What does ghost booking refer to in travel practices?

Ghost booking in travel practices refers to exploiting cancellation policies for trips that are not actually intended to be taken. This involves making reservations with the knowledge that the traveler will cancel, often to take advantage of favorable pricing or cancellation terms. It is a term that describes a type of practice where entities, whether individuals or companies, manipulate booking systems to their advantage by securing reservations that they have no intention of honoring.

This practice is particularly problematic as it can lead to inflated demand for certain travel services, reduce availability for genuine travelers, and may violate the terms of service of suppliers. By coordinating such bookings, entities may exploit loopholes in pricing strategies or promotional offers, which can be detrimental to the travel industry as a whole.

In contrast, the other options describe different booking practices that do not fall under the definition of ghost booking. For instance, booking a trip with the full intention to travel is simply a standard procedure and does not involve any manipulation or exploitation. Buying tickets in someone else's name may pertain to issues of fraud or seat allocation concerns but does not correlate with the idea of ghost booking. Finally, booking multiple trips to secure better rates could be a legitimate purchasing strategy, provided it aligns with the policies of the suppliers involved, and does not imply a lack