AC - for me, and I think, most, the '30 mins holding at destination' (planned as a matter of course) is an expensive luxury!
"EDDNR -- was referring to BOAC's post, not that it matters"
I'm not hurt, really
. My point was that there should be no cries of 'foul' if you have to hold for 20 minutes inbound LON major airfields. That indeed is the required fuel planning the CAA ask for/expect? If you reduce below that holding fuel at LON you do it at your own risk and will suffer more 'stress' eg if a runway closure happens. The CAA recommendation is, as I recall, to build EXPECTED holding into route fuel. Then 'contingency' that. Then comes fuel for mum and the kids if you wish it/have them.
In 37 years of aviation I have been SERIOUSLY let down by the Met (world-wide) service at least 4 times, landing (non commercial) with empty tanks once, getting past PNR (commercial light twin) with destination wx well below minima once, finding the whole of the south of UK's airfields bar one in unforecast freezing fog (commercial - thank you Manston!) and almost having to either land a Harrier in Stavanger high street - or eject - once. I have grey hairs. I do not want any more (grey ones!).