Narrative:

A 360 degree turn between FL300 and FL330 (issued by hong kong departure) accounted for a very early loss of 10 mins and 5000 pounds on our flight plan. By the time we reached our reclr point of grinds we were about 13 mins late and about 5000 pounds below our reclr fuel of 65.0 in contact with chicago dispatch shortly before the reclr point it was agreed jointly that though sfo was reporting about 14 overcast 10. It was likely that based upon personal experience sfo was likely to clear by our arrival and deleting oak as an alternate could be done safely. Our expected arrival fuel of 17.0 would be adequate. Our reclr fuel was changed to 58.5 (?) and at reclr we had 60.4. Upon arrival passing redoo, ATC instructed us to slow to 250 KTS and descend to ultimated 17000'. By 85 mi north of sfo we were at 210 KTS (flaps 1). At 30 mi north we were 11000', 180 KTS. Captain contacted chicago dispatch and asked that ATC be advised we could use whatever help they could extend to expedite our arrival. We were vectored to 23 mi east of sfo and turned for the ILS. Upon arrival block fuel was 11.0. Block time 11:44, 43 mins over flight plan. Sfo (WX was 16 overcast 12) oak and sjc were both available as short notice alternates.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB FLT CREW COMPLAINT ABOUT ATC HANDLING BY HKG DEP CTLR, ZOA AND OAK APCH CTLR. RESULT WAS LOW FUEL REMAINING.

Narrative: A 360 DEG TURN BTWN FL300 AND FL330 (ISSUED BY HONG KONG DEP) ACCOUNTED FOR A VERY EARLY LOSS OF 10 MINS AND 5000 LBS ON OUR FLT PLAN. BY THE TIME WE REACHED OUR RECLR POINT OF GRINDS WE WERE ABOUT 13 MINS LATE AND ABOUT 5000 LBS BELOW OUR RECLR FUEL OF 65.0 IN CONTACT WITH CHICAGO DISPATCH SHORTLY BEFORE THE RECLR POINT IT WAS AGREED JOINTLY THAT THOUGH SFO WAS RPTING ABOUT 14 OVCST 10. IT WAS LIKELY THAT BASED UPON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE SFO WAS LIKELY TO CLR BY OUR ARR AND DELETING OAK AS AN ALTERNATE COULD BE DONE SAFELY. OUR EXPECTED ARR FUEL OF 17.0 WOULD BE ADEQUATE. OUR RECLR FUEL WAS CHANGED TO 58.5 (?) AND AT RECLR WE HAD 60.4. UPON ARR PASSING REDOO, ATC INSTRUCTED US TO SLOW TO 250 KTS AND DSND TO ULTIMATED 17000'. BY 85 MI N OF SFO WE WERE AT 210 KTS (FLAPS 1). AT 30 MI N WE WERE 11000', 180 KTS. CAPT CONTACTED CHICAGO DISPATCH AND ASKED THAT ATC BE ADVISED WE COULD USE WHATEVER HELP THEY COULD EXTEND TO EXPEDITE OUR ARR. WE WERE VECTORED TO 23 MI E OF SFO AND TURNED FOR THE ILS. UPON ARR BLOCK FUEL WAS 11.0. BLOCK TIME 11:44, 43 MINS OVER FLT PLAN. SFO (WX WAS 16 OVCST 12) OAK AND SJC WERE BOTH AVAILABLE AS SHORT NOTICE ALTERNATES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.