Narrative:

In cruise; while monitoring fuel and ETA; it became clear to me that assuming no ATC or WX delay; ZZZ2 was not a viable altitude due to its distance. I advised the dispatcher. In cruise; I determined that fuel margins could be an issue upon approach in ZZZ3. Fog was forecast but not present. 17.0 fob in ZZZ1 with a planned fuel burn of 10.0 seemed low but acceptable. No APU; extensive ATC vectoring in flight; CAT 2/3 approach in ZZZ3 holding; distant altitude all combined lead me to choose to land in ZZZ4 in VMC with 5.0 fob. Wrong fuel load based solely on forecast WX; ATC; and fuel price in ZZZ1. Provide realistic fuel load based on current ATC known delays and forecast WX at destination.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLT CREW ELECTS TO DIVERT AFTER DELAYS ENROUTE AND LOW VISIBILITY AT DESTINATION CAUSE FUEL TO BECOME AN ISSUE. FLT LANDS WITH 5000 POUNDS FUEL.

Narrative: IN CRUISE; WHILE MONITORING FUEL AND ETA; IT BECAME CLR TO ME THAT ASSUMING NO ATC OR WX DELAY; ZZZ2 WAS NOT A VIABLE ALT DUE TO ITS DISTANCE. I ADVISED THE DISPATCHER. IN CRUISE; I DETERMINED THAT FUEL MARGINS COULD BE AN ISSUE UPON APCH IN ZZZ3. FOG WAS FORECAST BUT NOT PRESENT. 17.0 FOB IN ZZZ1 WITH A PLANNED FUEL BURN OF 10.0 SEEMED LOW BUT ACCEPTABLE. NO APU; EXTENSIVE ATC VECTORING IN FLT; CAT 2/3 APCH IN ZZZ3 HOLDING; DISTANT ALT ALL COMBINED LEAD ME TO CHOOSE TO LAND IN ZZZ4 IN VMC WITH 5.0 FOB. WRONG FUEL LOAD BASED SOLELY ON FORECAST WX; ATC; AND FUEL PRICE IN ZZZ1. PROVIDE REALISTIC FUEL LOAD BASED ON CURRENT ATC KNOWN DELAYS AND FORECAST WX AT DEST.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.