You can deny that movies are an addiction! The big screen, the occasional immersive experience that comes with theatres is indeed tempting, not to mention the smell of popcorns (Act II is just not the same, come on). But of late the experience just seems to get costlier by the day. But we don’t want you to compromise your experiences just to save your wallet. Since most movie theatres do not offer discounts or cashbacks, here’s a list of hacks and coupons to book movie tickets online without your wallet taking a hit.
Best Ways To Save Money On Online Movie Ticket Booking
1. PayTM Coupons
PayTM has been the savior app for all of us at some point or the other. It also happens to be one of the best apps out there when it comes to cash backs, from mobile recharges to Uber rides and yes, movie tickets too! PayTM has several offers on movie bookings such as 50% cashback, or zero convenience charges for online bookings and sometimes even two tickets at the price of one. Check the list of applicable promo codes before confirming payment. You can also activate your applicable offers from the PayTM cashback section beforehand and keep a lookout for free movie vouchers as and when you make any payment with PayTM.
2. BookMyShow offers
Pretty much the most preferred website apart from PayTM for booking movie tickets online, BookMyShow has some pretty great offers running from time to time, depending on the city and the mode of payment you are using. Go to the offers section on the website and you’ll find a list of different credit and debit cards offering some sort of cashback/discount offers or the other, most common ones being from SBI and Axis bank. It also offers several promotional schemes for different online wallets, as long as you keep your eyes open to seize the opportunity!
3. Online wallets
Although PayTM is definitely the top contender in the list of online wallets, there are other options like FreeCharge and Mobikwik that function the same way- and of course, come with promotional offers. Although the number of cashbacks on these apps is not too much, hey, something is better than nothing! You can actually build on your cash backs and save up enough to actually buy the ticket itself with the cashback credited if you are being nifty!
4. Club memberships
Not a massively popular concept yet, club memberships are fast becoming an essential hack for those of us constantly looking for a good deal from cab rides salon visits. Needless to mention, there is always something for everyone, including the theatergoers. Memberships such as Times Prime or PayTM First club offer excellent deals for online movie tickets, ranging from discounts to cash backs to even free tickets every month. Check your respective offers pages, and if you don’t have one yet- investing one is not too bad an idea given the sheer number of benefits they offer that you can use elsewhere such as diner memberships and free app subscriptions.
5. Credit card points
Credit cards come handy when you are broke, sure. But did you know your credit card racks up points that you can put to use and actually manage to not go broke, at least while booking movie tickets? Most leading cards, apart from their regular promotional offers, lets you collect points or cash backs with each purchase you make with it. Those points/cash backs are redeemable on several leading websites like BookMyShow. So next time you use your credit card, keep a track of those points and count down to the next blockbuster!
6. Payment app deals
If you have a functioning PayZapp or a Paypal account, you are in luck. PayZapp is for HDFC users and hence not accessible to all but you can always sign up at PayPal and create your own account- this will actually come handy when you are visiting foreign e-commerce websites or even some of the popular Indian ones. Paying through either PayZapp or PayPal will land you additional discounts on the actual amount you pay for the tickets, over and above the existing promotional offers. Worth trying, don’t you think?
7. Loyalty programs
This hack does take longer but works just as well. Sign up for the theatres online, say PVR Cinemas or Inox. Creating your own free account comes with quite a few perks and one of them is (drum rolls please) redeemable points! Sign up for the newsletters, promotional offers, follow them on social media-and grab those concessions on not just tickets but food as well. Caramel popcorn, anyone?
8. Group deal websites
Another trend that is catching wind is that of the deal websites. Websites like GrabOn and NearBuy often offer excellent promotions on movie tickets that you can keep an eye out for. Whether it’s a flat discount or two tickets for the price of one, your wallet is still going to thank you. If you have someone to watch the movie with you, even better. Visit the websites, select your offer and you will be redirected to the booking website where you can select your movie, time and date.
9. Bulk rewards and special rewards programs
If you have a huge group of say 30 people, from your school, the Old Age home you volunteer at, or just your community-building, call up the theatre and ask if they have any bulk discount program, which many of them do. You can even get discounts for some of your association memberships, or just if you are a student. These, of course, do not apply to one and all- but go ahead and ask. Most of us miss out on reward programs specially curated for specific people just by not taking our chances.
10. Reward programs on e-commerce websites
How often do you shop at Myntra or Flipkart? Too many times, you say? Well, all those expenses might just have left a Thank you gift behind! Check your Myntra/ Flipkart account and go to their privilege rewards page. You can often get flat discounts on movie tickets by using those reward points that are generally not redeemable anywhere else. So now you can save yourself the guilt trip for buying that expensive pair of shows and go watch a movie!
Finding out the perfect promotional offer can be slightly tedious but it is always worth it when you see your finally payable amount coming down by 50% or even more! However, while hacks are great, remember to do a quick read-through of the terms and conditions that vary from one site to another. The promotional offers are often one-time use and have expiry dates, but we’ll be here looking up more hacks for you while you enjoy your movie.
