B747-400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 22000; Flight Crew Type 1800
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; General Declared Emergency
Weather; Human Factors; Procedure
We were given hold along with an EFC.  After calculations and considerations of weather and traffic flow; I declared minimum fuel.  Controller advised expect landing in 30 minutes (or later).  I offered to hold for 10 minutes.  Controller said unable.  I declared minimum fuel again.  Controller advised that we must declare a fuel emergency to get priority.  On entering hold I again offered to hold for 10 minutes.  Controller advised we must declare a fuel emergency; which I did.  Approach and landing were uneventful with approximately 33;000 fuel remaining.
[Narrative #2 contain no additional information.]
A B747-400 Captain felt compelled to declare a fuel emergency in order to get priority handling when he deemed ATC holding to be excessive.