I lived in Florida and was based in ANC. I would leave my house, in the morning, two days prior to my duty day starting (I had to get adequate rest after all). Then I would usually finish about 1pm, go to the hotel for 5 hours and leave 8pm for the warmer weather. I would arrive at my gateway airport in the very late afternoon or after dark. There was absolutely no way around it. The airline schedules to and from ANC are lousy. And don't expect to upgrade. The oil workers pack these flights and have many more miles than any Atlas FO will ever have.

So doing the math, each rotation I gave an additional 3 days to the company for free. With two rotations a month (I've had three) that is six days taken from my days off every month.

Yes fairly often you are sent home a day or two early. But once home you are on home reserve. You are required to answer your phone and be at your gateway airport within 4 or 5 hours. You are still not off. And as I live close to a base, I was called on one of those R1 days (trip never happened).

Just my experience.