CaptainP,
I agree with you totally. I am a FO and when it is not my leg i hate being asked to make dumb RT requests to ATC when the Captain says so. This is not a blanket dig at captains by the way, so do not take it as such. But, back to the point, when a captain says "just ask him this, that and the other", you feel a right frozen Christmas turkey, but what can you do!?
Half the time when either they, or me when forced, asks about holding at MIRSI (EGCC) then they say "ill just find out". Sometimes the information isnt obvious to them, because perhaps its in the next sector. Why not just wait, have it in the FMS anyway, and have a look at TCAS which sometimes paints a nice picture if your that bothered. Besides, its fairly obvious when there is going to be holding at EGCC - most mornings! I have never held for more than a few laps anyway, so its harldly a disaster.
Rant over!