We typically begin approving tickets two weeks before a taping. It can be earlier, it can be later, but that's the general time. We don't unfortunately have a way of knowing where you are on the waitlist. Ticket approvals usually continue up until around 24 hours before an event. You are alerted via email if your tickets become available.
We approve tickets in batches, so once you get your available email, be sure to log in and reserve your tickets ASAP! If you don't, others may beat you to it. Once all tickets for a show have been claimed, even if your tickets show "Available," you won't be able to reserve them.
If this happens, you will need to wait until someone with reserved tickets declines them. You aren't notified via email if they do, but the Confirm Tickets button will reappear in your My Tickets page. Some members check back once or twice a day to their account, just to see if anything has changed.
Remember! Never make travel plans based on free tickets, or the hope of free tickets.