast sell-out and strong resale prices.
How a ticket queue works
Most queues have two parts. Before the sale there is a waiting room: everyone who arrives before the start time is given a random position when the sale opens. After that, new arrivals join the back of the line in order.
When your turn comes, you are let into the purchase page for a limited session. Choosing tickets puts them in a basket with a timer, and if you don't complete checkout in time, they go back on sale. Many queues show your position and an estimated wait, but both can change quickly as people ahead drop out.
Queues across ticketing sites
Ticketmaster runs its own Smart Queue. Many other ticketing sites and official resale platforms use third-party providers such as Queue-it, and several sites layer bot protection on top of the queue. DICE takes a different approach for sold-out shows, with a waiting list that offers returned tickets to fans in turn.
The rules also differ. Some queues only admit logged-in users, some ask for a presale code before entry, and some tie your place to one browser session, so opening a second tab can reset it.
Worked example: what your queue number means
A general sale has 9,000 tickets. If the average order is about three tickets, around 3,000 orders will clear the allocation. With a queue position of 25,000, your chance of buying in the first rush is close to zero, unless many people ahead give up or their baskets expire. Staying in the queue still has value: late in the queue is often when the first expired baskets come back, as a small restock.
Queue rules and common pitfalls
Queues are built to be fair and to block automation, so a lot of popular advice backfires.
- Refreshing: on many queues, refreshing or reopening the page can lose your place; leave the tab open.
- Multiple tabs and devices: often against the site's terms, and some queues detect it and drop or block duplicate sessions.
- VPNs and shared networks: unusual traffic can trigger extra checks or blocks.
- Session timers: the purchase window once you're through is short, so log in and save payment details before the sale.
- Bots: using software to bypass a queue is illegal in the US and the UK (see ticket bot).
Queue size as a demand signal
The number of people in a queue, compared with the tickets available, is one of the earliest signs of how an event will trade. A queue several times larger than the venue's capacity points to a quick sell-out, heavy resale demand and possibly an extra date. A queue that clears in minutes with tickets still available points to a market near face value.
Catch it with Eventory
Rather than sitting in queues all day, Eventory monitors alert you when tickets are actually available again after the on-sale rush.
Frequently asked questions
Does refreshing the page lose my place in the queue?
On many ticketing sites, yes. Your place is tied to your session, so refreshing, closing the tab or switching devices can reset it. Keep the queue page open and let it update by itself.
Is it better to join the queue early?
Join before the sale opens. Everyone in the waiting room at the start time is usually randomised, so arriving an hour early gives no advantage over arriving ten minutes early, but arriving after the start puts you behind everyone already there.
Can I use multiple devices in a ticket queue?
Some sites tolerate it, but many terms forbid it and some queues detect duplicate sessions and remove them. Each position still needs a separate account to buy, and the purchase limit applies per person.
Why did tickets sell out while I was in the queue?
The queue admits more people than there are tickets. When the allocation runs out, the remaining queue is told the event is sold out. Expired baskets can still release tickets in the following minutes and hours.