Originally Posted by PSU Mudder

As an example, when DL ran PIT-CDG, they had to schedule a 757 or 767 on ATL-PIT or JFK-PIT to get the aircraft in place. The lounge access in PIT I think was contracted with US/AA for J passengers, so they didn't have a full DL branded experience and the lounge was nowhere near the DL gate.

Using PIT again as an example, UA currently flies regional jets on EWR-PIT, IAD-PIT, IAH-PIT, and a combination regional/mainline on ORD-PIT. So they would have to put a 787 on one of those routes, which while awesome for the passengers, probably crushes the yield if not being outright half empty. So the overseas leg has to be so profitable as to pay for the positioning flight. That's probably unlikely for a secondary city.