A321
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Company Policy; Procedure
Light load on flight. Briefing Flight Attendant on flight particulars; she mentions she has to keep first four rows of coach empty due to a weight & balance problem. She says an Agent told her this. [This is the] first I; as Captain; here of this. There is nothing on any of paperwork indicating this; no message from dispatch; nothing from Loads. How can I as Captain sign a flight release signifying I am complying with all regulations for this flight when there is a restriction I don't know about? [Multiple] times this has happened to me. A simple header on the [takeoff performance data] showing a weight restriction would solve the problem. This event occurred because the procedures in the weight&balance department don't allow the Load Agent to indicate a balance problem on the [takeoff performance data]. This needs to be changed. If there is a restriction on the airplane from the weight & balance department; the Captain needs to know about it before he/she signs the flight release; otherwise we are violating regulations.
A321 Captain reported that a Flight Attendant advised of a passenger loading limitation affecting weight and balance which the Captain was not aware of and which was not noted on the takeoff performance data.