Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 211; Flight Crew Total 2727; Flight Crew Type 1669
Communication Breakdown
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
Approximately 20NM from waypoint; we received a reroute clearance due to military activity in the area. The clearance uploaded into the FMC and was interpreted by FO (First Officer) and myself to fly Direct to TERYY; Direct to [remainder of the route.] We both read and confirmed with each other before executing the route. I then proceeded to go direct to TERYY. After the completion of the turn towards TERYY; KZAK sent a message 'Confirm Next Waypoint.' I used the REPORT page of the ATC page and said we were Direct to TERYY. KZAK uploaded a new clearance that similar to the previous clearance except at the end of the message it read; 'you were cleared DCT TERRY after 20N160E. For my clarity you are now cleared DCT TERRY.' We accepted the new clearance and proceeded direct TERYY. FO and I went over the original clearance and we did see the line 'At N20E160 cleared route clearance DEST:ZZZZVIA. TODIRECT. TERYY[Remainder of the route]The 'At N20E160 cleared route clearance' line was separated from the main body of the new clearance which caused us to miss the part of the message that we were supposed to fly directly to TERYY after N20E160.
Shortly before passing N20E160 on our flight plan; we received a reroute via CPDLC. We printed the message; discussed the change and loaded the FMC via the load prompt in the CDU. After the change was verified; we executed the change. Then; noting the first point was direct to TERYY; we selected direct to TERYY on the legs page and executed it. About 3 minutes later we received a message to confirm next waypoint. We replied that it was TERYY. About 3 minutes later ATC sent us what looked like the same route clearance but with a note at the bottom indicating the first clearance was to go direct TERYY after N20E160. Sure enough; at the top of the text; separated by a few lines from the rest of the route clearance was the statement 'at N20E160 cleared.' Both of us missed this detail. When I showed the messages to the IRO (International Relief Officer) when he got up; he looked at the message and he said he didn't see what we did wrong. Not until after I pointed out the part about 'at N20E160' did he see our error. Bottom line; we misprogrammed the reroute. However; since the 'at N20E160' is not located next to the rest of the reroute; it is very easy to miss. Having it separated by even a few lines makes it very easy to miss when verifying the correct clearance is loaded and executed.
B787 flight crew reported a confusing clearance revision via CPDLC led to a track deviation.