Air carrier captain reports inability to contact his dispatcher directly to advise of a weather dive...

Narrative:

Enroute; sent several ACARS messages to dispatch; [planned destination] weather bad; [planned] alternate also bad; ZZZ weather good. No response except; while descending on [our destinations] arrival; 'stick with [the planned alternate];' if you go into holding; try to get a hold of me. My response was 'no.' on downwind; thunderstorm on short final approach; with only ten minutes of hold fuel; diverted to ZZZ. I also had attempted several phone calls to dispatch on internet cockpit phone; but it did not work. We asked ATC center to call dispatch; they took the phone number; but wasn't sure if they had time to call. After a few minutes; still no response from dispatch; so [we] declared emergency; per company policy of ZZZ not being filed alternate [and] not approved by dispatch. Landed ZZZ; got fuel; continued to [our original destination]. We need a better means to contact dispatch. [We] sent numerous ACARS messages; no response until arrival at [our destination]. Internet phone is unreliable. Of the five or six times I have tried to use it; it has only worked once.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain reports inability to contact his Dispatcher directly to advise of a weather diversion to an airport other than the filed alternate.

Narrative: Enroute; sent several ACARS messages to Dispatch; [planned destination] weather bad; [planned] alternate also bad; ZZZ weather good. No response except; while descending on [our destinations] arrival; 'stick with [the planned alternate];' if you go into holding; try to get a hold of me. My response was 'no.' On downwind; thunderstorm on short final approach; with only ten minutes of hold fuel; diverted to ZZZ. I also had attempted several phone calls to Dispatch on internet cockpit phone; but it did not work. We asked ATC Center to call Dispatch; they took the phone number; but wasn't sure if they had time to call. After a few minutes; still no response from Dispatch; so [we] declared emergency; per company policy of ZZZ not being filed alternate [and] not approved by Dispatch. Landed ZZZ; got fuel; continued to [our original destination]. We need a better means to contact Dispatch. [We] sent numerous ACARS messages; no response until arrival at [our destination]. Internet phone is unreliable. Of the five or six times I have tried to use it; it has only worked once.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1090042
Time
Date	201305
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Air carrier captain reports inability to contact his dispatcher directly to advise of a weather diversion to an airport other than the filed alternate.