What does "no-show" mean in travel bookings?

In the context of travel bookings, "no-show" specifically refers to a passenger who does not appear for their scheduled flight and has not canceled their reservation in advance. This means that the airline, hotel, or service provider has held a spot or reservation for the passenger, but they failed to take the necessary action to be present for that booking. No-shows can often result in financial penalties for the passenger, such as forfeiting the fare or incurring cancellation fees.

Understanding the implications of a no-show is important for travel agents, as it impacts flight capacity and customer service strategies for handling such situations. The other choices describe different scenarios that do not align with the established definition of a no-show, such as a passenger arriving late or making last-minute reservations.