Are Citi Preferred tickets a good deal?

Citi Preferred Tickets is a program that gives Citi credit card and debit card users exclusive access to an allotment of tickets to live events. It’s part of Citi Private Pass, a broader program that helps Citi customers enjoy events and experiences, including concerts, sporting events, fine dining and more.

Citi Preferred Tickets are a good option for popular shows that are likely to sell out fast, as Citi cardholders often get access to presales. You may also be able to score VIP seating, artist meet-and-greets, and more. But Citi Preferred Tickets don’t get you much of a discount, if any.

Here is what you should know about Citi Preferred Tickets:

• Citi Preferred Tickets allows you to access select seats at certain concerts, sporting events, family entertainment, and upscale dining establishments.
• Current Citi Preferred Ticket offers include artists such as Dierks Bentley, Nicki Minaj & Future, and Lady Antebellum & Darius Rucker.
• To access the Preferred Tickets feature, visit citiprivatepass.com. You should see a list of events. If you find an event you’d like to attend, click the event image. Then click “Buy,” and you will be redirected to either LiveNation.com or TicketMaster.com to complete your purchase. You will need your passcode – the first 6 digits of your Citi card number – to access your tickets.
• In addition to preferred tickets, you can also get pre-sale tickets and VIP packages using the Private Pass program. You can access those features, if available, when you select the event you wish to attend.

Whether Citi Preferred Tickets is a good deal depends largely on your entertainment preferences. If you frequently attend live events and like the idea of getting first crack at the best seats or even VIP treatment, that might outweigh the possibility of getting a discounted ticket elsewhere.

If grabbing great seats is not a priority, you’re better off going straight to the ticket vendor’s website. There, you’re not restricted to paying for your tickets with just a Citi card. And you can get seats anywhere in the venue, not just where they’re reserved by Citi.

Also, keep in mind that these events usually take place in large cities. If you don’t live near one, you might not find much value in Citi Preferred Tickets or the other Private Pass features.

If you're into concerts and live events, it's a great deal. You can get preferred seats for top concerts, and exclusive tickets for a whole bunch of shows.