A bit off-thread, but an interesting (I hope) tale. Doing a UK to Orlando many years ago, it became apparent we weren't going to land with a legal amount of fuel, so plan B was invoked – tech stop at Charleston. Ample time to set everything up before landing in CHS, so we were taxying out again 30 mins after arrival. On requesting our clearance we were mortified to be told 'we don't have a flight plan for you, sir'. Oh no! Thinking of the European-style hassle that would probably come our way – return to stand, file a plan, wait for a slot &c we cursed our dispatcher for not filing the onward plan and ourselves for not reminding him.
So in a pleading voice we said 'we just want to go IFR to Orlando McCoy'.
Reply: 'Stand by'.
We continued taxying slowly, fingers crossed. Within a couple of minutes:
'You're cleared to McCoy routing . . . '
There are some things Americans are not so good at, but you can't fault them for practical aviation procedures.