Narrative:

Initially; in the descent; ATIS was reporting winds 220 at 17 gusting to 22; or in that ballpark. Getting the ATIS was a challenge; as our ACARS was MEL'd and we had no internet connection to compute [weight and balance] on our ipads. We did calculate runway xxl and xyc performance at top of descent at a moment when the internet was functioning. Despite winds right down runway xxl; ZZZ was not using runway xxl; instead; they were using runway xyc. For the following; I obtained a recording of our ATC transmissions from an internet website. Upon check-in with approach; I said; 'we'd like xxl; I mean we can do a circle if we need.' the controller advised that he'd check with the boss who makes that decision; or something to that effect. A minute later; the controller said that there was too much traffic; they were using runway xyc; and the boss 'didn't feel comfortable issuing circle-to-lands on xxl.' this is not their decision to make. Runway xxl was open; the winds were reported right down the runway; and I'm sorry that he didn't 'feel comfortable!' low to the ground; I tuned the ATIS in radio #2; and it reported winds out of 220 gusting to 22; but variable between 180 and 270; or something like that. This told me to expect a tailwind on runway xyc. We landed runway xyc; using maximum braking; and our G/south readout showed a direct tailwind of 7 knots on touchdown. The wind arrow was right at our back! Upon clearing the runway; I told the tower; 'that's a 7-knot tailwind on xyc.' the controller said; 'thank you;' but I have no idea if he passed that information to the stream of landing aircraft behind us.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain reported their request to use a runway better aligned with the wind rather than the runway in use for other traffic was denied.

Narrative: Initially; in the descent; ATIS was reporting winds 220 at 17 gusting to 22; or in that ballpark. Getting the ATIS was a challenge; as our ACARS was MEL'd and we had no internet connection to compute [weight and balance] on our iPads. We did calculate Runway XXL and XYC performance at Top of Descent at a moment when the internet was functioning. Despite winds right down Runway XXL; ZZZ was not using Runway XXL; instead; they were using Runway XYC. For the following; I obtained a recording of our ATC transmissions from an internet website. Upon check-in with Approach; I said; 'We'd like XXL; I mean we can do a circle if we need.' The Controller advised that he'd check with the boss who makes that decision; or something to that effect. A minute later; the Controller said that there was too much traffic; they were using Runway XYC; and the boss 'didn't feel comfortable issuing circle-to-lands on XXL.' This is not their decision to make. Runway XXL was open; the winds were reported right down the runway; and I'm sorry that he didn't 'feel comfortable!' Low to the ground; I tuned the ATIS in radio #2; and it reported winds out of 220 gusting to 22; but variable between 180 and 270; or something like that. This told me to expect a tailwind on Runway XYC. We landed Runway XYC; using maximum braking; and our G/S readout showed a direct tailwind of 7 knots on touchdown. The wind arrow was right at our back! Upon clearing the runway; I told the Tower; 'That's a 7-knot tailwind on XYC.' The Controller said; 'Thank you;' but I have no idea if he passed that information to the stream of landing aircraft behind us.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.