Something about ‘carrying management’s water’…?

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.

If you consider 36 years new.

This is a wild ride of a thread. Holy moly.

It's a tried and true magnet (jumpseats) for all kinds of opinions [which are like you-know-what].

Good for winter months and slow news days.

I'm gonna challenge you on this. For me, yes, I choose to commute due to my wifes job and we like where we live. I accept the fact that it sucks but I do it anyway. For others, especially those who commute from bases that have closed and may have family members they are caring for (think elderly or disabled etc) I would argue it's not a choice. Nothing is black and white and everyone has their reasons. We should all treat jumpseaters with respect. You don't know their situation. And to the OP's point, if it was up to me the jumpseat would be protected for all OAL. I disagree with the threat of a JS war however.

I commute... but it's still ultimately a choice. Even if Delta closes a base your choices are commute, move to another base, or go work somewhere else.

Having said that I'm all for more commuter friendly policies and contractual items for those of us who choose to commute :D

Hey look! A civil disagreement. See, its possible. :)

I would argue that it is certainly a choice. Even if it's the least crappy choice, it's still a choice lol. As to the OP, as was said above, honey works much better than vinegar. Come at me with an attitude like the OP exhibited in his post and I'm certainly not going to lift a finger to help out. Goodluck on the next flight. Thankfully in all the years I've been on my current fleet, I can't recall ever going out payload optimized, so it's never been an issue.

I'd be willing to bet most airline captains would just kick a jumpseater off if they came with this attitude, regardless of payload.