Originally Posted by jrhone

Weight restrictions, the bane of every gate agents life.

The biggest issue is the maximum landing weight of the plane. They have to be able to carry enough fuel to carry them to their alternates , plus deal with any weather on the way . If there is a headwind all the way to the destination then they will need more fuel.Plus they have to carry enough reserve fuel in case of delays at the arrival airport .

The Embraers are currently being reworked to increase the max landing weight, cant remember the exact specs but something to do with reinforcing the airframe and landing gear to increase the max landing weight. While this wont remove the weight restriction issue, it should help to relieve it a little.

Passenger weights are adjusted seasonally, as passengers apparently weigh more in the winter than they do in the summer.