When I got hired, I asked an ATL chief pilot type if it was ok to commute from long call. His answer was "of course, that's what its there for." I then asked about that uncomfortable period in the later afternoon/early evening, where pretty much no commuter could make a 12 hour call out. His answer was that "scheduling knows about it, just explain that you've missed the last flight out, and if they give you any grief let us know."

The CVG cheif pilot office gave a different view in one of their "Pireps" articles recently about "reserve roullette."

Seems most commuters sit long call from home, and take their chances. After all, sitting long call from a hotel or crash pad kinda defeats the purpose of long call. (Although, if you live in base, particulary CVG, long call is like a day off...) Seems like its an issue that could use some clarification.