I fly a ton and couldn't agree with you more!! I wish you ran an airline.
As far as Christine, I just didn't hear it from her mouth. I heard everyone else say it. If she does have a fear of flying, she's had a funny way of showing it over the years. I just watched her walk off a private jet with cocktail in hand. She looked fine to me.
(the Dallas video)
Maybe it developed over time, but I've just never heard her say that.