A ticket is a voucher that indicates that an individual is entitled to admission to an event or establishment such as a theatre, amusement park, stadium, or tourist attraction, or has a right to trel on a vehicle, such as with an airline ticket, bus ticket or train ticket. An individual typically pays for a ticket, but it may be free of charge. A ticket may serve simply as proof of entitlement or reservation. A ticket may be valid for any seat (called "free seating" or "open seating") or for a specific one (called "allocated seating" or "reserved seating").
Overview[edit]Members of the public can buy a ticket at a ticket window or counter, called a box office in the entertainment industry (this term is also used for the total receipts), or in some cases online[1] or by telephone.[2][3] The ticket check may also be located at the box office, or it may be elsewhere. Tickets may also be ailable from resellers, which typically are commercial enterprises that purchase tickets in bulk and resell them to members of the public, adding a surcharge; consumers buy from resellers for reasons of convenience and ailability. The convenience factor relates to being able to obtain tickets locally and being able to make alternate selections on the spot, if the preferred performance is not ailable. The ailability factor relates to the fact that all tickets may he been sold out at the box office, requiring the purchaser to either obtain tickets from the reseller, or not to attend the event (or at least not see the particular performance of choice).
Sometimes, for some bus or train journeys, both free or allocated seating are ailable, typically with an increased charge for a reserved seat. On some conveyances, a passenger with a free seating ticket on a bus or train carries the risk of hing to stand. In contrast, in an arena, cinema, or theatre, a free seating ticket means that a seat is guaranteed, just not a specific one.
Paper or card is generally used, although plastic may be used instead for durability. Some he a barcode or magnetic stripe for keeping simple data stored on them; higher end tickets include chips that store more data and prevent counterfeiting.
A paper ticket often is perforated so it can be separated into two parts, one (the ticket stub) to be kept by the customer, and one to be kept by the ticket controller. Whether or not one can lee and reenter with the customer's ticket stub only varies. It may not be allowed to oid subsequent use of one ticket by multiple people, or even simultaneous use by giving the ticket to someone before the ticket check (if this is physically possible), but it may also be allowed, e.g., in a movie theatre to allow the stub holder to use the facilities (restroom, telephone, water fountain) or buy, during a movie, a snack or drink before the ticket check and reenter.
A ticket may be printed in advance, or fully or partly printed when issued, or it may be a printed form that is completed in handwriting (e.g., by a train conductor who does not carry a ticket machine, but just a supply of forms and a pen).
Security issues[edit] Counterfeit tickets[edit]Counterfeit tickets are a problem at high-priced concerts and other events, so holograms are used on tickets for the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, Super Bowl, and other high-profile events.[4]
Ticket "pass-backs"[edit]Passing back a ticket refers to a fraudulent practice where an attendee, after entering an event using a physical ticket, attempts to give or "pass back" their used ticket to another person outside the venue. This allows the second person to then use the same ticket to gain unauthorized entry, essentially circumventing the entry fee. This scam is particularly prevalent at events where tickets are simply scanned or torn upon entry without further authentication or where re-entry is permitted, allowing the original ticket holder to exit and hand off the ticket.[5]
Duplicate ticket / Multiple use fraud[edit]This scam involves selling or distributing multiple copies of a single, valid admission ticket (whether digital or physical) to different individuals. The first person to successfully use the ticket (e.g., by scanning a barcode or QR code) gains entry, while all subsequent attempts with the identical ticket are denied. Event organizers implement measures, such as real-time scanning and validation systems, to detect and prevent such repeated use of the same admission right.[6]
Internet ticket fraud[edit]Online ticket fraud is widespread, with deceptive websites designed to look authentic stealing customers' money by failing to deliver tickets. A notable instance of this was during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where many fraudulent ticket websites operated from outside China, leing buyers without valid admission.[7]
Virtual queueing[edit] This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)Free tickets are applied in virtual queueing. In a place where one has to wait one's turn, there may be the system that one takes a ticket with a number from a dispenser. This system is usually found in hospitals and surgeries, and at offices where many people visit, like town halls, social security offices, labor exchanges, or post offices.
