" ......You could always divert if you felt the need."
Diversions normally add flight mileage, with its flight time, landing and handling fees and the time to reposition for the next flight, as well as inconvenience for passengers.
Holding for a rather long time might well be better value.
Press reports suggested that JFK was liable to have delays, because of Industrial Action by the ATC, who might be replaced by the Military. The situation was uncertain, NOTAMs were unclear prior too departure. I left Europe with fuller tanks.
I was given a "1 hour 20 minutes to Hold at Nantucket". PanAM requested a "60 mile Hold" there. So I did too. The weather was fine. I could have gone to Boston or Halifax, if I had wanted. My Passengers had tickets for JFK anyway.
We landed at JFK with 95% of our "Island Holding Requirement" ( for Gan or Bermuda) and, I hope, satisfied passengers.
A Captain may have to act as a Flight Economist, sometimes.
Last edited by Jetdriver; 24th Apr 2013 at 17:50.