New advance seat reservation system now LIVE

Yeh logged in at 7.50 got 7a,8a,9a. and back for mco next June. I tried to go back in just and its sending you to phone only. I did think it was slow though.

Went in at 7.50am UK time and got 79JK 80HJK for my VS71 & VS72 no problem!

Went back in now 8.02am out of curiosity and the seat map won't load, looks like server struggling with load.

Not working now, seat map still will not load.

Went back in now 8.02am out of curiosity and the seat map won't load, looks like server struggling with load.

I've been getting nothing but fails since 2:00am local time (8:00am UK time). Baaa!!

that's exactly what I'm seeing - now trying to speak to CS

Peter

[mitchja]

It's not working now!!!

Good to see they've kept up the usual level of IT service after all!

Seriously, how does such a big company not see what a mess their IT is and just throw the required money at it? Surely a half decent system wouldn't cost that much compared to the lost revenue from the current shambles.

Lol, you lot all spoke too soon! More than 20 people trying to access the new system and it has fallen on its ar@e

Checked at 0615 before leaving for work and was able to choose seats, quickly and easily. Thought perhaps it wouldn't 'stick' so went back in and they were still there.

Went in again at work, about 0745, still there, but wanted to check again after 0800 in case it all reset itself after the official start time. And since 0800 I haven't been able to get back into it at all.

So I'm reserving judgement on Virgin's IT system for now.

Thanks for the heads up earlier. Managed to get 19AC MAN-MCO return for next July.

System is dead, but no great surprise. If you announce an exact start time for something, people were always going to log on in waves and crash it - why on earth just be vague and let people discover when it goes live, reducing the burden. Cretins...

As long as noone else off my flights gets there first

2:35am - looks like they've taken the system down. Getting a different error now.

Whilst the website was dead I phoned customer services

Waited 38 minutes - only to be told they couldn't help - system was dead - with 125 people in queue to speak to Customer services...

Told to try again 'in a few hours'

Peter

[Darren Wheeler]

System is dead, but no great surprise. If you announce an exact start time for something, people were always going to log on in waves and crash it - why on earth just be vague and let people discover when it goes live, reducing the burden. Cretins...

As long as noone else off my flights gets there first

In these days of social media etc. you can't just leave it for people to "discover". Once it goes live, it'll be all over the multitude of forums (like V-Flyer, The Dibb etc.) and there will be a stampede. Any website that gets a sudden influx of traffic at the same time will struggle as the server resources are finite. Just look at the Glastonbury ticket site each year. It has the same effect as a DDOS attack.

Checked at 0615 before leaving for work and was able to choose seats, quickly and easily. Thought perhaps it wouldn't 'stick' so went back in and they were still there.

Went in again at work, about 0745, still there, but wanted to check again after 0800 in case it all reset itself after the official start time. And since 0800 I haven't been able to get back into it at all.

So I'm reserving judgement on Virgin's IT system for now.

Haven't you received a confirmation email?

Lol, you lot all spoke too soon! More than 20 people trying to access the new system and it has fallen on its ar@e

We have met the enemy and he is us....

Just to add to the misery of those still waiting I successfully bagged 19 A/C and 6A/K LGW to LAS and back at 0730. I received a confirmation email straight away.

I hope once the initial rush has subsided you all manage to get the seat you desire.

Congrats to all those V-flyers who managed to get in early. As for the rest of us, well why is anyone surprised. As a former IT manager if this had happened on my watch I would have been out the door pretty quick. No excuses, load test with numbers is such a basic procedure. Oh well will try later

[mitchja]

It's working for me now here....how many sets of T&C's do you need to agree to now as well??????

2:53am. 14G & 14K booked on both VS042 & VS041. Phew!

Seat map was wide open.

Confirmation email rec'd immediately.

Back to bed....

So close! Got in, I had chosen seats out and back from St Lucia and then a message popped up saying the server was unavailable! Dedication, that's what you need!

Latest laugh....

Eventually got to the seat map, chose extra leg room, confirmed it, but payment server not available, so I'll probably loose the booking of these seats

Grrrrr

Peter

It took about 10 minutes of trying but once in I agree it's a nice easy process.

Booked 10/11 A on VS023 and 5/6 K on VS042

[mitchja]

Quick note for anyone who is flying Premium Economy on a LHR 744 - the new system is letting you select exit row seats (at no cost) now

Row 1 is now also available for selection on VLR flights as well.

Quick note for anyone who is flying Premium Economy on a LHR 744 - the new system is letting you select exit row seats (at no cost) now

Row 1 is now also available for selection on VLR flights as well.

Thanks for that, will go look at my LR flights now!

Lots of unhappy comments on FB page now too

Quick note for anyone who is flying Premium Economy on a LHR 744 - the new system is letting you select exit row seats (at no cost) now

Row 1 is now also available for selection on VLR flights as well.

I went back to check whether the LGW A330 PE bulkhead seats are open, too... and guess what? The server is busy.

I have read concerns about noise for those seats, but having sat in one myself on Friday (I didn't mean to book it, but got a bit confused over the upgrade desk!) for the record I really enjoyed the extra legroom (even at 5'3 ) and the pouffe they gave us.