Originally Posted by
slowyourroll
I fully understand the complaint about payload optimization. They put that label on a flight and it’s an excuse. The better captains I’ve worked with are proactive and figure out early if a jumpseater is trying to get on. Many times we can take them once we know the numbers. “Payload Optimized” is an easy excuse to tell someone no. If all parties involved would put in some effort we can, in many cases, still get a fellow pilot home.
This.
Payload optimized is intended to be a surgical tool, but like many things at Delta that are hatched out of necessity with good intentions, lately it seems like it is an overused crutch by lazy and/or overworked folks in the OCC and enforced by gate agents who are terrified to do anything they percieve to be outside the lines. I have found that in numerous cases, without active intervention, passengers would have been left at the gate unnecessarily. This is almost always driven by MLW issues when carrying extra or alternate gas. I normally work directly with dispatch and load planning to limit or remove the cap by flight planning a different altitude, dropping an alternate when appropriate and comfortable, or being realistic about taxi or contingency fuel.
There are still times when a cap is appropriate, no matter how frustrating it may be. A Delta pilot is contractually protected. An OAL pilot not so much, unfortunately. Just like if I were asking to bump a paying pax on your airline.
To the OP - You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Happy to have you aboard any time, just take your anger issues out on the KCM random folks and not your fellow pilots.