15 posts
|
Post by grocker on Aug 19, 2016 8:05:56 GMT
Hi all, I'd thought I would start a thread for the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Returns Queue/Line. Please share your stories and tips if you've experienced physically lining up for returns tickets to see the play. This thread is kind of inspired by the Hamilton Cancellation thread over on Broadway World, which I personally found very useful in successfully obtaining tickets to a sold-out hit akin to this one. Obviously, please NO SPOILERS about the play itself, this is simply for us to share information about the triumphs and tribulations of the Cursed Child Returns Queue. I'm hoping to come back to London and give the Returns Queue a go and I'm guessing many others around the world will also be doing the same thing. I hope I covered everything. That being said, any stories or tips to share? |
|
330 posts
|
Post by charliec on Aug 19, 2016 8:16:38 GMT
Great idea Grocker. I work really near the theatre so will try to update here anytime I walk past!
|
|
1,306 posts
|
Post by londonmzfitz on Aug 19, 2016 9:26:04 GMT
Sat next to an American last night in the nosebleeds (Balcony K5, he was K6), he and his girlfriend had got in the queue at 4.30pm and had tickets at 5.30pm. She was in the rear stalls, they swapped at the interval.
Woman in front of me at the box office collecting tickets with an email in her hand was referred to the Box Office Manager - email printed out as "proof" of her ticket purchase but no other information, Box Office Manager asked how much she had paid for "the tickets" - £400 she said. I have a feeling this may have been one of the "sold on and disallowed" tickets, but didn't stay to gawp.
I had a member of staff with a clipboard come to my seat in the interval asking me if I would mind telling him where and when I got the ticket - last week from ATG, and I produced my ATG card as proof of my name (wasn't asked, but offered it anyway).
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2016 10:49:43 GMT
Just a quickie, I'm slightly worried that my tickets for April which I have now given to a friend will not allow her access, as they aren't in her name. Maybe if I call ATG they can change the name on the ticket?
|
|
736 posts
|
Post by dippy on Aug 19, 2016 10:59:58 GMT
Just a quickie, I'm slightly worried that my tickets for April which I have now given to a friend will not allow her access, as they aren't in her name. Maybe if I call ATG they can change the name on the ticket? I'd have thought you could just fill in the gift certificate form which is in the Q&As on the Cursed Child website. Edit: Hmm, the form looks a bit simple doesn't it, but I guess the point of the form is for tickets given as a gift. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2016 11:04:25 GMT
It's a slightly vague gift certificate if you compare it with, say, the similar one the Young Vic use, I'm not sure I'd trust it myself. It almost looks more like it's meant to be given to your friend as a "hey, this is what I've bought you" than to the box office as a "hey, someone bought this for me". It's definitely worth talking to the box office to see what they recommend. After all you're not in any particular rush, and it can't hurt to get the definite official word.  |
|
30 posts
|
Post by wavingthroughawindow on Aug 19, 2016 11:16:42 GMT
I got a supposedly house seat (E14) 30 minutes before the show. Can anyone confirm that this applies to other / most performances?
|
|
782 posts
|
Post by rumbledoll on Aug 19, 2016 11:47:26 GMT
Went past the Theatre in early August 2 hours before matinee (11 a.m., show strats at 1 p.m. on Sunday), saw returns Q formed of approx 15 people already in line.
|
|
1,306 posts
|
Post by londonmzfitz on Aug 19, 2016 11:49:01 GMT
She was in the rear stalls, they swapped at the interval. PLEASE tell me you watched them apparate, rather than walk... Oh, and small point in general: it's considered bad form to be a ticket-holder and snigger at those in the line, even if it is wet and they look funny and bedraggled. Thought I'd get that in early. Good thread, btw, grocker. Aw, sorry TM. There was a bit of stumbling - on the girlfriends part when she saw just how high the seats were, and how bloody hot! Much fanning with programme. My companion/son was in the stalls, with the premise that we'd swap at the interval, the words "screw you mother" when I told him my view/knee space was an almost visible bubble above his head. |
|
1,306 posts
|
Post by londonmzfitz on Aug 19, 2016 22:45:02 GMT
Went to the box office tonight to see if I could sweet talk changing my nosebleed ticket (and some £s) for something better. No .. But worth the visit for the large guy in fronts conversation with the box office guy.
