Originally Posted by
JDiver
Range, including useful load, prevailing winds, etc. are components of the w&b calculations. And though trimming the aircraft in flight can compensate for some w&b issues, it can affect handling, fuel consumption, time en route, etc.
AA has reportedly experienced frequent w&b issues with the A321H on some Hawaii flights. This should be rectified as the A321neos replace them due to their longer range, but w&b will always be an issue for all aircraft.
I haven't seen comments about it recently, but before the merger, we'd have an annual thread about fuel stops for flights from PHL, mostly to LAX and SFO, mostly on the A321, typically in the winter months. Sometimes the stop would be planned ahead, prior to the aircraft leaving PHL, and sometimes enroute. They often used STL and MCI.
I'm not sure if it just isn't happening anymore (which would be a good thing), or if people just aren't posting about it. But US didn't usually remove pax on these flights, but instead just inserted a fuel stop.