BwatchGRUNT
Given the variables of fuel price, holding into LHR, turbulence, reserves, company fuel policies, I am not surprised at her reply.
I am sure it does not apply to you, but some ATCOs seem to think speed / RoC / RoD are just things we dial into a computer and go back to the crossword... rather than burning 10% more fuel than we need, making it uncomfortable for all on board, and/or increasing the risk of an overspeed.
I appreciate there are also pilots who just treat fuel burnt as a number on the screen, and not £££ out of the compnay's bottom line.
If they were @ FL330, and 100NM out, they are already "high" (33x3=99 + 10 for speed or so=109NM +/-wind), and wanting to lose energy, not pour precious fuel/energy into the motors that they later need to throw away with the speedbrakes.
Do appreciate you have your needs as well, and we all need to work together, but you did ask the qu
NoD