My experience is that the typical online flight booking websites show when a flight is serviced by an affiliate. That's typically a clue that the flight will be on a smaller regional jet.
I think the point remains though. The average consumer doesn't know the difference between a "major" airline and a "regional" one and shouldn't need to. Their safety record is just as applicable. Its not as if a consumer will see a regional affiliate and change their reservation because of it; its effectively the same experience.
