Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors; Procedure
On taxi out; we couldn't get ACARS so we were holding short of runway 8 while we did a radio close out. After we got our numbers; we informed tower we were ready for takeoff. An A310 was on short final. After he landed; the Tower Controller asked if we had the other airplane on final in sight; a 737. We said yes; and she said 'Line up and wait; be ready'. We started to line up and wait; and she then said; 'Hold short of runway!'. We told her it was too late; and she made [the 737] go around. We were cleared for takeoff; everything else was uneventful.After we got in the air and started talking about it; the first officer mentioned he heard her say 'after landing traffic; line up and wait'. I didn't hear the 'after landing traffic' part; but he assumed she was talking about the A310 that was just rolling out. I did mention it was kind of tight; and I was surprised they were doing it; but I've seen much tighter spacing in [another airport]. We could have gotten airborne before [the 737] landed; but that's not what happened. I don't know why other countries allow verbiage like 'after landing traffic; line up and wait'; it does nothing but create confusion; and in my opinion; should be stopped immediately.
NEVER NEVER accept that type of clearance that tells you to line up and wait BEFORE the traffic has crossed the threshold. The U.S. does not use this type of clearance for good reason. Why this is allowed is foolish. Especially with the circumstances we were in where a plane had JUST landed and we thought that that was the plane to line up and wait after. [I] might want to send email to the pilot group on this one.
A319 flight crew taxied onto the runway in MDPC; resulting in a conflict with a landing aircraft because they misunderstood the clearance.