Not quite the last - mine is coming up... though at the speed I get around to writing trip reports, yours may be the last for some time

That was quite a gruelling schedule you had... much as I enjoy NZ's catering, I'm not sure I could handle 5 airline meals in a day, plus grazing in the lounges. We appreciate your devotion to duty.

I was interested to hear about the domestic leg of the international flight - I'm surprised they didn't serve alcohol. The X-ray requirement would be because international and domestic passengers are mixed on that flight, and as you know NZ is very serious about keeping diseases/insects out, due to its largely agriculture-based economy.

The Air Pacific and Polynesian 737s you saw at WLG were probably QF services to Australia, using wet-leased crews and planes. WLG is a low priority route for QF, which is why they use these planes/crews on these particular flights - ironically, this means you get 'real' business class seats, unlike the QF 'convertible' domestic-Australian style 737s they use on some other trans-Tasman flights.

What did you think of the domestic 737 business seats? I know some people have reported finding them hard and uncomfortable; I thought they were OK.

Apparently the lavish fod spreads in the lounges are to stay or even be improved, to make up for the lack of catering in the air - an interesting idea.

As for "Cream of Mushroom with Pot" soup - is that legal?

Thanks for the report!