I have probably taken an American 737 from Dallas to Orange County 30 or 40 times.

On Sunday, the plane left Dallas on time and was, as always, a full flight . The flight proceeded normally and we began to descend somewhere around the Colorado River. The pilot pointed out the lights of Yuma, Palm Springs, and said we should be getting over Riverside in the next few minutes. Then the plane started to turn right and went into a holding pattern. The pilot announced that we were being diverted to LAX because "this plane" (his emphasis) is too heavy to land at Orange County in the rain. Since my wife was waiting for me at Orange County she knew it was indeed raining. This was a new one reason to divert to me.

The plane was one of the new 737s with LED interior lights. I was wondering if there is any difference in technical specifications, landing weight, runway requirements, or anything else between the newer 737s and the old ones? As I said, I have landed at Orange County many, many times on both ones, rain or shine. Once or twice in 30 years we have been diverted to LAX by fog, but that was not the issue Sunday. A few times we arrived after the curfew and went to LAX.

Of course, since LAX was not ready for us, it took a full hour to get a gate, pull up to the gate and for the luggage to arrive. Buses were provided to take the passengers to Orange County, but they would have arrived there after everything is closed!. I overheard others in first class talking with their business partners whom they were planning to meet at Orange County. Others indicated that their planes had landed from other carriers, rain or not.

Does anybody know what is really going on here? Are the new 737s different somehow?