B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 136
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
SFO Tower cleared us to position and hold. I very clearly heard our flight number and the First Officer read back the clearance. I taxied just past the hold short line then we heard Tower clear another company flight to position and hold. I stopped and told the First Officer to query Tower. Tower replied yes we were cleared; but they didn't hear our read back; so they just cleared another aircraft for the same runway. Tower then canceled the clearance for the other aircraft and recleared us to position and hold.
Holding short of the runway. Told to 'line up and wait Runway 1L.' Responded and started to roll onto the runway. Subsequently; heard Tower tell another company aircraft to 'line up and wait Runway 1L.' I asked Tower if I heard them clear another plane onto the runway. They responded; 'Yes; I didn't hear your reply so I cleared the next plane.' Tower then told us to hold position; but recanted and told us to line up and wait. (I'm guessing that was because we were already halfway across the hold short line.) Tower told the other company aircraft to hold short to which they replied; 'That sounds like a good idea.' We were then cleared to takeoff without further discussion.
Tower instructed an aircraft to line up and wait. The aircraft began to take the runway when the pilots heard Tower tell another aircraft to line up and wait on the same runway.  The pilot verified the instructions with the Tower. The Tower than realized their mistake and advised the second aircraft to hold short of the runway.