Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 4; Flight Crew Total 720; Flight Crew Type 480
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Prior to a training flight from ZZZ to ZZZ1; I weather briefed and filed a flight plan with Center. At this time I clearly stated I was doing patterns at ZZZ1 and wanted to return and tried to go over exactly how that was done. The briefer indicated I would keep my code; do my patterns and call on the frequency I was last on; and get my new sqwak code for return to ZZZ.My instructor and I departed ZZZ flew to ZZZ1 and did all procedures at no time did a full stop; departed the pattern and called approach to activate in bound flight plan.Controller did not like us asking for the code and inbound flight plan in the air. He indicated we had to go to a full stop and call on the phone; not in the air. We communicated our understanding; and that this was our misunderstanding from the briefer and we would do that next time. The controller gave us the sqwak and it was an uneventful return to ZZZ. The controller said 'you are the second plane that has done this' during our indication. On the return to ZZZ the Airport manager called Center to make sure I would not be written up for a deviation. It was indicated to the Manager to tell us this would only be ok at ZZZ2 ( to call in the air) but not ZZZ1; to request in air for the return flight plan and code.
Single Pilot reported a possible deviation from the clearance and problems communicating with the controller while airborne.