The deadzoner you talk about also lost a retirement that was earned and accrued. Termination of the frozen retirement plan was the single largest giveback in the chapter 11 process. Nothing else was even close in terms of dollars. The majority of that giveback came from the top 4000 pilots. The entire decade was a disaster and not just for airlines but almost everyone. In case you missed that era most are now calling it The Lost Decade. In terms of where we were and where we could have ended up things turned out far better then I would have ever guessed in 2005. I made my plans for a future without Delta and went forward with the plan. Turned out I did not need it. Many on the forum here complain about anything and everything yet make no effort to change their circumstances if they are so unhappy. Makes me think that much of what they post they don't believe or they have another agenda.
Things are getting better fast, 200 more Captains positions at Delta in the last 8 months even after shutting the DC9 operation down early. RFP out yesterday for a short term widebody order. RFP out a month ago to increase the narrow body order from 100 to 130. More bids coming out this year with more Captains slots. The company put out a business plan when the contract was inked. On this forum it was stated over and over again it was all BS and the airplanes would never come. So far the company has followed what they put out to the letter on the fleet plan and now just 9 weeks after the contract amendable date they are talking about significant additions to the fleet not even planned last June.
I think things are looking up. You can think what you want however you should believe in what you think.