Rainboe - for one so wise you have fallen into the same trap. How do you KNOW 2700kg is "too much"? As I have said before, without details of CMR/company policy/runway availabilty/weather factor etc we can not be sure - as in my 5250kg example. Was that "too much"? I'm sure you are right, however, but we must avoid this nebulous subjectivism on fuel carriage. It is essential we are OBJECTIVE on it, and statements like "Personally I would not be happy starting a diversion to John L from MAN with 1800 never mind Heathrow!" merely reinforce your observations on F/Os .. while it is always good to have a sensible input/query from a knowledgeable F/O, those sort of questions leave me gasping too.