SECURITY AND LOADING ISSUES AT ACR DEP.

Narrative

FLT WAS WAITING FOR CONNECTING PAX. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE CONFUSION AT THE GATE ON CONNECTIONS; AND THE BAGGAGE THAT WAS TO BE LOADED ON THE ACFT. THE CAPT WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE DELAY; AND THE PURSER WAS ALSO UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING. FINALLY; THE DOOR WAS CLOSED ON THE ACFT; AND THE BRIDGE WAS PULLED. THE FLT CONTINUED TO WAIT FOR CONNECTING BAGGAGE FOR ALMOST 15 MINS; WHILE PAX WERE LEFT AT THE GATE. WHEN THE FLT DEPARTED; AND A LOAD CLOSEOUT WAS RECEIVED; THIS CAPT WAS UNCERTAIN THAT THE NUMBERS WERE ACCURATE. THE CLOSEOUT REFLECTED A TOTAL PAX COUNT OF 144 PERSONS. THE CAPT REQUESTED A FLT ATTENDANT COUNT OF THE ACTUAL PAX ON BOARD; AND RECEIVED A COUNT OF 152. THE CAPT ASKED THAT THE COUNT BE TAKEN AGAIN; AND AGAIN RECEIVED 152 -- 8 MORE THAN REFLECTED ON THE LOAD CLOSEOUT. THE CLOSEOUT REFLECTED A 'SECURITY OK' CONFIRMATION; WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY IN ERROR. THE CAPT CALLED LOADS ON THE RADIO AND ADVISED OF THE PROB. LOADS CALLED THE RAMP TO GET THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF PAX ON THE ACFT; BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE NUMBERS. FINALLY; AFTER A 20 MIN DELAY; HOLDING SHORT OF THE RWY FOR TKOF; THE CAPT TOLD LOADS THE ACTUAL NUMBER ABOARD. THE FLT RECEIVED NEW CLOSEOUT NUMBERS REFLECTING THESE PAX NUMBERS. IN AN EFFORT NOT TO INCONVENIENCE THE PAX ABOARD ANY FURTHER; THE CAPT ELECTED TO DEPART. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT REVENUE PAX WERE LEFT AT THE GATE WHILE THE FLT WAS WAITING FOR CONNECTING BAGS. EVEN MORE DISCONCERTING; THE FACT THAT AN INTL FLT WAS CONFIRMED AS 'SECURITY OK' -- AN OBVIOUSLY FAULTY NUMBER OF PAX ABOARD WAS REPORTED WITH A 'SECURITY OK' CLASSIFICATION. SINCE THIS FLT WAS AN INTL SEGMENT; THIS CAPT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE INFO HE RECEIVED WAS INCORRECT.