Groper
before you go down the condescending path, think twice.
This is not a critic of the crew. It's a discussion about procedures.
If every aircraft that had to hold, then go-around, then decide to head for the alternate declares emergency because they might arrive below FR, if they would encounter some more holding at this alternate, we will be in a lot of emergencies in the future.
It is the very nature that a late diversion brings you close to minimum. If you hit some more delay there, you can then start by declaring pan or fuel advisory and only when you really go into FR you then declare emergency.
Any use of emergency to improve your number in line, ahead of the real emergency situation, is basically abusing the system and not necessarily good thinking ahead.
I say it again, if more and more pilots think and act that way, ATC will be in a lot of work and we degrade the nature and importance of a real emergency.
Even a huge A380 should not think being allowed to pave its way with some (too) early emergency just because it is bigger, uses more fuel and carries more passengers. Again, imagine a Saab 340 pulling that stunt ...... the poor regional skipper would be in for more that tea and biscuits.
Discussion open