That would be hard to do given the wide variety of possible mergers. I can't imagine that there could be a single one size fits all merger policy that doesn't have a great deal of latitude.

The Nicolau award keeps everyone effectively in the same relative position they had prior to the merger with the exception of 500+ AAA pilots that were moved to the top of the combined list. A senior 737 captain is still a senior 737 captain. A junior A320 first officer is still a junior A320 first officer. Had the award gone with the AAA DOH/LOS plan, junior furloughed pilots at AAA would suddenly become senior to line holding captains at AWA.