TKTS Booths Question

[TheatreRocks]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 12:20pm

Which of the four locations has the shortest line ?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 12:22pm

Depends what time you go.  Overall, probably Lincoln Center --- but if you wait until 20-30 minutes before curtain you can walk right up to the windows at the Times Square location.

[Wick3]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 12:22pm

I think Lincoln Center as well. At least you're waiting indoors!

[Impossible2]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 2:26pm

I always do Lincoln Centre unless it's for something that's only on sale at Times Square. Only once in all the times I've been there has there ever been a line and that was on a Saturday afternoon with everyone getting their Saturday night/Sunday matinee tickets.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 4:06pm

Lincoln Center is great. I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 5 minutes, and most times can just walk right up.

[mak136]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 4:17pm

If you don't want to shlep to Brooklyn, Lincoln Center is your best option. You can get tix for matinees the day before, and it's inside and air-conditioned (especially good for now). However, I took my out of town cousin there the other day, and I had discount codes/prices for shows she wanted to see (like Waitress), the discount codes offered were cheaper than TKTS (for I think all the shows she wanted to choose from), so we went to the Waitress box office and grabbed good seats for her there. The good thing about Lincoln TKTS is that they post the price of the tickets now with the discount, so you know ahead what the cost of the tickets are before getting to the window.

[chapie1968]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 8:45pm

Just a question, never used the TKTS Booth, do all locations have the same pool of tickets?

[dearalanaaaa]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 9:22pm

chapie1968 said: "Just a question, never used the TKTS Booth, do all locations have the same pool of tickets?"

Sometimes there are things that Time Square doesn't offer but the others do, or the others offer but Times Square won't.

Also, I second the Lincoln Center. I love the AC, short lines, and the very kind staff there! It's very quiet there too. I only will use that one unless Time Square offers an amazing show none of the others do (Which hasn't happened as of yet)

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 9:29pm

Also, I know the regulars here will know this, but at least at the TKTS Times Square Booth (and I’m assuming the others too?) if you’ve bought a ticket at any TKTS location in the last week they will move you to the front of the line. Just show them the previous TKTS ticket.

[chapie1968]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 9:30pm

dearalanaaaa said: "chapie1968 said: "Just a question, never used the TKTS Booth, do all locations have the same pool of tickets?"

Sometimes there are things that Time Square doesn't offer but the others do, or the others offer but Times Square won't.

Also, I second the Lincoln Center. I love the AC, short lines, and the very kind staff there! It's very quiet there too. I only will use that one unless Time Square offers an amazing show none of the others do (Which hasn't happened as of yet)"

Thanks, 
a follow up.... how easy is it to get there from Penn Station. I figure it must be one uptown train?

 

[Prisoner of 7th Ave]

Posted: 8/17/18 at 10:23pm

From Penn Station, 2 stops uptown  (50th St.on the 1 train) and you're three blocks north of the Times Square TKTS booth.  Four stops uptown (1train again) and you're 2 blocks and change from the LC TKTS booth. If you are seeing anything other than My Fair Lady, TS would be the way to go.  

[ArtMan]

Posted: 8/18/18 at 10:25am

I may be using TKTS for the first time in several years.  I always knew they charged a $5 fee for shows, but now I read they are tagging on additional fees.  Is this true and how much approximately for a Broadway show?  Also can you pick the price point you want or do they only have the highest ticket prices?

[ArtMan]

Posted: 8/18/18 at 10:25am

double post

Updated On: 8/18/18 at 10:25 AM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/18/18 at 10:35am

I’m not an expert but I have never found any location that sells the day before to have the best tickets. They just don’t have access to them. I’ve usually been offered something in the back of the orchestra with much better seats offered the next day.

The best seats I have ever gotten regularly are at Times Square in the last hour or even half hour before the show starts. The line is usually non existent and the theaters often release their house seats and other excellent seats to TKTS that they haven’t sold.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/18/18 at 10:37am

I haven’t used them much in last couple of years, but last time was in February and my mid-Row G center orchestra seat for Hello, Dolly! with Bernadette was $86.50. I couldn’t hand the TKTS person my credit card fast enough!

