prunedude,
Have you ever been summoned to explain your fuel decisions? I put on what 'we' want (the FO, sometimes the SO, and I) and don't worry about it. The day my fuel decision gets questioned is the day i will forever load CFP fuel!
You are right about the two different airlines though. How on earth we haven't managed to get sector pay or credit from sign-on or duty pay for the 747 especially, god only knows.