Fear and loathing up the mile-high club

As journalists, we get to fly so frequently it's become like hopping on and off a bus, even if that bus is more often than not an Airbus. This year so far, my frequent-flyer miles have already been augmented by at least a dozen flights, both within China on short-haul routes and longer journeys abroad.

Some of us have never quite gotten used to flying, even though we have been hopping on and off planes more and more in the past 30 years-causing insurance premiums to climb in tandem.

There is a certain amount of childlike trust you need to invest while flying.