Regional Airlines

Bait & Switch

You just booked a flight on one of the major U.S. carriers. Instead of going with a no-frills airline like Spirit, you decided to treat yourself to more legroom and presumably greater comfort. You are probably envisioning a posh cabin on a brand new 787 Dreamliner, seasoned pilots, in-flight meals, smiling flight attendants... you know, everything you see in the commercials! Not always. Your flight or part of your flight (especially connecting flights) may be operated by a third-party, contracted as part of a lowest-bidder model, where costs are shaved everywhere (e.g. pilot training, aircraft maintenance). You may end up on a cramp 1 & 2 seater, with tiny overhead bins, a single overworked flight attendant, and worst of all, no food (never mind the seat-back entertainment system you were looking forward to sampling)!

Republic Airways

• American Airlines = American Eagle

• Delta = Delta Connection

• United = United Express

SkyWest Airlines (SKYW)

• Delta = Delta Connection

• Alaska Airlines = Alaska SkyWest

• American Airlines = American Eagle

• United = United Express

Air Wisconsin

• American Airlines = American Eagle

CommuteAir

• United = United Express

GoJet (Trans States)

• United = United Express

Mesa Airlines (MESA)

• United = United Express

PAL Airlines

• Air Canada = Air Canada Express

Jazz Aviation (Chorus Aviation, CHR)

• Air Canada = Air Canada Express

Excluded

Endeavor Air => Owned by Delta

Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines, PSA Airlines => Owned by American Airlines

Horizon Air => Owned by Alaska Airlines

WestJet Encore => Owned by WestJet

Pacific Coastal Airlines => WestJet Link planes can't seat more than 34 passengers.

No Longer Operating: ExpressJet, Trans States Airlines (see GoJet), Compass Airlines