I'd like to expect that everybody's "ready upon reaching" without a verbal notice. Inform the ATC in advance only if you're NOT "ready upon reaching".
And in enough time for ATC to come up with a plan B.
I wonder whether these crews that are usually not "ready upon reaching" at smaller airports, do so at busier ones, when they are number one in a long queue and still not ready. ;-)
You bet they do and tell you just
after passing the last intersection before the runway end.
BA are the worst culprits around here: "not quite fully ready, just waiting for final figures, is there anyone behind us?" Only 7 or 8 others that have been on the same frequency for the last 10 minutes crawling along behind you.
I will now routinely separate likely culprits from the main line and fit them back in when I know they are ready. You can go as slow as you like then.
