This is why we got the high altitude holding speed changed to 265 above 14,000 almost 20 years ago, so crews wouldn't keep bugging ATC for a higher (read: safe) airspeed. Had the captain been in charge of the airplane he would have been at 265 knots IAS in the hold. (or some slightly lower speed if performance data supported such lower speed.) Improper holding procedures in the higher flight levels can burn you in a hurry.
At those altitudes normally it should always be right at 265 KIAS or the limiting Mach, if lower than 265.
Last edited by aterpster; 26th Mar 2010 at 15:02.
Reason: changed "about" to "above"