Do you have a single ticket for tomorrow (Saturday)?
Yes, actually we do
Great, I'll take it
Them
No, I just want one
It's 2.30 and 7.30
I'll take the 2.30
Ahhhh
|
|
1,306 posts
|
Post by londonmzfitz on Aug 19, 2016 22:46:58 GMT
Customer had no idea it was 2 parts. Can I have one for tomorrow and one for Sunday then as I'm seeing something else tomorrow night ..
Made me laugh.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2016 22:57:53 GMT
The Palace box office team is quite heroic, patiently dealing with a neverending stream of the disgruntled and disappointed.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 14:48:38 GMT
Went to the Box Office this afternoon to pick up my tickets for next week.
Couple next to me asked for tickets for this evening and were told there were returns and walked out with tickets very happily.
No queue outside either!
|
|
736 posts
|
Post by dippy on Aug 25, 2016 15:07:51 GMT
I was in F12 in the stalls yesterday and in one of the intervals the people in front of me were discussing their tickets. Two people had got there early (didn't manage to overhear the time) but they got seats quite soon after the box office opened (I think they were in E9 & 10 but I could be out by one number). The two in the next seats along (E11 &12?) said they got to the queue at 9:30 and were 19th and 20th in the queue. They had to wait till between and hour and half an hour before the show started till they got tickets because they were talking about the people excitedly queuing to see the show while they still didn't have tickets.
Nice to know you can just randomly walk in on a Thursday and get tickets.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2016 12:08:15 GMT
Some premiums have popped up for this tomorrow, if anyone is interested!
|
|
1,102 posts
|
Post by zak97 on Sept 2, 2016 9:45:09 GMT
I can no longer make my viewing for this Sunday - so if anyone wants to go I'd keep an eye on the website or join the returns queue for a really good stalls seat. I emailed Nimax last night, but am awaiting a response beyond the automated reply. Has anyone else returned and if so, how long does it take for them to reply and do they (Nimax) have a direct contact number.
|
|
1,102 posts
|
Post by zak97 on Sept 5, 2016 13:13:33 GMT
Queue of about 4 or so about an hour before the show. I spotted two empty single seats in part 2 so it's possible they got in.
|
|
103 posts
|
Post by sondheimhats on Sept 7, 2016 20:26:13 GMT
I'm planning to try the returns queue this coming Saturday, but I have a couple questions:
Are most of these tickets released by the box office, as opposed to people walking up with extra tickets? Asking because, when I did the returns queue for The Winter's Tale at the Garrick during my theatre trip in January, I got my ticket from a woman who just came by with an extra. The box-office directed her to me - since I was 1st in the queue - and I had to pay her in cash (I was surprised because that kind of shady transaction would be frowned upon by box-office workers in the States, but in this case it was sanctioned). Should I expect it to be similar on Saturday? Or will the tickets more likely be released by the box-office? Also, will I have to pay with cash? I remember they made me pay for my return ticket with cash at the Menier when I saw Funny Girl, even though it was from the box office directly.
Long story short: Most of my experiences with return tickets have been directly through the box office with a credit card, but I had those 2 different experiences here in London, and basically I'm wondering if those were isolated incidents or not.
