Flight Levels - Who Decides?

[Guest AF011]

On a British Airways Charter flight, BA9072C out of Altanta, KATL, the tower ATC said he had to check my flight level on an eastbound flight to Heathrow. I had filed asked for FL 580. After ten minutes, tower ATC said I had to fly at FL 570. There was no one else out there above FL 410! So..where do I find out how to set my requested Flight Levels, and how do I get one at least at FL 580 to FL 600? Thank you very much! Oh..by the way..the Atlanta approach ATC said over the air that "thanks for flying from Atlanta. It is always a pleasure to see a Concorde." Jim French , Dakota, IL

[Guest NormanB]

Jim,the Tower controller must have been inexperienced. Generally Concorde was given block levels above ordinary traffic since there wasnt an awful lot to seperate it from.

[Guest AF011]

Norman, Thanks a lot. I wondered about that! Jim French