Purchased wheelchair row seats by accident

[defscott627]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 1:13pm

Hi all,

I was buying two tickets on Telecharge and came across two orchestra seats that were $49 and figured I scored a killer deal. Nowhere on the seating chart did it say these were wheelchair row seats; they had just said side-orchestra, and the little circles representing available seats were of the same color as the $149 seats. Anyway, I triple checked them, and ordered the tickets only to find out that my seats are considered wheelchair row seats.

I went back to Telecharge's website, thinking maybe I was careless in seeing that they were wheelchair row, and still, on the seating chart map, they do not have a different color - the seat next to them is still available and also does not have a different color or say wheelchair until the VERY final page before clicking submit (which I guess I should have seen, but I had triple checked the seats a few times before that page, and I wanted to make sure I didn't lose the deal in the time allotted). 

My question is... are they going to let me sit in these seats? I would hate to take up a handicap-accessible chair, but I would also hate to lose the $100+ for the seats - maybe they would re-seat me when I get there?Has anyone had an experience like this before?

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 1:15pm

They're not seats, they're the absence of seats. If you bring a wheelchair you'll be fine, but your best bet is to call Telecharge and speak to someone about it. 

Updated On: 10/9/16 at 01:15 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 1:18pm

trpguyy said: "They're not seats, they're the absence of seats. If you bring a wheelchair you'll be fine. 

 

"

That is not necessarily true. Wheelchair seating locations are often detachable regular seats that can be removed to accommodate wheelchair-using patrons. To the OP: If you cannot go directly to the box office, I would recommend calling Telecharge, speaking with a supervisor and explaining your situation. If you explain that you purchased the seats in error, they may offer you a refund or offer to re-seat you in a different location.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 1:19pm

If you bring a wheelchair you'll be fine,

 

Disability is not a costume. What if a genuine wheelchair user needs that space?

You should return the tickets, in my view.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 1:20pm

Did I suggest feigning a disability? 

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 1:22pm

trpguyy said: "Did I suggest feigning a disability? 

 

"

How else is one supposed to interpret "if you bring a wheelchair, you'll be fine"?

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 1:23pm

Not everyone who uses a wheelchair is disabled. But their it's kind of irrelevant, I wasn't actually suggesting the OP acquire a wheelchair and bring it to the theater; it would likely be more of a hassle and expense than changing the tickets, and yes, would go against the spirit of the purpose of the tickets. 

Updated On: 10/9/16 at 01:23 PM

[ArtMan]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 4:23pm

They could be companion seats, which are actual seats.   Defscott627, I actually had the same thing happen to me last month with a Ticketmaster concert.  Me and a friend were going to the Heart, Joan Jett, and Cheap Trick concert with free lawn tickets as part of the Ticketmaster settlement.  A couple of days before the concert, the map showed a really great ticket for a low amount.  I thought we would buy it and then take turns sitting in the better seat.  When I did purchase it and printed my ticket, it was marked as a wheelchair ticket.  It was not advertised at the time as wheelchair.  I called Ticketmaster and after waiting on hold for over an hour the representative told me on her system it was not deemed a wheelchair ticket.  She stated that the venue owned the seats and it was up to their descretion whether or not we would be allowed to sit there.  If they told us no, we would lose the amount we paid for the ticket.  I didn't want to take the chance and since I bought the ticket within 24 hours,  Ticketmaster offered me a refund.  In the end, I ended up not going to the concert anyway.  I can confirm that the ticket I purchased NEVER had the wheelchair logo.  So in my case it was either Ticketmaster's fault or the venue.

Updated On: 10/9/16 at 04:23 PM

[smidge]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 5:33pm

I had a similar thing happened when I ordered a ticket for Carnegie Hall for April. There was nothing when ordering that the seat I chose was for a wheelchair patron.  When the confirmation email was received it has a mention of it being a wheelchair seat. My sear, however, was a regular full price ticket. I believe this is an error in their email confirmation, and I would fight it if I'm not seated for the event. Don't return the ticket before checking with the ticket agency or theatre that you will be able to use the seat you paid for.

[asmith0307]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 8:43pm

The box office/theatre has the right to not let you see the show (without a refund too if I remember correctly) if they feel you have purchased the tickets fraudulently. I saw it nearly happen this last summer. I would recommend calling. 

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 10/9/16 at 9:23pm

At Wicked on tour I got a lottery loser seat and they gave me a wheelchair seat. Not once but 3 times. 1 was a regular seat in a box. 1 was a folding chair on a raised platform in the back of the orchestra. The last one I had issues with since it was located front row(to the side) and there weren't any seats. They tried to tell me I couldn't be there since I bought it but I wasn't in a wheelchair. After explaining to them it was what the gave me and showing them that it said it was a loser seat they got me a chair to sit on.