Another consideration - if the weather at the destination city and its alternates
was forecasted to be critical -AND- the aircraft was fueled to factor that in.
Also consider that the normal routine flight path maybe impeded by enroute
weather which needed to be avoided.
There may have been a chance of the gross takeoff weight being an issue !
Therefore the weight and not so much balance factor - then as previously
posted throw in some high priority weighty cargo - a full passenger load -
and full fuel tanks - and the envelope has been pushed to its limits.
You don't defuel an aircraft and make schedule ---
You don't remove critical cargo with a priority $tatus ---
Leaving passengers as the best source of relief --???--*
* Now this gets down to the wire removing only a handful (5-10) and not
a significant load (10 or more?) how much weight is involved - a thousand
pounds - two thousand - more.
Sharpen the W&B pencil and count children - half empty galley carts -
whatever - if still over limits then bump (bribe) passengers !