FORCED TO DIVERT FOR FUEL BY WEATHER; ACR CAPTAIN LAMENTS THE SHORTSIGHTEDNESS OF HIS COMPANY'S FUEL SAVINGS POLICY.

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WE WERE ENRTE TO FLL. DUE TO WEATHER; WE WERE GIVEN A REROUTE; BY MIA CENTER; OVER ZFP. WE PLUGGED IN THE REROUTE IN TO THE FMC AND DETERMINED WE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT FUEL. WE ASKED FOR A MORE DIRECT ROUTE; BUT WAS DENIED. WE CONFERRED WITH THE DISPATCHER; AND AGREED TO DIVERT TO PBI. WE LANDED AT PBI; REFUELED; AND CONTINUED TO FLL. THE FLIGHT PLAN DID NOT INCLUDE AN ALTERNATE. THE ALTERNATE WAS SELECTED IN FLIGHT; COLLECTIVELY; BY THE FLIGHT CREW AND DISPATCH. THE CAUSE WAS INSUFFICIENT FUEL LOAD AT DEPARTURE. FO AND I NOTICED THE FUEL LOAD WAS LESS THAN WE USUALLY SEE ON THIS ROUTE. WE BOTH AGREED THIS WAS PROBABLY THE NEW FUEL SAVING INITIATIVE BY THE COMPANY MANAGEMENT TO SAVE MONEY. I WOULD SUGGEST MONEY SAVING INITIATIVES BE DETERMINED FLIGHT BY FLIGHT. NORTH-SOUTH OPERATION IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE ALONG THE EAST COAST. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE SHOULD SKIMP ON FUEL. FYI AFTER A LENGTHY DISCUSSION WITH THE DISPATCHER ON THE GROUND IN PBI; RELAYING MY OPINION ON THE REDUCED FUEL LOAD; AND MY SUGGESTION NOT TO COMPROMISE FUEL LOADS IN AND OUT OF FLORIDA; THE NEXT DEPARTURE WAS THE IDENTICAL FUEL LOAD I HAD. SO MUCH FOR MY PROFESSIONAL INPUT!