What puzzles me sometimes is when ATC say "Cancel STAR speed restrictions", often once I'm already below 10000'.
1. The 250kt below 10000' used to be a STAR speed restriction into most major airports, it is now a blanket speed restriction, ie not specifically associated with the STAR as it once was. So does "Cancel STAR speed restrictions" include cancelling 250kt below 10000', or does it just mean cancel the other speed restrictions such as 230/20, 185-160/10 and 160/5.
2. It will actually cost me (or my Company) fuel and therefore money to cancel these restrictions, so do you: want me to; need me to; or is it just that you don't need to restrict me any longer. I don't know what you actually want or need me to do so I often end up asking something like "do you want or need me to increase speed?" because I'd actually rather just stay with the original plan at this late stage.
Are any ATC'ers able to clarify?