Originally Posted by FlyboyPhil

I know that we are often weight restricted out of ORD on the shorter flights that require an alternate due to the Max landing weight of the CRJ. MTOW is 53000 lbs, MLW is 47000 lbs.. so on a short flight to make your landing weight your takeoff weight will be 47000 plus the burn for the flight. Sometimes just over 1000lbs. Say the burn is 1500, flight plan takeoff weight is then 48.5k then you have to have about 2000 lbs fuel for reserves and with an alternate at least another 1500 or so plus contingency fuel. now your looking at a max zero fuel weight in the 42-43k range. 43-43k minus the empty weight on the rjs (usually in the low 30s) gives ~11000 lbs payload minus 9750 for the pax (50*195) leaves 1250 for bags.... except that 50 pax usually means bags are around 2000.. so.. to take all the bags that go with the people you are looking at leaving 3-4 people behind.
Long answer short...