Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 16000; Flight Crew Type 6000
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Company Policy; Procedure
There seem to have been major flight plan transmission errors with this flight.  Accomplished all normal international preflight planning and went to the aircraft with all flight papers in our possession.  The following problems showed up as we progressed through each phase of flight:No PDC at the gate.  Got our clearance via voice. No oceanic clearance via datalink. (Gander/CZQX).  Voice procedures used to obtain clearance.  Controller asked for additional items beyond the usual clearance request items. Cleared via track 'Y'. At 30 West (eastbound); lost ATC datalink.  Checked in with Shanwick Oceanic (EGGX) on HF.  They also required additional flight information beyond the usual clearance items.  Made one position report via voice; due to difficulty signing back on to CPDLC.  On handoff from oceanic to domestic controller (Shannon/EISN) additional information was once again requested.  At this point we received a major reroute from ATC; none of which was on our flight plan.  We queried the controller as to where we would rejoin our planned route of flight.  Her response was; 'I don't know; I do not have your flight plan.  You can ask the next sector.' At this point we contacted Dispatch via satcom.  Dispatcher stated that Dispatch is using a form of shorthand to file flight plans and that sometimes ATC facilities will reject this information in the different format. It would appear that we flew over 6400 NM with a very marginal; almost nonexistent; flight plan.
B777 First Officer describes difficulties with clearances on a flight from the USA to Europe. Initial clearance no PDC; obtained via voice. Oceanic clearance obtained via voice with many additional questions. CPDLC is sporadic and HF position reports are required. Shannon Control asks many additional questions and issues a major reroute without explanation. The Dispatcher indicates they are using a form of shorthand to file flight plans; which may be causing the difficulty.