Spadhamton: don't talk crap.
Gone are the days when captains can just say "ah stick another tonne on" - and the industry is all the best for it. Airlines save money, less fuel loaded=less fuel brnt. Everything's good. I'm all for captains being in overall charge, but the question of fuel is a serious one and fuel calculations should be calculated and thorough. They should, therefore, be able to justify their fuel calculations - not just stick it down on paper and assume that their decision is justified, because they have 4 stripes on their epaulettes.
That would be a very unpleasant, and downright dangerous atmosphere to work in.
Just because they have to justify how much fuel they load doesn't mean there's a lack of respect for them - just means they are given incentive to be a bit more careful.
1234
Edit:
no more night flights, bloody well said, chap.
i'm an f/o at the moment, and as such understand the extra pressures and responsibilities placed on captains - they deserve, in my opinion, authority in terms of rank as well as responsibility.
Having said that, i haven't come across any cabin crew who have played up yet.