Joe,

If you have time on the 7333/4/5 then you just have to do the conversion, but only if you are looking at PacBlue. It will have to be with an NZCAA approved facility; basically Alteon or QF for the NG. Check with Alteon and you'll find that the conversion is pretty simple.

I think Tweet covered that Air NZ mainline doesn't require anything.

Jet Star requires the type but they will front the cash and pay deduct it.

Hey Tweet. Not sure about the upgradability for the future. There will be quite the number of guy's retiring at the same time in 18 to 24 months, as I understand it, then pretty continuously for a few years after that. However, you do not have to retire at Air NZ and there are a number who have not.

For me, I wanted the heavy left seat, so I departed for different pastures. P and I are looking at about ten years to retirement, maybe fifteen, and there would have been no heavy left seat for me within that time. I don't think you'll see the left seat of the B777 (744 is departing) come too far below 20 years, and the 767 or 787 come down much below the B777. The Bus and the 733 will be OK, (maybe 10 years give or take?), but if your going to be in Duneden, not sure why but if you are you'll want to commute, which means long haul. Lot's of guy's don't take the B733 because they commute.

There ya go. Good luck to all.