B757 FLC QUESTION SCT ABOUT APCH CLRNC.

Narrative

OUR FLT WAS FROM PIT TO LAX. WE WERE WORKING WITH SOCAL APCH AND WERE ON THE CIVET ARR TO RWY 25L. NORMALLY ON THE CIVET ARR; IT IS ONE CONTINUOUS FLOW FROM ARR TO APCH AND APCH CLRNCS ARE OFTEN RECEIVED PRIOR TO ARNES. AFTER SEVERAL VECTORS AND VARIOUS DSCNTS OFF OF THE CIVET; WE WERE FINALLY CLRED 'DIRECT TO ARNES; DSND VIA THE CIVET ARR; EXPECT RWY 25L.' ON THE ARR; WE CROSSED FUELR AT 8000 FT; THEN STARTED DOWN FOR THE NEXT ALT (5000 FT) AND FIX. I ASKED APCH CTL TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH. HE THEN JUST HANDED US OFF TO THE NEXT CTLR. I CHKED IN; ASKING IF WE WERE INDEED CLRED FOR APCH. SOCAL ASKED OUR ALT. I SAID 7000 FT. HE REPLIED 'CLRED FOR APCH RWY 25L.' THE FIRST CTLR WAS BUSY; HENCE ALL THE VECTORS AND MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN US. RESULTS: THERE WERE NO TFC CONFLICTS. WE CONTINUED ON A COURSE OF ACTION WHICH SOCAL SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED. WE STAYED IN THE FLOW OF TFC. THE SIT AMOUNTED TO A MOMENTARY BIT OF POOR COM. CORRECTIVE ACTION: WE NEED TO BE VIGILANT TO RECEIVE OR TO PROMPT THE CTLRS FOR CLRNCS WHEN WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE THEM.