For questions about gateway and international travel, the only things you have guaranteed are codified in the CBA. People on the internet, recruiters and naysayers have their own take on things which can sometimes be confusing. Please peruse the source material. There's a link to the 2021 CBA on this page. No login required. A lot of questions and doubt can be answered there. Any arrangements made that exceed what's in the CBA can't be depended upon.

https://wp.iap2750.org/resources/