HAMO -
Yeh. Don't you just love all these people "in the know".
Having said that I believe that VH-VQC, D and E (or just D and E?) are restricted somehow on longer flights. Heard that from someone in the Cabin Services Dept so I don;t know how true it is or if it was weight and balance issues or a payload thing.
I do know that the 717 is too heavy at the front and they are always looking for ways to shift weight down the back. Dunno is that is something to do with it.
I have certainly never heard of pax leaving without their bags. Anyone who has offloaded said pax's bags care to speak up?