True, but jets fly the same route between city pairs, which explains why you can occasionally look out your window and see a jet going the opposite direction at a 1000 knot closure speed.

The article states: "A common policy for jets flying from Los Angeles to Auckland is to cruise at an "even" altitude, such as 32,000 feet or 34,000 feet, to avoid oncoming aircraft."

A "common policy" in the U.S., known as the Federal Aviation Regulations, require westbound aircraft on instrument flight plans to travel at even altitudes, and eastbound ones to be at odd altitudes, unless otherwise directed by ATC. This tends to avoid incidents such as this Qantas one. But then that's why collision avoidance systems were invented.

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Without my wings, you know I'd surely die