Thanks for any help! Would also appreciate any other advice you may have on what to expect when trying the returns queue.
|
|
1,102 posts
|
Post by zak97 on Sept 7, 2016 20:37:56 GMT
I'm planning to try the returns queue this coming Saturday, but I have a couple questions: Are most of these tickets released by the box office, as opposed to people walking up with extra tickets? Asking because, when I did the returns queue for The Winter's Tale at the Garrick during my theatre trip in January, I got my ticket from a woman who just came by with an extra. The box-office directed her to me - since I was 1st in the queue - and I had to pay her in cash (I was surprised because that kind of shady transaction would be frowned upon by box-office workers in the States, but in this case it was sanctioned). Should I expect it to be similar on Saturday? Or will the tickets more likely be released by the box-office? Also, will I have to pay with cash? I remember they made me pay for my return ticket with cash at the Menier when I saw Funny Girl, even though it was from the box office directly. Long story short: Most of my experiences with return tickets have been directly through the box office with a credit card, but I had those 2 different experiences here in London, and basically I'm wondering if those were isolated incidents or not. Thanks for any help! Would also appreciate any other advice you may have on what to expect when trying the returns queue. Box office I imagine, or else they run the risk of someone ripping you off. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2016 21:25:26 GMT
When I returned my ticket to the box office, they sold it for cash. I think they prefer this as it's simpler for them than booking tickets back in and out again.
|
|
103 posts
|
Post by sondheimhats on Sept 8, 2016 6:48:04 GMT
Interesting. Thanks for the info. Also:
Will all the return tickets be for both Part 1 and Part 2, or is it possible that some returns will just be one or the other?
If we're offered a premium ticket, are we allowed to pass on it and allow it to go to the person behind us, while still maintaining our spot in the queue? I remember some people mentioning they did this at Hamilton on Broadway, in the hopes of getting a cheaper seat. Obviously it's riskier, as a cheaper ticket might not come along, but is it allowed?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2016 7:40:12 GMT
My return was for Part Two, as Part One was more than enough Harry Potter for a lifetime, however well done.
You can pass on tickets and stay in the queue - some early posts here have told of optimists rejecting genuine returns in the hope of snaring a house seat later.
|
|
136 posts
|
Post by Lemansky on Sept 8, 2016 10:28:36 GMT
I managed to get a pair of tickets for both plays last Friday for a performance in 2 weeks time. This was via the Nimax website after I'd failed to get anything in the Friday Forty & they weren't the eye-wateringly expensive premiums seats that pop up either.
Not sure what was going on but various dates had either pairs or single seats available for anything from £30 for both shows to £140. There was something wrong with the site at the time as it wouldn't let you book the 2nd performance if you were trying to go on seperate dates, but I kept looking and eventually got them for consecutive performances.
I wonder whether a Friday afternoon is when they stick returns back on the website.
|
|
|
|
Post by profquatermass on Sept 8, 2016 20:17:15 GMT
I'm planning to try the returns queue this coming Saturday, but I have a couple questions: Are most of these tickets released by the box office, as opposed to people walking up with extra tickets? Asking because, when I did the returns queue for The Winter's Tale at the Garrick during my theatre trip in January, I got my ticket from a woman who just came by with an extra. The box-office directed her to me - since I was 1st in the queue - and I had to pay her in cash (I was surprised because that kind of shady transaction would be frowned upon by box-office workers in the States, but in this case it was sanctioned). Should I expect it to be similar on Saturday? Or will the tickets more likely be released by the box-office? Also, will I have to pay with cash? I remember they made me pay for my return ticket with cash at the Menier when I saw Funny Girl, even though it was from the box office directly. Long story short: Most of my experiences with return tickets have been directly through the box office with a credit card, but I had those 2 different experiences here in London, and basically I'm wondering if those were isolated incidents or not. Thanks for any help! Would also appreciate any other advice you may have on what to expect when trying the returns queue. Why is such a transasction shady? I've sold tickets to returns queues - the box office staff have checked them but how else do you pay? I would rather have cash than have the faff of the money going onto my card (and I might not have been the person who paid for the ticket). I have seen people in returns queues miss out on tickets because they don't have cash so do make sure you have enough. |
|
103 posts
|
Post by sondheimhats on Sept 8, 2016 21:05:25 GMT
^Thanks for the tip about the cash.
In the US I think you're not legally allowed to re-sell a ticket while in the actual building. At least, that's what I've inferred from a few encounters between theatre lobby workers and people trying to re-sell tickets (one time I was the one trying to re-sell).
Also, as another poster above mentioned, it could be "shady" since someone could come along and sell you a fake ticket.
|
|
