CAPT OF AN MD88 NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN THE FLT RELEASE WTS OVER THAT OF THE ACTUAL WT DURING PREFLT. HE LEARNED THAT NON REVENUE PAX WERE NOT SHOWN AS 'PAYLOAD;' AND THEREFORE; NOT SHOWN AS EXCEEDING THE 2000 LBS DIFFERENCE OF THE ORIGINAL FLT RELEASE; EVEN THOUGH IT TOTALED 2451 LBS. ON THIS BASIS; COMPANY DISPATCHER DID NOT MAKE A NEW RELEASE.

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FLT WAS PLANNED AT A WT OF 140891 LBS. FLT ACTUALLY TOOK OFF AT A WT OF 143342 LBS. I WAS CAPT ON FLT ACR X; A SCHEDULED PART 121; MD88 FLT FROM LAX TO MKE. NO ALTERNATE WAS REQUIRED. THE RELEASE (FLT PLAN) WAS PLANNED FOR A RAMP WT OF 140891 LBS. FUEL REQUIRED WAS 30504 LBS AND THE PAYLOAD WAS PLANNED AT 23300 LBS. THE FINAL CLOSEOUT SHOWED A TKOF WT OF 143342 LBS. COMPANY PROCS REQUIRE A NEW RELEASE BE ISSUED ONLY WHEN THE PAYLOAD INCREASES BY MORE THAN 2000 LBS. WHEN I SAW THE INCREASED TKOF WT; I CALLED DISPATCH AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PAYLOAD HAD INCREASED BY ONLY 1531 LBS FOR A TOTAL OF 24831 LBS -- NOT REQUIRING A NEW RELEASE. THE FLT DEPARTED USING THE SPDS FOR 143342 LBS; BUT WITH THE FUEL BURN FIGURED AT 140891. THE PROB COMES FROM THE AREA OF EMPTY OPERATING WT (EOW) EXCEPTIONS. THIS IS USED FOR DIFFERENT GALLEY WTS; OR FLT ATTENDANT COMPLIMENTS. IN SOME CASES; NON REVENUE PAX WILL SIT IN THE AFT COMPARTMENT; IN WHAT THE COMPANY CALLS THE TUNNEL. THIS FLT HAD 8 NON REVENUES IN THE TUNNEL THAT WERE NOT ADDED TO THE BOW. HOW TO SOLVE THE PROB: CHANGE LOAD PLANNING PROCS TO ENSURE THAT ONLY PAX LOCATED IN THE TUNNEL ARE INCLUDED IN THE ACTUAL PAX WT.