Originally Posted by
CVG767A
I frequently fly Istanbul-New York, and we often have to leave nonrevs at the gate, despite having 30 or 40 empty seats, because we are full of cargo. A normal takeoff from there is at the aircraft's max takeoff weight. We use child weights when possible, but there's no fudging the numbers when it comes to Max Operating Weight.
Also bear in mind that we use an assumed number for passenger weight that is, IMO, a little on the low side.
I love you guys like brothers and all, but, if it comes to a jumpseater/ nonrev or income-producing cargo, the boxes are going to win. DL needs the money...
BTW, I've been a victim of this in Istanbul also. The gate agents deal with this all the time, and will put you on Air France to Paris, to pick up a Delta flight.
I guess we all are victims of the Captains authority going by the wayside. Its a shame when load planning tells you what you will carry and when.
Its not only a Delta thing as it happens over here as well. I guess I'm lucky enough to not fly the extremely weight limited flights and I'm very pro-active when it comes to getting jumpseaters and non-revs on the aircraft.