Richard Havers and Chris Tiffney: This one is worth a book alone. For my part (Richard) I think airlines are a soft target for Governments and others to have a pop at. Big aircraft flying around the place look like they are doing an immense amount of damage, but for the distances they cover and the numbers they carry it is pretty efficient way of transporting people. The fact is that our society has developed in the way that it is and flying is a fact of life. If we are to change it then we have to consider every aspect of the way we live. I'd sooner see people's discretionary car journies limited. Let's also not forget that vast amounts of our food are flown around the world.

Chris thinks Carbon offsetting will expand--but whether it does any good is a whole different question.

Never forget that someone is making money out of carbon offsetting. Added to which it's playing on our guilt. I've heard that some airlines are getting into the Carbon offsetting game on board. You're sitting in your seat and the guy next door says ,"I'm going to off set my journey." What do you say? "Good for you." Then carry on drinking your gin and tonic with the lemon slice in it that was probably flown from some long way off?

It's a really serious issue but politicians and governments are in danger of opening Pandora's box.

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Pheonix, Ariz.: How often do domestic US planes fly on autopilot, as a general rule?

Richard Havers and Chris Tiffney: Seldom off it.

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Newark, N.J.: Is the Mile High Club a myth? Has there ever been any documented proof of this happening?

Richard Havers and Chris Tiffney: Get any group of people talking about the airline business, and flying in general, and people will mention one of two things. Either it's the great lost baggage story or it's the legendary mile high club. In all honesty there are few who readily admit to being a member of the club. Even those who are keen to brag of their membership are probably lying, and not just because there are, in reality, so few who have actually done it. The fact is that most commercial aircraft fly at closer to seven miles high. In order to be technically correct if you are a member of the mile high club then the chances are you will have needed to have "done it" either during climb or in the descent, which means that you should have been wearing your seatbelt!

A recent survey found that around 9% of people admitted to having has sex on board a commercial airliner. The respondents were evenly split between men and women, perhaps indicating that the traditional wisdom that men tend to brag and women tend to be modest when asked questions about sex may be fading. Before you start checking around you on your next flight to see if close to one in ten people are "at it" don?t forget that only means that they may have done it on one occasion, not every time they fly!

What is it that makes talk of sexual exploits on board aircraft so fascinating? It's possibly linked to the whole romance that used to be associated with flying. In the days when aircraft actually had proper bunk beds, and when air travel was the preserve of the very rich and the very famous; back then passengers were probably both. These days with air travel being more akin to getting on and off a bus the romance has very definitely gone out of flying.

Another aspect of the whole sex and travel routine is the single guy, and particularly the businessman who somehow thinks that every air stewardess, flight attendant, trolley dolly, call them what you like, is going to be instantly attracted to them. Watching lonely business travellers chatting up flight attendants is still one of the saddest sights to behold. New research shows that air stewardesses are facing increasing levels of harassment. Even the British Medical Journal has got in on the act claiming that passengers have pestered one in five stewardesses. The research was undertaken among 2,000 stewardesses who worked between 1965 and 1995 for Alitalia, the Italian airline. We will refrain from making any comment.

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Wayne, N.J.: What is the best strategy to ensure that I can use frequent flyer miles for tickets or upgrades?

Richard Havers and Chris Tiffney: Again it's another read the rules and look out for the offers.

To get an upgrade?

A survey in 2003 revealed that of the 1,000 travellers questioned men aged between 45 and 54 were 50% more likely to succeed. Being well dressed is very helpful (in fact British Airways won't upgrade a passenger to business class unless they are smartly attired). The best way to help your chances is to approach a check in agent of a similar age, and above all to be charming and courteous.

That advice didn't stop the 10% of people in the survey who admitted impersonating a celebrity to try to get into the first class cabin, the 20% who faked pregnancy or the 13% who confessed to trying bribery.

Top Ten ways to help your chances of getting upgraded.

1. Be very polite to the check in agent.

2. Be smartly dressed.

3. Be very famous (but why didn't you buy a first class ticket in the first place, you cheapskate?)

4. Be a bit of a celebrity, but if you have to tell them who you are then you've blown it.

5. Work for an influential company, say as a features writer for Harpers and Queen.

6. Fly with the airline often enough to qualify for a high level frequent flyer membership. Taking very full flights helps, too.

7. Bring cakes for the check in staff.

8. Stress your medical condition which is alleviated by your having lots of legroom.

9. Wring your hands in exasperation that your secretary has booked the wrong class of travel. But be prepared to have your bluff called and to pay for the upgrade.

10. Beg. Demeaning, but can be effective.

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Toronto, Canada: Which airline's flight crews tend to have the most fun?