Workload; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors
After departing gate; we taxied to the runway. We accomplished flows; flight control checks and taxi checklist. First Officer (FO) had paperwork he was reading from for takeoff data; but as we discovered after takeoff; he was reading from the preliminary and not the closeout. We were a little rushed being number 2 for takeoff after a 9 minute taxi; but not what I would say in the yellow. After takeoff we got a message from dispatch. This was our first awareness that we had taken off without a closeout. We immediately requested a closeout but didn't get one for over 4 hours and 30 minutes. Luckily we took off 700 pounds lighter than the numbers that were used. We never got any alerts from the FMC indicating there was any abnormalities with our takeoff data. We all couldn't believe that we departed without a closeout. FO said he was busy monitoring our taxi and just simply didn't realize that we didn't have a closeout. IRO just assumed FO had one.Causes were a short taxi and lack of communication between 3 pilots. I as the Captain was focusing on taxiing at night and accomplishing check list. I have always thought that it was procedure for the FO and IRO to go over closeout entries; but after discussing this with my crew; I found that this happens about 50 percent of the time. I realize that the Captain is supposed to discuss the closeout with the FO but in reality the Captain usually is heads outside while taxiing and depends on the IRO and FO to review it.  This is the first time this has happened to me in 35 years. I believe that a policy should be in place that the FO and IRO; (if one is on board) should review the closeout as procedure; or hand closeout to captain if possible on a flight with a two man crew. Previously; we didn't have data to enter until we got a final weight and balance. The system now can set you up to takeoff without a closeout.
Took over flight from previous dispatcher. I was informed of no load closeout due to computer issue. Captain had departed without final closeout without dispatcher's knowledge.While enroute; captain requested an updated Zero Fuel Weight/Center of Gravity (ZFW/CG) for his landing. I asked both load planning and the manager if anything had been resolved (flight was now two hours enroute). I was told load planning had no confidence in what was on the aircraft and they would give no ZFW but his CG was within limits.We continue to have issues in regards to inaccurate load closeouts. Combination of new employees and new systems are what we are being told.
The A330 crew departed without their final weight and balance.