One of the proposals being floated around in the Air Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009 is to:

"Require airlines and travel websites when they sell tickets to disclose the name of the carrier operating the flight. About half of all flights are operated by regional airlines working under contract to major carriers, but those regionals almost never sell tickets directly to passengers. Most of the regional flights are flown with the name of the major carrier painted on their aircraft."

Some websites already do this, but its usually done in a manner that 'joe sixpack' wouldn't know the difference.

So what do you think? If given the choice, will customers display brand loyalty and choose mainline flights over regional flights?

Or, will they simply continue to buy tickets on the cheapest airline without regard to which company is operating the flight?

No brainer. Money talks... and you know the rest. Brand loyalty (in any industry) died in the USA many many years ago.

i agree but somewhat disagree. if i were traveling domestically i would pick the cheapest BUT if i were travelling internationally i would go with the best(more expensive) since they do differ from carrier to carrier(for most part). that is why carriers need to diverse themselves to get the edge on competition.

People will always book in a way which suits them best. Price, Number of Connections and then way down the list is airline.

An airline can be called "crash proof" and people would still avoid it if it meant another connection

I agree with this.

On a domestic ticket one would think twice about $400 rt vs $300 rt (it's a 33% increase).

On an intl ticket $1500 vs $1400 one would think about the quality of service, planes and whatnot for a 7% increase in price.

I think a surgeon general's warning would suffice:

Warning above mentioned airline could be hazardous to your health... Cramped knees, bumped head, and your life in the hands of individuals getting paid less than your local McDonald's lackey may result if you purchase this ticket.

no matter what the price is for most markets your going to have to fly on a regional to get where your trying to go. next time your doing a walk around, look at the bag tags before the bags are loaded. see just how many of the bags were booked on at least one regional flight before you fly them and their passengers to an outstation. If some one is flying domestic they are very rarely flying on mainline equipment.