Narrative:

Just prior to pushback at sea; ATC issued us a new route. After entering the new route into the FMS; only about a 100 NM increase in total distance was noted. We also sent our dispatcher the new route via ACARS. The WX was VFR for the entire flight. We pushed back from the gate and took off 17 mins later. 15 mins into the flight; our dispatcher sent us our new requirements for the flight. We now need 3000 pounds of extra fuel; flying time was 39 mins longer and total distance had increased 233 NM and an alternate airport was being shown as being required. At that point a higher cruise altitude was requested and a long range cruise speed was flown. We began to request a more direct route. During the next 4 hours; we were able to get fairly close to our original route and landed with 2500 pounds of fuel above our minimum fuel requirement. If we had known prior to takeoff; we would have had more fuel put on board. There might have been a shift change with our dispatcher which may have been the cause in us getting our new numbers so late. I should have looked at the route more closely and seen the bigger difference between the rtes; plus everything happening just prior to pushback also helped contribute to the choices that were made.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW RECEIVES RERTE JUST PRIOR TO PUSHBACK; AND DEPARTS SEA ON XCOUNTRY FLT WITH LESS THAN REQUIRED FUEL.

Narrative: JUST PRIOR TO PUSHBACK AT SEA; ATC ISSUED US A NEW RTE. AFTER ENTERING THE NEW RTE INTO THE FMS; ONLY ABOUT A 100 NM INCREASE IN TOTAL DISTANCE WAS NOTED. WE ALSO SENT OUR DISPATCHER THE NEW RTE VIA ACARS. THE WX WAS VFR FOR THE ENTIRE FLT. WE PUSHED BACK FROM THE GATE AND TOOK OFF 17 MINS LATER. 15 MINS INTO THE FLT; OUR DISPATCHER SENT US OUR NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FLT. WE NOW NEED 3000 LBS OF EXTRA FUEL; FLYING TIME WAS 39 MINS LONGER AND TOTAL DISTANCE HAD INCREASED 233 NM AND AN ALTERNATE ARPT WAS BEING SHOWN AS BEING REQUIRED. AT THAT POINT A HIGHER CRUISE ALT WAS REQUESTED AND A LONG RANGE CRUISE SPD WAS FLOWN. WE BEGAN TO REQUEST A MORE DIRECT RTE. DURING THE NEXT 4 HRS; WE WERE ABLE TO GET FAIRLY CLOSE TO OUR ORIGINAL RTE AND LANDED WITH 2500 LBS OF FUEL ABOVE OUR MINIMUM FUEL REQUIREMENT. IF WE HAD KNOWN PRIOR TO TKOF; WE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE FUEL PUT ON BOARD. THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SHIFT CHANGE WITH OUR DISPATCHER WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE IN US GETTING OUR NEW NUMBERS SO LATE. I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE RTE MORE CLOSELY AND SEEN THE BIGGER DIFFERENCE BTWN THE RTES; PLUS EVERYTHING HAPPENING JUST PRIOR TO PUSHBACK ALSO HELPED CONTRIBUTE TO THE CHOICES THAT WERE MADE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.