Originally Posted by
Klsytakesit
It goes back further than that:
Alaska is a Jet Regional
JetBlue is a Jet National
SWA is Major National
Delta is a Major International
Airlines were categorized by the relevance in the country and the world.
No one has really heard of Alaska east of the Rocky Mountains and Alaska only flies jets thus the Jet Regional...
Alaska meets the definition of a legacy, and a major. It does NOT meet the definition of a regional. Lets just clear that up. Your definitions are not really officially recognized terms. There is no "major national" and technically Alaska, JB and SWA go international. BTW all the airlines you listed are majors by definition.... Not sure why we keep trying to muddy waters with weird and nonstandard definitions.
Size of the airline has been a much more effective (unfortunately) tool in determining pay than labeling it a national, major or legacy ever has.