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Lastminute.com overwhelmed by demand

Graeme Wearden ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 03 Jan 2006 17:30 GMT

UK travel site Lastminute.com found itself struggling to cope with a surge of online visitors on Tuesday, after the UK returned to work following the Christmas break.

Some people visiting Lastminute.com were presented with a page headlined ""Sometimes it's painful being popular", which admitted the site was "taking a wee breather".

Lastminute.com compared the problems to the high demand often experienced by the IKEA retail chain.

"Like the opening of a certain Scandinavian furniture store, we are currently installing crowd control at the gates of lastminute.com. Our fantastic offers are proving too damn seductive, which isn't surprising considering people will riot over cheap soft furnishings," said Lastminute.com.

A spokeswoman for Lastminute.com told The Guardian that the combined effect of a competition to win a free holiday, a free book offer and the recent launch of the company's biggest ever television and online advertising campaign had caused the difficulties.

Tuesday was the first day back at work for many people, an experience that may have prompted some to start planning their next break.