Another form of virtual queuing is where the ticket carries a time-slot on it, rather than just a sequentially incremented number. This type of ticket would allow someone to do other things and then return for a roller-coaster ride, for example, without hing to actually stand and wait in line.
NFT ticketing[edit]NFT (non-fungible token) ticketing uses blockchain technology to create immutable digital tickets, replacing or complementing their paper counterparts.[8]
Coach (Bus) ticket[edit] This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)A coach ticket is a document created by a coach (bus) operator or a trel agent to confirm that an individual has reserved a seat on a coach. This document is then used to obtain trel on the operators coach fleet. Only with this ticket is the passenger allowed to board the coach.
A paper ticket is only good for the coach operator for which it was purchased. Usually the paper ticket is for a specific journey. It is sometimes possible to purchase an 'open' ticket which allows trel on any coach between the destinations listed on the ticket. The cost for doing this is often greater than a ticket for a specific journey.
Some tickets are refundable. However the lower cost tickets are usually not refundable and may carry many additional restrictions.
It is now common for a treller to print out tickets online and use these on coaches instead of hing tickets sent to them in the traditional way. Many coach operators use this system to se costs; some allow a text from the operator to act as a ticket with a unique reference number.
Pass[edit] Main article: Season ticket This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)A pass is a special ticket, representing some subscription, in particular for unlimited use of a service or collection of services. Sometimes the pass replaces the tickets, sometimes it entitles the holder to free tickets. In the latter case, typically both the pass and the ticket has to be shown at the ticket check.
Alternatively, there is the discount pass, for services such as those above: for a fee per unit time (or as a benefit on other grounds) one gets a discount on each purchase. Alternatively, a multi-use ticket (either valid a limited time, or indefinitely) may provide a discount. For example, a pass for entering a cinema 6 times within a year may cost the price of 4 or 5 tickets. A multi-use ticket may or may not be personal. If not, there may be a limitation to the number of people who can use the same multi-use ticket at the same time.
Collecting (hobby)[edit]After its original use, tickets can serve as a collectible item and collecting them is an internationally spread hobby. A ticket's value for collectors is mainly based on the event connected to it.[9] Other important criteria for collectors might be rarity, theme, or even a country of issue. Collectors typically use online catalogs as the information source for tickets. In addition to acquiring tickets by themselves, collectors often trade between each other or purchase used tickets from online marketplaces.
News report by Voice of America about ticket prices at the 2016 World Series, the first world series game at Wrigley Field in 71 years[10] Gallery[edit] CeBIT Home 1998 student day ticket with barcode A pass allowing free passage on the SS Christopher Columbus steamship, c. 1896 An assortment of bus tickets from Carris that could be used in Lisbon in the late 20th century An admission ticket for an association football friendly between the national teams of the Philippines and the Maldives; 3 September 2015 A 2018 rock concert ticket Engred concert ticket for a Charles Benjamin Incledon performance. May 1799 by William Hogarth. See also[edit] Public transport ticket systems Ticket machine Ticket resale, or "scalping" Season ticket Transfer ticket Rover, a UK bus/train ticket References[edit] ^ e.g., via American Automobile Association, Atom Tickets, Eventbrite, Fandango, Historic Hudson Valley ^ "Free Trel Events". AAA Northeast. ^ "Tickets". Historic Hudson Valley. ^ Rutter, Ray. "Branding: Holograms Score in Protecting Sports Merchandising". PFFC-Online.com (Paper, Film & Foil Converter). Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2025. ^ "Anti-Passback in Access Control (APB)". Kisi. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2025. ^ "How to Avoid Ticket Scams". TicketLeap. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2025. ^ "Bogus Olympic ticket website closes down". RNZ News. 5 August 2008. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2025. ^ Bao, Hong; Roubaud, Did (2022-05-08). "Non-Fungible Token: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda". Journal of Risk and Financial Management. 15 (5): 215. doi:10.3390/jrfm15050215. hdl:10419/274737. ISSN 1911-8074. ^ "Admission Ticket catalog: Venue Types List". colnect.com. Retrieved 2019-01-30. ^ Farabaugh, Kane (29 October 2016). "Chicago Cubs Host First World Series Games in 71 Years". Voice of America. Authority control databases InternationalGNDNationalLatvia2OtherYale LUX