B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 92; Flight Crew Total 6000; Flight Crew Type 265
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
Enroute to IAH we were at FL380 filed for the ZEEKK1 STAR. Enroute to the DLAKE fix we were reassigned the DOOBI2 STAR direct JERNY. We both understood we were cleared to descend via the STAR to 8000 feet so when VNAV started the descent from FL380 I called Houston Center letting them know. They called back saying negative and what I thought was clearance to maintain FL370 but the call was partially blocked. The Captain started a climb back to FL380 and we also received a TA for traffic 500 feet below. ATC called back and clarified we were to maintain FL380. The lowest altitude seen was FL375. After clearance to descend we were unable to make the altitude restriction at BEATL and I notified ATC. The rest of the flight was uneventful. Contributing factors were the short-notice change in the planned STAR and the distraction of loading; reviewing and briefing the new STAR; hearing other aircraft cleared to 'Descend VIA' and possibly the expectation our clearance was the same.This event could have been prevented by clarifying the clearance before descending and listening better to the clearance being aware of a potential expectancy from multiple prior 'Descend VIA' clearances.
B767 First Officer reported an altitude deviation on arrival to IAH that stemmed from a misunderstanding of the clearance.