05-15-2010, 01:02 PM
When ATC tells you really is the right answer. One can always request a lower altitude from ATC and if traffic allows they will normally clear you down to a lower enroute altitude. Often however because of traffic volume ATC, either Center or Approach control will keep you high until the last possible moment, in order to sequence traffic into the approach sytem. When traffic is heavy at your destination expect to arrive high and fast.
