When cleared; first; to descend on the centerpoint STAR and subsequently to fly the RNAV (rnp) Z rwy...

Narrative:

We were cleared to cross beney at 10;000' on the csi [centerpoint] arrival. On check-in with approach; I requested the RNAV (rnp) Z runway 22. We were told to expect that. A few miles later; approach cleared us to cross jumdi at or above 6000' and cleared RNAV (rnp) runway 22 approach. The pilot flying wanted clarification if we had been cleared direct to jumdi to begin the approach. I asked approach and got cleared direct to jumdi; cross at or above 6000'; and cleared RNAV (rnp) runway 22. My question is: did approach's original clearance allow us to close the route discontinuity after medin on the CENTERPOINT1 arrival; fly the RNAV (rnp) runway 22 from medin; and descend out of 10;000' complying with the altitudes on the approach prior to reaching medin? In other words; were we cleared originally to cross medin at or below 9000' or at 10;000'; that being my last altitude clearance until established on the RNAV at medin?standard terminology is used to prevent confusion. All the wrinkles are not clear in my mind about the transition from arrivals to approaches with different altitudes depicted for the same points.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: When cleared; first; to descend on the CENTERPOINT STAR and subsequently to fly the RNAV (RNP) Z Rwy 22 at SAT the flight crew of a B737NG was uncertain as to compliance with altitude restrictions at waypoint MEDIN which is a fix on the STAR and an IAF for the RNAV approach.

Narrative: We were cleared to cross BENEY at 10;000' on the CSI [CENTERPOINT] Arrival. On check-in with Approach; I requested the RNAV (RNP) Z RWY 22. We were told to expect that. A few miles later; Approach cleared us to cross JUMDI at or above 6000' and cleared RNAV (RNP) RWY 22 approach. The pilot flying wanted clarification if we had been cleared direct to JUMDI to begin the approach. I asked Approach and got cleared direct to JUMDI; cross at or above 6000'; and cleared RNAV (RNP) RWY 22. My question is: did Approach's original clearance allow us to close the route discontinuity after MEDIN on the CENTERPOINT1 Arrival; fly the RNAV (RNP) RWY 22 from MEDIN; and descend out of 10;000' complying with the altitudes on the approach prior to reaching MEDIN? In other words; were we cleared originally to cross MEDIN at or below 9000' or at 10;000'; that being my last altitude clearance until established on the RNAV at MEDIN?Standard terminology is used to prevent confusion. All the wrinkles are not clear in my mind about the transition from arrivals to approaches with different altitudes depicted for the same points.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1174240
Time
Date	201405
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	SAT.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	STAR CENTERPOINT
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 212 Flight Crew Type 28000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

When cleared; first; to descend on the centerpoint STAR and subsequently to fly the RNAV (rnp) Z rwy 22 at sat the flight crew of a B737NG was uncertain as to compliance with altitude restrictions at waypoint medin which is a fix on the STAR and an IAF for the RNAV approach.