How Travelbooster Transitioned from Three-Week Releases with Downtime to a Seamless Release Train Methodology

In today’s fast-paced travel industry, agility and reliability are paramount. At Travelbooster, we recognized that releasing software updates every three weeks with associated downtime was no longer meeting the needs of our clients. Customers expect uninterrupted service and frequent updates, especially in a competitive environment where downtime can translate to lost bookings and frustrated users. Here is how we transformed our release process to a streamlined, downtime-free release train methodology.

The Challenges of Downtime
Our legacy release cycle operated on a three-week cadence, requiring planned downtime during each update. While predictable, this approach presented several challenges:

1. Disruption to Customers: Even a brief downtime disrupted customers, causing inconvenience and operational challenges.
2. Slow Feedback Loop: With updates happening every three weeks, it took longer to deliver value to customers and address feedback and issues.
3. Pressure on Teams: Development, QA, and deployment teams operated under tight and fixed deadlines, requiring meticulous coordination and rapid problem-solving.

We knew we needed a more efficient and customer-centric approach. Enter the no downtime and release train methodology.
Embracing Zero Downtime and Release Train Methodology
The release train methodology is built on the principle of continuous delivery, where new updates are deployed on weekly basis, incrementally, without interrupting the end user’s experience.

Here’s how we implemented it at Travelbooster:

1. Architectural Changes for Zero Downtime
We started by redesigning critical components of our infrastructure to support zero-downtime deployments:
• Database Changes: We adopted techniques like backward-compatible schema updates and phased rollouts to ensure updates could be applied without breaking existing functionality.
• Phased Machine Updates: To achieve zero-downtime releases, we used a phased update strategy across our infrastructure.
• Feature Toggles: These allowed us to deploy new code without immediately exposing it to all users, enabling feedback in production environments.
2. Creating a Fixed Release Schedule
Under the release train model, updates are deployed at fixed intervals, regardless of whether all planned features are complete. This ensures predictability while avoiding delays caused by last-minute changes. Any incomplete feature is deferred to the next release train, maintaining a steady flow of improvements.

Key Elements of the Transition

To support this new methodology, we invested in tools and processes to improve collaboration and efficiency:
• CI/CD Pipelines: Automated testing and deployment pipelines drastically reduced the time and effort required for each release.
• Cross-Functional Teams: Development, QA, and operations teams worked together closely, ensuring smooth handoffs and faster issue resolution.
• Monitoring and Alerts: Real-time monitoring allowed us to detect and address issues proactively, further reducing the risk of downtime.

The Results

Since adopting the release train methodology, we’ve seen transformative results:
1. No Downtime: Customers now enjoy uninterrupted access to Travelbooster, even during major updates.
2. Faster Time-to-Market: Regular, incremental updates mean new features and fixes reach customers faster than ever.
3. Improved Customer Satisfaction: The seamless update process has improved the overall customer experience and satisfaction.
4. Happier Teams: Our internal teams benefit from more manageable workload and clear release timeline and cadence.

Lessons Learned