"Gary Drescher" writes:

[...]
Sounds like a "cruise clearance". Not sure why those words weren't used
in the request.

According to the AIM P/CG, a cruise clearance permits flight from a single
specified altitude down to the minimum applicable IFR altitude [...]

I believe a "cruise clearance" also implies an approach clearance, making it
even more different from an ordinary block altitude assignment.


- FChE