Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 170
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
We departed ZZZ and were cleared on the SID. I was the Pilot Flying and hand flying using the HUD. Our PDC clearance was to climb via the SID; EXCEPT to maintain 4000 ft. I was flying the course towards a fix and climbing to 4000 ft. Tower switched us to Departure. The instructions from the Departure Controller were to 'climb via the SID'. This was an unusual clearance to me (I was expecting the usual climb to 17;000 ft) and it sounded odd.I queried the FO about the assigned altitude and asked what was the top altitude for the SID (while still climbing to 4000 ft; and still hand flying with the HUD). The FO responded that it was 4000 ft. So I leveled the aircraft at 4000 ft. A few minutes later the Controller switched us to the next frequency. We contacted the next Controller who stated that we were on the wrong frequency and to go back to the previous frequency; which we did. When we returned to the previous Controller (the original Departure Controller) he told us that we were cleared to climb via the SID and that we were supposed to be climbing to 17;000 ft versus remaining at 4000 ft. This was now several minutes after the original contact.We apologized and I immediately began the climb (using the autopilot now) via the SID and we did make all the climbing restrictions on the SID while climbing to 17;000 ft. The flight then proceeded to our destination without any further issues.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
Air carrier flight crew experienced miscommunication with ATC during departure climb as to what altitude to climb to.