Continental 331 Overweight?

[KATLPAX]

Last night on Continental 331 IAH-OAK, go to check in and the gate agent said “we cannot check you in for this flight as it is over our weight limit due to extra fuel needed so we may have to send the flight without people in seats to save weight” Aircraft was an MD-80 and indeed fog was present at arrival to OAK so weather diversion was a possibility.

Flight departed on time, every seat occupied…was she just full of it, as seats were overbooked, or is this overweight story possible? Obviously weight is a critical factor, but would they keep passengers off? Is the MD-80 not able to load full fuel for the 1600 mile trip plus diversion and passenger loads? Cargo is certainly a factor..

Any thoughts?
Curious

CattlePax (KATLPAX)

[DownIn3Green]

Yes.

[Faire d'income]

There is always the possibility she was fibbing but the weight problem does happen from time to time. There are a multitude of reasons for this ( heavy freight, range limit of a/c, short runway/less max. t/o weight, bad weather at destination/alternate requiring extra fuel to hold or further alternate ).

The final decision normally rests with the captain and once aware of all the above he/she will act accordingly. However this decision may not be made until quite late for whatever reason ( new weather forecast, more accurate pax/freight figures, long runway available etc.) and this can lead to boarding staff halting the boarding.

Individual companies have their own policies as to whom or what to leave behind. Hope this helps!! :cool:

[McD]

I would bet money that she was telling you the truth. Just about ANY aircraft can be subject to a "weight-restricted" situation, depending on a multitude of variables (such as "Faire d'income" mentioned above). Much of the time, though, the final load numbers (fuel, cargo, pax) are not available until very near gate departure time.

If the initial planning numbers show that the flight may be near the max weight limits for its given situation, it is a wise course of action for the boarding staff to prepare the passengers for the possiblity that some may be left behind.

When the final (actual) numbers are calculated, they are then compared with the limits of the aircraft in the current condition and situation. Sometimes, the final numbers are "worse" and more pax might have to be offloaded. Sometimes they are "better", and more (if not all) pax can be accommodated on the aircraft.

That's probably why you saw a full aircraft after being warned earlier -- the final numbers might have simply differed enough (favorably) from the planning numbers.

[ 08 December 2001: Message edited by: McD ]

[KATLPAX]

Thanks all. I learn something new everyday.