Narrative:

During the arrival into the new york area we were on a vector for lendy at FL230. The controller issued clearance to descend to FL190. The clearance was read back by me as PNF. Next the controller cleared us to fly direct to lendy and cross lendy at FL190. I responded 'unable.' the controller responded with a 'why' or 'why not' and I expressed my proximity to lendy and that I was too high to make the clearance. The controller then cleared us to '...then heading 020....' I read back the clearance and added 'is this a penalty?' the controller responded '...I might take you all the way around.' air carrier X was following air carrier Y and during a series of vectors after the 020 degrees; 360 degrees; 280 degrees; 210 degrees; 220 degrees.... Air carrier X was eventually redirected and cleared to lendy. I believe the flight flew approximately 75 extra mi at FL190 and we were put behind at least 3 other aircraft. When we were passed off by the controller to approach; I asked him for a phone number and his initials. The controller was a bit frustrated with my request and gave the phone number. I again asked for the initials of '...this controller' to which he responded; '...I am not going to give you that....' or something to that effect. I phoned the flight manager upon arrival at jfk where my fuel prior to the vectors had me touching down with over 9000 pounds of fuel. I ended up touching down with 5900 pounds of fuel. I then spoke with a supervisor who told me the controller spoke with him and that in trail had to be met once I refused the clearance. I am not happy with the way my flight was handled and I feel the controller gave us a punitive series of vectors due to my not accepting a clearance the copilot and I felt we could not meet.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757-200 ARR TO JFK ALLEGED EXCESSIVE VECTORS BY ZNY WHEN ALT CROSSING RESTRICTION COULD NOT BE MET. DISCUSSED WITH FAC AFTER LNDG.

Narrative: DURING THE ARR INTO THE NEW YORK AREA WE WERE ON A VECTOR FOR LENDY AT FL230. THE CTLR ISSUED CLRNC TO DSND TO FL190. THE CLRNC WAS READ BACK BY ME AS PNF. NEXT THE CTLR CLRED US TO FLY DIRECT TO LENDY AND CROSS LENDY AT FL190. I RESPONDED 'UNABLE.' THE CTLR RESPONDED WITH A 'WHY' OR 'WHY NOT' AND I EXPRESSED MY PROX TO LENDY AND THAT I WAS TOO HIGH TO MAKE THE CLRNC. THE CTLR THEN CLRED US TO '...THEN HDG 020....' I READ BACK THE CLRNC AND ADDED 'IS THIS A PENALTY?' THE CTLR RESPONDED '...I MIGHT TAKE YOU ALL THE WAY AROUND.' ACR X WAS FOLLOWING ACR Y AND DURING A SERIES OF VECTORS AFTER THE 020 DEGS; 360 DEGS; 280 DEGS; 210 DEGS; 220 DEGS.... ACR X WAS EVENTUALLY REDIRECTED AND CLRED TO LENDY. I BELIEVE THE FLT FLEW APPROX 75 EXTRA MI AT FL190 AND WE WERE PUT BEHIND AT LEAST 3 OTHER ACFT. WHEN WE WERE PASSED OFF BY THE CTLR TO APCH; I ASKED HIM FOR A PHONE NUMBER AND HIS INITIALS. THE CTLR WAS A BIT FRUSTRATED WITH MY REQUEST AND GAVE THE PHONE NUMBER. I AGAIN ASKED FOR THE INITIALS OF '...THIS CTLR' TO WHICH HE RESPONDED; '...I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THAT....' OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. I PHONED THE FLT MGR UPON ARR AT JFK WHERE MY FUEL PRIOR TO THE VECTORS HAD ME TOUCHING DOWN WITH OVER 9000 LBS OF FUEL. I ENDED UP TOUCHING DOWN WITH 5900 LBS OF FUEL. I THEN SPOKE WITH A SUPVR WHO TOLD ME THE CTLR SPOKE WITH HIM AND THAT IN TRAIL HAD TO BE MET ONCE I REFUSED THE CLRNC. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY MY FLT WAS HANDLED AND I FEEL THE CTLR GAVE US A PUNITIVE SERIES OF VECTORS DUE TO MY NOT ACCEPTING A CLRNC THE COPLT AND I FELT WE COULD NOT MEET.

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.