Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
This event occurred at XA45Z. We were parking. After landing on Runway 04 we exited on U then were cleared to taxi R hold short 13. Reaching 13 we were cleared to cross; then Taxi R; P; B. I did not hear the Controller say P; but the FO apparently did. As we cleared 13; the FO contacted Ops and Ramp per procedure. I continued to taxi straight ahead down R to B and did not make the left turn on to P. I switched to Ground to hear the Controller calling us. Controller said something I did not catch then told us to taxi to the ramp on B. After we parked the FO informed me of the taxi error.Confusing; non-intuitive taxi route - R; P; B; requires a left turn immediately after a runway crossing; then a greater than 270 degree right turn onto B. It is an unexpected way to taxi to B (unless perhaps you are familiar with LGA). We had briefed possible taxi routes during the approach brief; but did not expect this one. High workload environment - company procedures require the PM to call ops and ramp during a busy time. The area is marked as a hot spot; but ATC requires the information about the gate.  Lack of experience - I have not been into LGA for about 18 months and it is my first time in as CA. I have only been into LGA about 5 times with Company X.  The FO has only been into [LGA] about 3 times.Suggestions: If this is a common taxi route it would help if it was noted in the company pages.
Missed turn (Taxiway P) after crossing active Runway (13) south on Taxiway R while switching radios from Tower to Ground; continuing to Taxiway B. Taxiway R becomes Taxiway B in a straight line to our gate. Taxiway P to Taxiway B forms a circuitous route with a very sharp turn onto Taxiway B; apparently to avoid blocking high-speed Taxiway Q overrun. No proximate traffic or hazards were observed during event. Another aircraft was lined up and awaiting departure on Runway 13 during event.Cause: Low experience FO paired with low experience Captain at airport for first time in approximately 18 months. Non-intuitive taxi route instructions in high workload environment -- switching and splitting radio duties to comply with company and ATC procedures; which asked for two additional radio calls on Number 2 radio during taxi operations -- coupled with compressed hearback/readback caused poor interpretation of instructions; which culminated in continuing forward all the way to the gate in the most direct path.Suggestions: Taxiing around (R-P-B) the high-speed Taxiway Q after landing Runway 4 makes sense; but is not intuitive when exiting Runway 4 at Taxiway U (or even Taxiway P). A company page or reference with diagram to depict this awkward taxi path (sharp turns well in excess of 90 degrees when direct path to gate requires no turns) would be very useful for low experience pilots or infrequent visits.
Air carrier flight crew reported experiencing a taxiway incursion at LGA airport.  The crew cited experience and confusing ATC instructions as contributing factors.