Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 244; Flight Crew Type 7000
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Human Factors
After an uneventful landing on Runway 22 at LGA; I contacted Ground Control. I informed them of our gate and they instructed us to taxi towards our terminal; contact another carrier's 'Ramp Control;' and report back when we had been cleared to our gate. The Captain monitored the Ground Frequency. I had pre-selected both Company and Ramp frequencies on the First Officer's radio. Thinking I was talking to Ramp Control; I said; 'Ramp Control; Company flight number on the ground for Gate XX.' The response was; 'You are cleared to the gate.' I switched to Ground Frequency and informed them we were cleared to the gate. I then checked the Operations Frequency and was surprised that the radio was already selected. Assuming I must have automatically switched after the previous transmission; I attempted to contact Operations; who failed to respond. There then followed some confusing instructions from Ground regarding an unseen aircraft. Our route to our gate was unobstructed so we continued. After arriving at the gate; I heard the other carrier's 'Ramp Control' calling us. I responded; and he told me we had never asked for permission to taxi to the gate. I assured him I had; and then he said that Ground must have cleared us. In retrospect I believe that I spoke to Company Operations; and even though I called them under Ramp Control; they were the ones who cleared us to the gate.
Air Carrier inbound to the gate area at LGA experienced confusion with regard to communications between Ramp Control; Ground Control and Company.