Narrative:

We checked in with ord metering at the north port on the bravo line. We were told to contact ground. When we did we were abruptly told to contact metering again. As we were about to switch frequencies the controller said never mind and ripped off a clearance faster than an auctioneer. Neither the copilot nor I heard the route and asked [controller] to repeat the clearance and in an annoyed tone reread the clearance to runway 10L delta delta turn right on hotel uniform alpha alpha 15 november cross runway 33. When on uniform we were given new instructions alpha 10 november (which isn't possible) with no clearance limit and we read it back. As we turned onto bravo the controller in an elevated voice and negative tone said 'I don't want you on bravo I want you on alpha. Taxi bravo alpha 17 alpha' again with no clearance limit. I got on the radio and informed [controller] we read our clearance onto bravo back to them. The controller replied something to the effect of 'well you need to read your call sign back'. I then asked the controller to mark the tapes and that we would be filing a report. The controller then gave another revised clearance of alpha alpha 13 november 2 november; again with no clearance limit. I told the first officer to read back the clearance and add 'hold short of 33'. I queried the controller on the clearance limit and the controller replied 'absent of clearance to cross you have to hold short'. The controller was so combative in their aggressive tone that once back on alpha I stopped the aircraft and asked for progressive taxi instructions. After being based in ord for 21 years I have never had such a rude combative nonstandard controller at ord. The controller said they were too busy to give progressive and would have to hold me. So we continued with trying to get safe legal complete taxi instructions from her. The controller then gave another revised taxi clearance to a company flight (not our flight number) to taxi alpha alpha 15 november yet again without a clearance limit and again I asked the first officer to read back 'hold short runway 33' in addition to the clearance. We also asked for a phone number to call later. Once committed to the left turn onto alpha 15 the controller told us to give way to [another aircraft] on november. The controller then gave us; you guessed it; yet another revised clearance to turn 160 degrees out of alpha 15 back onto alpha alpha 13 november 2 november; again no clearance limit. Once committed to the turn into alpha 13 again we were told to give way to another aircraft on bravo. As we were executing the south turn through alpha 13 november 2 the controller asked if we wanted to pull over into a hold pad to call the tower. Really? Once onto november we were cleared to cross 33 and contact tower. This was the single worst; most nebulous; nonstandard taxi experience anywhere anytime in my 35 year aviation career. I called the tower supervisor after landing to report the event and notify them a report would be filed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew reported conflicting; confusing; and combative taxi instructions from the ORD Ground Controller.

Narrative: We checked in with ORD metering at the north port on the Bravo line. We were told to contact ground. When we did we were abruptly told to contact metering again. As we were about to switch frequencies the Controller said never mind and ripped off a clearance faster than an auctioneer. Neither the copilot nor I heard the route and asked [Controller] to repeat the clearance and in an annoyed tone reread the clearance to Runway 10L Delta Delta turn right on Hotel Uniform Alpha Alpha 15 November cross runway 33. When on Uniform we were given new instructions Alpha 10 November (which isn't possible) with no clearance limit and we read it back. As we turned onto Bravo the Controller in an elevated voice and negative tone said 'I don't want you on Bravo I want you on Alpha. Taxi Bravo Alpha 17 Alpha' again with no clearance limit. I got on the radio and informed [Controller] we read our clearance onto Bravo back to them. The Controller replied something to the effect of 'well you need to read your call sign back'. I then asked the Controller to mark the tapes and that we would be filing a report. The Controller then gave another revised clearance of Alpha Alpha 13 November 2 November; AGAIN with no clearance limit. I told the FO to read back the clearance and add 'Hold short of 33'. I queried the Controller on the clearance limit and the Controller replied 'absent of clearance to cross you have to hold short'. The Controller was so combative in their aggressive tone that once back on Alpha I stopped the aircraft and asked for progressive taxi instructions. After being based in ORD for 21 years I have never had such a rude combative nonstandard Controller at ORD. The Controller said they were too busy to give progressive and would have to hold me. So we continued with trying to get safe legal complete taxi instructions from her. The Controller then gave another revised taxi clearance to a company flight (not our flight number) to taxi Alpha Alpha 15 November yet again without a clearance limit and again I asked the FO to read back 'Hold Short Runway 33' in addition to the clearance. We also asked for a phone number to call later. Once committed to the left turn onto Alpha 15 the Controller told us to give way to [another aircraft] on November. The Controller then gave us; you guessed it; yet another revised clearance to turn 160 degrees out of Alpha 15 back onto Alpha Alpha 13 November 2 November; again no clearance limit. Once committed to the turn into Alpha 13 again we were told to give way to another aircraft on Bravo. As we were executing the S turn through Alpha 13 November 2 the Controller asked if we wanted to pull over into a hold pad to call the tower. Really? Once onto November we were cleared to cross 33 and contact tower. This was the single worst; most nebulous; nonstandard taxi experience anywhere anytime in my 35 year aviation career. I called the tower supervisor after landing to report the event and notify them a report would be filed.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.