"Gary Drescher" wrote in message
news:OgSVb.265595$na.420059@attbi_s04...
According to the AIM P/CG, a cruise clearance permits flight from a single
specified altitude down to the minimum applicable IFR altitude; the
phraseology is e.g. "Cruise eight thousand". A block clearance, with an
explicit lower bound, is slightly different.

Exactly right. Guess I'm the one who's been using the wrong phraseology
with ATC. Oh well...I guess they knew what I meant when I asked for a
cruise clearance between two altitudes. They've never corrected me, in all
my flights over the mountains when I've asked.

In any case, the basic idea is still the same. A block altitude gives the
pilot the ability to ride altitude changes without fighting them, which
results in a smoother ride, better fuel economy, and less work on the
pilot's part.

Pete