Mike M.
Yelp
I'm not sure why I'd never bought from TKTS until last weekend, but I'll definitely be back. They sell discounted same day tickets (or you can get next day for matinees) to the Broadway shows. Obviously what you can get depends on availability... if a show sells out early, you probably won't find tickets there... but they had tickets available for most of the shows that are playing, and they more seats than you could find trying to buy the tickets online.
While I technically had to get in a line, they had several ticket windows open and got people through quickly, so by the time I'd gotten in line, I was already next up for tickets. This was Easter weekend, not a random Tuesday, so while I'm sure they have busier moments, I don't think it was a rare fluke.
I asked what they had for two tickets together for Come From Away. The ticket agent told me that there were a few options but that he thought the best were two tickets in the second row, if we didn't mind being close. He told me the price, and all-in the tickets were five or so dollars less than the cheapest ones advertised online would have been before the online service charges (which, for Broadway shows, can be steep), and those online ones had obstructed views. I assumed that the seats would be all the way off in the corner or something, but took them since I was grateful to get affordable tickets on short notice. They weren't. They were next to the aisle of the middle section (so, off towards the stage left side, but right in front of the stage)... With the bonus legroom from not having a seat in front of me, I felt like I might have had the best seat in the house. Glancing around the theater after I got there, it looked like they ultimately sold out that show, too.
If you're making a special trip to New York for a particular show or if there's a show you must see on a particular day, it's obviously wise to book further in advance. But, if you're looking for some last minute entertainment, or if you're flexible about which show you see, TKTS is fantastic.
I love Broadway shows, and I visit New York frequently, but not FOR the shows and not always with a ton of advanced notice, so I'm looking forward to using their service many times in the future.