B737-700
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 450
Training / Qualification; Time Pressure; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Undershoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
We were asked if we could make 40;000 FT within 2 1/2 minutes (from 36;000 FT).  We responded to the affirmative and were subsequently cleared to 40;000 FT with the restriction of 2 1/2 minutes.  When it became apparent to the Controller that we could not meet the restriction he vectored us off course.  The lesson here is simply this: If you cannot easily make the restriction do not accept it.  It is too risky.  I should not have accepted the clearance.  The difference between 36;000 FT and 40;000 FT in terms of fuel use is insignificant and posed a risk that was too great for the benefit derived.  In the future; I will decline clearance to a higher altitude from a high altitude unless it is painfully obvious that we can make it.  I think the Company should give additional high altitude performance training to Crews and suggest that perhaps the risk is high compared to the reward when tasked with high altitude changes in altitude when there is a time limit involved that is close to performance limits as it was with our situation.
[Narrative 2 contained no new information]
A B737-700 Crew accepted a climb from FL360 to FL400 to be level in 2 1/2 minutes but when ATC discovered that restriction would not be met vectored the aircraft off route.