Originally Posted by
DarkSideMoon
That would be accurate if no regional passenger ever connected. How much money did a major make off the guy I flew PIA-ORD who had a business class ticket to Hong Kong?
That's a factor in theory but quite limited... legacy US Air's last BK was due in part to a business model involving free RJ connections to the hubs.
You will be hard pressed to find a major which will tolerate RJ feed that doesn't at least break even... only place you'll likely see it is if a major has too much free contracted and it's cheaper to fly it at a small loss than pay the penalties to cancel it.