SAN Bravo VFR Corridor

[bbuckley]

I took off VFR from Palomar with flight following direct KSAN. My filed and flown altitude was 3500 to keep me in the VFR corridor down the coast line. My plan (I did plan... looking at the TAC and FLY charts) was to fly at 3500 with flight following and request clearance into the bravo for a VFR pattern (right downwind) for full stop at KSAN rwy27. All was going great until the controller asked how I intended to transition the bravo. I stammered a lot and said "That's a really good question that I wish I had a really good answer to." and I explained I intended to go at 3500 and request entry to the bravo for the VFR pattern before reaching the surface area. She bailed me out by telling me to maintain VFR at or below 3500, and advise before any heading changes. Then closing in, she cleared me into the bravo and switched me to tower for an uneventful landing.

My question is: Is there a short way to describe what I intended to do in response to her question? Something like "I intend to transition in the VFR corridor at 3500 and request clearance before the surface area." Since I always planned to remain clear of the bravo (@3500) until the surface area it never occurred to me what to request after departing Palomar? Great job by Janevah (I believe) as usual! No actual or simulated persons were hurt in the process...
Thanks,
Bruce

[Kyle.Sanders]

It sounds as if on initial contact with the radar controller, your intentions of "landing at KSAN" we're not apparent. The controller may have thought you were wanting to continue your flight elsewhere and would have needed to transit the bravo airspace.

"SoCal approach, n123ab is 35 miles north west of SAN at 3,500ft. Would like clearance into bravo to land at SAN."

^Would have been an ideal call.

[Marcus Becker]

In my opinion, you did everything just fine. The VFR corridor is there for a reason and you planned to use it as you should have. Well done. If you approach MZB and you haven't received Bravo clearance or landing expectations, I would query SoCal for something. Landing at KSAN, you shouldn't get a Bravo clearance until you are about to enter a downwind.

[bbuckley]

Thanks Kyle & Marcus.

In my opinion, you did everything just fine. The VFR corridor is there for a reason and you planned to use it as you should have. Well done. If you approach MZB and you haven't received Bravo clearance or landing expectations, I would query SoCal for something. Landing at KSAN, you shouldn't get a Bravo clearance until you are about to enter a downwind.

This was exactly my thinking. Use the corridor with flight following, either get bravo clearance approaching the surface area or ask for it then.
Thanks,
Bruce