Certainly the crew can elect to chose a higher power, but this is NOT EK procedure. It may come to a surprise to the obedient scientologues at EK (like M 5.5) that this is practiced by many major airlines.
The procedures at EK dictate that you put in your actual weight and leave the power and flap setting to the computer, unless the MEL tell you otherwise. At no stage in the training there is mention that you can chose any other power/flap/weight etc. IT IS NOT SOP, and therefore not to be done unless you want to face quick sacking in the most minor event.
In other places you can chose to put in a higher weight margin, to receive less assumed temp (you need to trap wrong inputs differently, therefore NOT allowed at EK). You can chose a different flap setting, less for climb perf, more for runway margin (a TRE nearly failed me for doing this) etc. etc.
With such pilot flexibility you would additionally increase performance awareness, as you mentally juggle more than the strict SOP adherence. Maybe such increased awareness would have helped detect the apparently inadequate values for this MEL T/O.
Another thought:
Why bash Ellen for her question? We all know journalists, agree, but we can use this to our advantage. It's silly to pretend that any mention of EK deficits might lead to advantage for the competition. We should be completely outspoken about the deficits of the whole industry and EK. Why protect the criminals? Just because it works into our pockets as well? How hypocritical!
We should be known as to wanting to strive for the utmost safety, even if it means bashing our own managers. We should participate in building up pressure for improvement and sacking of the main culprits and not of our collegue victims.
The story of McLaren shows nicely, that cheating and lying should lead to the dismissal of the top liar and only mildly punishing the pilot, who had little choice but to abide by the rule of fear. McLaren and Hamilton will come out as the humble learners and will not lose their fans. And Ron alredha Dennis will be remembered for what he was: A cheat. Sport has won with all this.
Let's make EK, and with it us pilots, win with this near tragedy. Let's be outspoken with the deficits at our company. I agree the guys sc#ewd up badly. I agree they were not fatigued with this roster. But we all agree that there is much more to it. Distraction on the flight deck, rest facilities problems, company stress by rule of fear and middle aged leadership and CRM etc. etc.
Point this out in a professional way, give ideas how to improve and name the shame!