Originally Posted by
AlaskaBound
My argument wasn't based solely on passengers picking a certain airplane when looking to go somewhere. Most passengers aren't that savvy. However, when they DO end up getting to the airport and step on the plane it's a noticeable difference and will or won't pick that airline again due to the "experience" they had on that flight. A person may or may not realize what kind of airplane they're flying on but subconsciously they're judging the aircraft. If they step on an Ejet they feel better. If they step on a CRJ they feel claustrophobic and will say "Ugh, I hated that Delta plane...it was so small".
I'm sure it's a small reason why an airline (most recently American) will splurge on the Ejet over the CRJ. It's a better product in the publics eye.
The CRJ vs. EJet argument is so dumb. No one cares except the pilots who fly them! No one even notices the difference except the non revs and the medallions!
If you pull 10 coach passengers on a CRJ 900 or EMB-175 (especially this time of the year) and ask them what airline they are on they will say Delta. Ask them what airplane they are on and they will have no clue. They think they're on mainline! And almost every time I deadhead on an MD88 or an A319/320 I hear people complaining about "this little airplane". Hell, I once heard that comment on a 757-300 going from ATL-LAS! Most of the general public have expectations of a wide body jumbo jet on every flight over 500 miles. It's idiotic. No, the public doesn't care what RJ they are on, they just want the cheapest ticket. The medallions will b!tch and whine no matter what you do.