Please tell me if what we have been practicing at ZAU is acceptable.
We understand what the term "Climb Via" is intended for and the video as well as the text in the PDF make it quite clear as well. However, when pilots look at our ORD8 chart, the maintain altitude is not on the main portion of the chart, but rather on the "back" side. It is not well defined for newer pilots. So, to avoid problems, our typical phraseology for this would be to use the term Climb via SID but then to announce the top altitude so that the pilot knows how to climb via the SID. "UAL148 cleared to MSP as filed, climb via SID top altitude 5,000, expect FL320..."
Does that work or am I mis-using something?