Quest tells you what you really like about a flight, and all airlines offer

The man who crossed the skies on 110 different flights in the last year alone lives an endless routine of boarding and disembarking, but refuses to cancel his next departure. When deciphering the universe of planes and airlines, Richard Quest says that being in that metal tube that rips through the atmosphere at 900 kilometers per hour still fills his thoughts with the fascination of early childhood.

However, the journalist keeps a secret on board: what he is really after when crossing the clouds is a scarce asset, which is not found on the ground, does not appear in the financial statements and - the worst thing for the market - no money in the world can buy.

For CNN's iconic international business voice, the act of flying preserves the same gravitational pull that captured him growing up in the UK. Quest does not see aviation as a mere means of transport, but as a phenomenon that borders on the inexplicable.

"Think about it: it takes off, it flies. You watch a plane roar down the runway, faster and faster, and suddenly it takes off and heads into the sky. How does it do that? We know how it works, but the fact that it does it is magic", the journalist melts, imitating the takeoff movement with his hands.

Over decades as an international correspondent, this fascination migrated from physics and engineering to social observation. For him, the true spectacle of the flight lies in the dramatic and emotional charge that fills each seat. Consider that each takeoff is an imperfect summary of human existence itself at high speed.

"When that plane takes off, look at it and think about all the people on board. Who's going to a new job? Who's coming home? Who's going to get married or say goodbye to a loved one? Who's going to see a grandparent? Think about all the excitement in life. The reasons we're here are all in that metal tube, and that's what makes it fascinating."

The true luxury of silence
Even after accumulating extreme journeys, Quest maintains very particular habits on board. He confesses to liking airplane food, celebrating "the little tray and the taste of her food" as a legitimate indulgence.

However, what he's really after at 30,000 feet is a scarce asset in the modern economy: disconnection.

In a globalized corporate scenario, where in-flight internet has become an uninterrupted professional billing tool, Quest deliberately chooses the seat of silence and digital isolation.

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"For me, the best part about being in the air is just looking out the window. I try not to connect. I try not to turn on my phone, maybe I'll do it once or twice on a long flight just to text. I love sitting, reading, looking out the window and thinking."

For the journalist who spends his life seeking answers from interviewees, the most memorable moment of any trip still comes down to five words spoken by the flight attendants before takeoff. "I always say what are my favorite words? 'Cabin crew, doors to automatic'. Because it means the journey and the adventure is about to begin."

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Source: CNN