Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Staffing
Enroute to PDX airport; we were at or near the PDT arrival fix and we were talking to Seattle Center. The Captain which was the nonflying pilot which made no less than 4 attempts to check in with the next assigned controller. After about 10 minutes of trying to check-in. Finally the controller came back with a response of 'I'm working multiple frequencies!' At this point we were several thousand feet high on the arrival. And; the new controller issued us a descent clearance. When we were handed off to Portland Approach we had to get vectors off course to get down for the approach and landing. The Seattle Center was overwhelmed or over tasked and was unable to issue us a descent clearance. Perhaps having one controller per radio frequency.
Air carrier First Officer reported being high on arrival due to ATC being overwhelmed working several frequencies.