CHRISTCHURCH to QUEENSTOWN (CHC-ZQN) on QF 737-300 with business seats

I checked that the weather in Queenstown is still good. In case you're wondering, my paranoia is due to a run of very bad luck lately. Over the last couple of months it seems I have been travelling to Queenstown on more than half the days that flights got cancelled or diverted - my personal success rate is much worse than the data from www.flightstats.com indicates So, I've become wary and mistrustful of the QF announcements, at least as far as flights to Queenstown are concerned.

Anyway, today the weather is brilliant. So I am mesmerised by the view of the southern lakes and mountains, braided river valleys and deep tortuous gorges. We fly at a lower altitude than normal to try to make up some time.

Due to the shorter flight, and tricky descent, no hot drinks are served on this route - just a hot cake and water.

It is very crisp on arrival - still below freezing. Brrr. I walk quickly down the stairs and across the tarmac into the terminal, making sure I don't slip on any ice.