B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Airspace Structure
Filed SUMMA9 BKE transition; clearance was SUMMA9 J54 BKE. We looked and saw they overlaid each other so we left the BKE transition in the box. Approaching SUMMA and passing through transition level and running checklist; ATC gave us direct to KOTAA. Requested spelling and thought we heard KOTTA and inserted that into the box; which displayed within 160 miles of our position but not on J54. We knew something was not correct; we requested spelling again; got it in the box and were turning when ATC gave us a heading on course.Lesson learned: Type in SUMMA9 J54 BKE (without BKE transition) so as to have the points in the box.Questions I have: Why does ATC sometimes feel the need to give us a 'direct' clearance just a few miles before we are approaching a turn point? Maybe one of those two waypoints (KOTAA & KOTTA) need a name change as they are very similar and near each other.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B737 flight crew reported being cleared direct to KOTAA; but mistakenly entered KOTTA which is 221 NM southwest.