And they only offer you the next seat that is available. I do have long legs and bad knees so they will look for an aisle seat for you if you ask.

[dearalanaaaa]

Posted: 8/18/18 at 7:16pm

Actually, I got Angels in America the day before and he told me $195 total for row G center orchestra which I took, but he handed me row B left orchestra and I can't tell you how good those seats were. I would've gone to see the show in those if the theatre burnt down! And a wonderful view without the rush? Definitely a win going the day before.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 8/18/18 at 7:20pm

Prisoner of 7th Ave said: " If you are seeing anything other than My Fair Lady, TS would be the way to go."

What are you talking about? Theres a TKTS booth there they don't only sell LC shows.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 8/18/18 at 7:27pm

I think Prisoner is saying that the time you save standing in line at LC TKTS isn’t worth the Times and energy you spend trekking back over to the Theater District.

Updated On: 8/18/18 at 07:27 PM

[Impossible2]

Posted: 8/18/18 at 7:41pm

Miles2Go2 said: "I think Prisoner is saying that the time you save standing in line at TKTS isn’t worth the Times day energy you spend trekking back over to the Theater District."

It's a 5 minute walk from Columbus Circle, why would they need to change trains from Penn Station to there anyways?

[OnBroadway4]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 2:33am

ArtMan said: "I may be using TKTS for the first time in several years. I always knew they charged a $5 fee for shows, but now I read they are tagging on additional fees. Is this true and how much approximately for a Broadway show? Also can you pick the price point you want or do they only have the highest ticket prices?"

Last time I purchased from the TKTS booth was in early July and they still only charged a $5 fee. There's also a theatre/facility fee, but those are standard with any ticket no matter where you purchase them and are already worked into the ticket price anyway.

I wanted to buy next-day tickets for a Sunday matinee next Saturday. I know the the TKTS booth in SSS, LC and BK all sell next-day matinee tickets. However, the SSS and BK location open at 11am and the LC opens at 12pm. Would it be best to go to the SSS or BK location to score better tickets since they open earlier? Also, someone just mentioned that it would be better to purchase closer to the time of the show, because better seats become available. I would go on Sunday, but I don't want to drag my quests to the TKTS booth, when we could be doing other things in the city just for a slightly better seat. Does anyone know what the lines are like at the BK booth?

 

[OnBroadway4]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 2:33am

ArtMan said: "I may be using TKTS for the first time in several years. I always knew they charged a $5 fee for shows, but now I read they are tagging on additional fees. Is this true and how much approximately for a Broadway show? Also can you pick the price point you want or do they only have the highest ticket prices?"

Last time I purchased from the TKTS booth was in early July and they still only charged a $5 fee. There's also a theatre/facility fee, but those are standard with any ticket no matter where you purchase them and are already worked into the ticket price anyway.

I wanted to buy next-day tickets for a Sunday matinee next Saturday. I know the the TKTS booth in SSS, LC and BK all sell next-day matinee tickets. However, the SSS and BK location open at 11am and the LC opens at 12pm. Would it be best to go to the SSS or BK location to score better tickets since they open earlier? Also, someone just mentioned that it would be better to purchase closer to the time of the show, because better seats become available. I would go on Sunday, but I don't want to drag my quests to the TKTS booth, when we could be doing other things in the city just for a slightly better seat. Does anyone know what the lines are like at the BK booth?

 

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 3:48am

Isn't the location at the South Street Seaport the best to go to in this situation?

[Impossible2]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 8:27am

muscle23ftl said: "Isn't the location at the South Street Seaport the best to go to in this situation?"

no x

[ArtMan]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 9:10am

Thank you, OnBroadway4.  I knew about the $5 fee, but it's good to know that the other fees are already built into the cost of the ticket, not an additional like the $5.

[OnBroadway4]

Posted: 8/19/18 at 1:49pm

You're welcome, Artman. It's just the standard fee you will see on any ticket you purchase, and it's anywhere from a dollar to two dollars and it's already worked into the price of your ticket even though the ticket always mentions this fee is included. So yep, just a $5 fee. It's well worth it if you're looking for discounted, good seats.