Originally Posted by
NWARet
After his experience every time dispatch tried to change my alternate I sent back asking if customs was available and open. If not I refused it. I am sure Delta will take a look at what exactly happened and how they had only minutes of hold time. Perhaps it will be a lesson to management to bump the fuel loads. All to often dispatch only considers what is legal, not necessarly practial. How many times do you see an alternate on the other side of a solid line of thunderstorms?
Some times legal isn't even a consideration. I recall a flight that was going to land at in BOS after an emergency and dispatch told them to continue to JFK for some inappropriate reason like MX or parts availabilty. The crew got dinged for overflying the nearest suitable.