The story has a high bovine fecal matter index...
Actually, it's a "recycled" story. A local Texas station that one of the reporters is based at first ran the story in mid-February, right in the middle of a "sweeps" ratings period here in the USA. For those not aware, that's when US media puts on their most sensationalized stuff in the hopes of increasing their viewership numbers, so they can also raise ther advert rates.
Anyway, a major fallacy in the story is that PICs are "forced" to do stuff. Here in the USA, FAA-licensed dispatchers plan the fuel loads, put that info on a dispatch release, sign the release electronically, and then ship it to the station. Once the PIC gets the release, s/he reviews the dispatcher's work, and if satisfied with the fuel load (among other things) the PIC signs the release and in so doing are legally attesting (by US FARs) that they are in agreement that the flight can be operated safely as planned by the parameters set forth in the release. Conversely, if they don't agree with the fuel load or something else (alternate, etc.) they *shouldn't* sign and should communicate with the dispatcher and find something that they can agree on.
If one of my PICs wants more gas, they usually get it, but I want to know why so if they've caught something that will affect other flights, I can make the needed changes to those other flights. If someone wants to arrive their 737 at the destination with full wing tanks for some personal "comfort level" kind of concern, then we have a problem. The bottom line here is that NOBODY is holding a gun to their heads, making them sign the release, left alone flythe thing.
Also keep in mind AA pilots were a major (though not total) source for the report, and everyone but the reporter seems to know about the jihad that AA management has with its workforce, and vice versa. With contract talks long ongoing, claims that running out of coffee is a flight safety concern don't seem to be fr down the road.
Do flights sometimes get into low-fuel situations? Sure they do, and when they do, the necessary steps are taken to get the flight on the ground somewhere. even if it's at an alternate.