Narrative:

Progressing along normally; weather good (clear skies with scattered thunderstorms). [We] began hearing aircraft being rerouted to a westerly arrival into the airport; (heard ATC say due to volume at our destination). We subsequently were cleared direct to the VOR. As we turned to fly direct were issued new routing instructions. Proceeding on this route we were slowed; turned off the airways and descended numerous times. When finally transitioning to the arrival (in the meantime exchanging communication with dispatch through ACARS about possible diversions; fuel status; etc) we were told to expect holding at the intersection for a least ten minutes. We determined from our calculations that we had only 5 minutes of holding fuel and told ATC we wanted to go direct to our alternate and subsequently told the only way that would happen was if we declared a fuel emergency; which we did.we were told to fly a heading of 270 and climb to 15;000 and 'stand by'. We were then told to proceed to our alternate via several waypoints and then our alternate. We told them could not accept that clearance. We were finally cleared direct to our alternate and having had at least 3 separate controllers query us as to if we were really declaring an emergency and requesting sob (souls on board); fob (fuel on board); we continued to request lower and with much dallying on ATC's part; still found ourselves at 13;000 ft 30 miles from our alternate.because of the descent delay; subsequently were at 9;000 ft approximately 9 miles from the end of the runway our alternate. We requested a turn to lose altitude and rejoin final. Following ATC instructions turned left to 270 and descend to 1;600 ft. We began the turn through at least 90 degrees and were told to make it a right turn; then quickly told to continue with the left turn to 270 which we complied with. After completing the turn; losing our altitude; stabilizing and configuring the aircraft; [we] landed; at that point; uneventfully with 3;000 pounds of fuel remaining.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A319 flight; diverting due to insufficient fuel to hold; received unsatisfactory handling by ATC.

Narrative: Progressing along normally; weather good (clear skies with scattered thunderstorms). [We] began hearing aircraft being rerouted to a westerly arrival into the airport; (heard ATC say due to volume at our destination). We subsequently were cleared direct to the VOR. As we turned to fly direct were issued new routing instructions. Proceeding on this route we were slowed; turned off the airways and descended numerous times. When finally transitioning to the arrival (in the meantime exchanging communication with Dispatch through ACARS about possible diversions; fuel status; etc) we were told to expect holding at the intersection for a least ten minutes. We determined from our calculations that we had only 5 minutes of holding fuel and told ATC we wanted to go direct to our alternate and subsequently told the only way that would happen was if we declared a fuel emergency; which we did.We were told to fly a heading of 270 and climb to 15;000 and 'stand by'. We were then told to proceed to our alternate via several waypoints and then our alternate. We told them could not accept that clearance. We were finally cleared direct to our alternate and having had at least 3 separate controllers query us as to if we were really declaring an emergency and requesting SOB (souls on board); FOB (fuel on board); we continued to request lower and with much dallying on ATC's part; still found ourselves at 13;000 FT 30 miles from our alternate.Because of the descent delay; subsequently were at 9;000 FT approximately 9 miles from the end of the runway our alternate. We requested a turn to lose altitude and rejoin final. Following ATC instructions turned left to 270 and descend to 1;600 FT. We began the turn through at least 90 degrees and were told to make it a right turn; then quickly told to continue with the left turn to 270 which we complied with. After completing the turn; losing our altitude; stabilizing and configuring the aircraft; [we] landed; at that point; uneventfully with 3;000 LBS of fuel remaining.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.