W0X0F,

This thread, along with its sister thread on the poker site, are some of the most interesting reads ever. Thanks so much. You have been kind to answer some of my questions before, and now I have a new one.

I was flying MUC-IAD on UA the other day, and for a while listing to Channel 9 (pilot/ATC communications). Over Ireland, the last controller before Oceanic control would ask each aircraft if they had their oceanic crossing clearance already. Some did, some were still working on it, one pilot even asked for a frequency to talk to the oceanic controller in case they need to work out the clearance. What is this about? I thought all flights had a clearance to destination before departing. What is this oceanic clearance? And what happens if you don't get it? Land in Ireland, enter a hold, what?

One aircraft responded saying they had a clearance at FL320, which they did not like and asked for higher. That Irish controller worked with them, getting them a different track at FL380, and read to them a full route that started with "cleared to Orlando via...". So if that was the oceanic clearance and then some (the overland clearance in North America too), it means that this controller can handle clearances all the way to the destination, including the oceanic part. Then what is this business of asking aircraft if there have their clearance for the crossing, which apparently is obtained over some other channel?

Thanks for indulging my curiosity.