Originally Posted by
Herkflyr
You are talking two different things here. What a pilot does on a layover is his business. I've had guys in the JS going home on similar such long layovers. So long as you are ready at scheduled pickup time on your next working leg, nothing else matters.
Your other example of a guy getting his days mixed up could happen on any layover. Whether or not he was at home or not hardly matters--though his missing the pickup, for whatever reason, is indeed his fault.
So to answer the question: yes, you can go home on a long domestic layover. However, it is always the pilot's job to be available and ready for work at the scheduled pickup time.
Not sure how I'm talking about two different things. I honestly don't know if there is a snippet in the FOM that says you cannot non-rev while on an extended layover which is why I quoted the word "allowed." I've never seen such a prohibition but that doesn't mean much. However, of course pilots do it. The LAX and ATL FRMS layovers are inviolate so why not get rest in your own bed instead of the Marriott Marquis or Westin Bonaventure. And it isn't like the company can re-route you during one seeing as they are inviolate.
All I said is that you better show up at pick-up/brief. The FL guy didn't, whether through his own fault or not. That's all. I am sure that was a chance for him to "be someone" and meet a few people in the CPO. The situation becomes exacerbated because the FRMS layovers occur in ATL and LAX, neither of which are a 350 base and therefore have no short call relief valve. Further, if you get into a pinch, you cannot avail yourself of the Call in Honest/UTC policy because ATL and LAX are not "your base," Dertoit is. Will sked jump in and get you positive space in a pinch? I highly suspect they would to protect a 300 seat international flight but you are operating without the safety net of those policies.
Things certainly happen to pilots on layovers - injuries, illness, etc. I just wouldn't want to have to answer the question why I wasn't in place because I was unable to non-rev back to my flight. That's just me. At the end of the day, forewarned is forearmed.