Helen, KIWI and other like minded fellow aviators.
Every flight I do into Dubai, I will have 20 minutes available. That's because we have an alternate airport and we have the option of using that fuel should we decide to commit. If the weather is marginal or there is a very high likelyhood of delays, as a crew, we will decide what extra fuel to take. As the Captain, I will make the final decision on that. It really is that simple so I can't quite understand why so many of you have trouble understanding it.
Strange as it may seem to some, there are operators out there flying aircraft on different fuel policies to ours. Many of them are russian built and parked on the opposite side of the airfield! If we were following EK's previous fuel policy, then I can well understand the desire to carry the 20 minutes as extra. Our current policy has been designed to give the flexibility and final decision to the Captain on the day.
So use it!
Harry