Narrative:

Lack of pre-flight information from dispatch regarding area of volcanic ash.on van ride to airport a flight attendant told us that a volcano erupted somewhere on the aleutian chain. When we got to airport and reviewed flight plan; I noticed a 'southern' route on flight. Figured it was due to volcano. No notes or information about this on bottom of flight plan. Only information regarding this was the separate volcanic ash report. With this in mind I was going to call dispatch but it was getting toward departure time. I knew I had plenty of time to contact dispatch when airborne by satcom. Equal time point airports for the flight were ZZZZ1/ZZZZ2; then ZZZZ2/ZZZ. I know these airports are for flight planning legality only. Called dispatch about an hour after we got airborne and asked about other potential airports in case of divert. I said it looks like ZZZZ2 or ZZZZ3 would be ok; but that ZZZ1 may be a problem. I made the statement to dispatch that if we were south of ZZZ1 and had a problem; then we most likely would have to go to ZZZ. Dispatcher's answer was 'yes'. Nothing else said. So even though ZZZ1 was closer we might have to go to ZZZ because of ash? 'Yes'. I then asked about rides since there were 3's and a 4 on the flight plan. I had noticed the area and altitudes of bad rides on the flight plan. He said he just got on; had not heard anything; and would send me information if he got it. We did receive 2 reports from him at lower altitudes than we were filed for.I just feel that the dispatcher should have been willing to give us more information. I felt it was like pulling teeth to get anything from him. Why were there no notes on the flight plan? Why not a message to call (yes; I know it is also my responsibility) and discuss area of volcanic ash and when/where are the best divert airports?I would have thought some sort of update during the flight might be appropriate also. Yes; we were not flying near the area of volcanic ash; but again; an update would have been nice in case of a possible divert.I am new to this long haul flying. I know dispatchers handle a lot of flights. I have called dispatch and there are times when I feel they give me great information and a lot of it. Then there are times I have called and I feel that I am disturbing them.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B787 Captain did not receive adequate information on volcanic ash and possible diversion airports from Dispatch.

Narrative: Lack of pre-flight information from dispatch regarding area of volcanic ash.On van ride to airport a flight attendant told us that a volcano erupted somewhere on the Aleutian chain. When we got to airport and reviewed flight plan; I noticed a 'southern' route on flight. Figured it was due to volcano. No notes or information about this on bottom of flight plan. Only information regarding this was the separate volcanic ash report. With this in mind I was going to call dispatch but it was getting toward departure time. I knew I had plenty of time to contact dispatch when airborne by SATCOM. Equal time point airports for the flight were ZZZZ1/ZZZZ2; then ZZZZ2/ZZZ. I know these airports are for flight planning legality only. Called dispatch about an hour after we got airborne and asked about other potential airports in case of divert. I said it looks like ZZZZ2 or ZZZZ3 would be ok; but that ZZZ1 may be a problem. I made the statement to dispatch that if we were south of ZZZ1 and had a problem; then we most likely would have to go to ZZZ. Dispatcher's answer was 'yes'. Nothing else said. So even though ZZZ1 was closer we might have to go to ZZZ because of ash? 'yes'. I then asked about rides since there were 3's and a 4 on the flight plan. I had noticed the area and altitudes of bad rides on the flight plan. He said he just got on; had not heard anything; and would send me information if he got it. We did receive 2 reports from him at lower altitudes than we were filed for.I just feel that the dispatcher should have been willing to give us more information. I felt it was like pulling teeth to get anything from him. Why were there no notes on the flight plan? Why not a message to call (yes; I know it is also my responsibility) and discuss area of volcanic ash and when/where are the best divert airports?I would have thought some sort of update during the flight might be appropriate also. Yes; we were not flying near the area of volcanic ash; but again; an update would have been nice in case of a possible divert.I am new to this long haul flying. I know dispatchers handle a lot of flights. I have called dispatch and there are times when I feel they give me great information and a lot of it. Then there are times I have called and I feel that I am disturbing them.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.