Frequent Flyers' 'Ghost Booking' Strategy Strains Mile Availability

Travel experts report that frequent flyers are increasingly using their miles to make overlapping bookings across multiple routes per trip, a tactic known as "ghost bookings," as a hedge against ongoing global travel disruptions. This practice is rapidly depleting seat availability, worsening an already difficult environment for travelers facing persistently high airfares. In response, travelers are gravitating toward loyalty programs that offer flexible rules and broad networks, while airlines are implementing fees and penalties to curb speculative bookings. The trend shows no signs of easing as travel demand remains strong.