Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
We were cleared direct ZZZZZ and the ZZZZZ3 STAR arrival at ZZZ. Quiet cockpit as we descended; Approach Control was very busy working two radios and had weather affecting departures. Passing 10;000 feet we got a call on guard asking us to contact Approach on a different frequency. The new Controller asked why we did not switch frequencies sooner. We replied that we had not heard our call sign previously and the other Controller was working two frequencies. Approach Control then asked which runway we expected. We told Controller XXL. Upon landing we were told to call TRACON. TRACON told me no traffic separation problem had occurred. TRACON asked me if we had been assigned Runway XX left or right. I told Controller I believe we were told to expect XXL but had not been assigned a runway by the first Controller. We landed uneventfully. Cause - ATC was working departures around weather and arrivals on two frequencies. TRACON informed me they were short staffed because of COVID. We the aircrew failed to query ATC to get assigned a landing runway which would affect the STAR. Suggestions - Increased involvement by ATC and aircrew is needed during manning shortfalls and a rapidly changing environment
[Report contained no additional information.]
Air carrier flight crew reported a communication issues with TRACON Control during arrival. TRACON was working departures and arrivals on two frequencies. ATC informed the crew they were short staffed due to COVID-19.