I would gladly post my travel history. I have had first class in my 26 months at Eagle a ton. On deadheads I have had first about 40-50% of the time(if the plane had first on it). On my non-reving I have had it about 30%. I dont fly INTL alot, but that is the place people get it the most. We do pay on our metal/aa, but after 5 years coach is free. If you commute, I can see the frustration, I really can. If you live in base or can commute on another airline, it is great.

I have had passes my entire life, and still do on united. The seniority system has massive downs. One hour prior to the flight, people senior to you keep showing up. Trying to send someone on a buddy pass on the seniority system is almost impossible. There is no way to plan anything with seniority systems. Time of checkin however, 24 hours out, you have a fairly clear picture of whats going on. It forces people to stick somewhat with their plan. Seniority is great if your senior, but if not, it makes traveling impossible. Its just one more example of F the junior guy at airlines.

At Eagle we get D2 boarding priority, that is the same as AA employees. AMR uses a time of check in system, NOT seniority. That means day one at Eagle, you can non-rev, and if you check in first for a flight, your number one of the standby list. Period. Even if 40 people, that have been at the company 30 years check in after you. If you worked for Expressjet, and were flying United, you would be at the bottom of 40 people, every flippin time. Airlines put non owned commuters down at the bottom of the standby list with mainline buddy pass riders. Forget ever seeing first. Also AA is one of the most stingy on giving upgrades to paying PAX, so getting first is not overly hard. United used to be this way, but since the CAL system came in, YOU NEVER get first.

This is all subject to change with the merger, but right now, if you non rev, and will be employed by a regional, Eagle is hands down the place to go. Commuting is a different story, due to the cost side.

For example I just went down St Croix, and I had first going down for me and my fiance, and we had two seats together in coach coming back. We used our D1s, which we get 4 of each per year, but also enjoyed both ways being 1 and 2 on the standby list.

Also reg. companions do come out of that 24 pass bank, so do parents and buddy passes, which you can only list 12 people per 12 month period as a buddy.