If they do go to bankruptcy and can convince a judge to make some sort of scheme like this permanent, then they could really solve that pesky winter staffing/summer staffing problem. ALV bumped up in the summer for everyone, dropped by up to 50% in the winter, and all of a sudden you don't have to staff for summer anymore. Interesting play.

Delta's problem is a little different. Management could probably get everyone to vote yes on this since it would provide marginal gains for the whole pilot group (deadheading) while keeping the bottom 20% in a jet, who wouldn't vote for it? The challenge then is that I doubt management would buy it since they don't have complete control, which is a big thing for Delta's management. That's why the permanent ALV cut discussion is meaningless on social media. Sure, it'll improve QOL. Sure it requires more pilots long term, but Virginia Ave isn't interested in a permanent cut, they're interested in a targeted cut of ALV for certain categories for a timeline of their choosing. I imagine the question was asked by the NC or MEC to make the ALV cut permanent, and I'm sure the response from the company was a resounding no. Therein also lies the bankruptcy problem; temporary ALV cuts for targeted categories could become the norm in the winter in a heartbeat in bankruptcy. Just find a judge who doesn't think a company should be a welfare state and all of a sudden 350 pilots have an ALV of 45 in the winter.

The company is very much the car buyer who has one tactic, walk away from the table when they don't get the deal they want. They don't want to negotiate a service plan, they don't want an oil change package, or floor mats, it's their offer or nothing.