Reading these last few threads it is the reason I retired early. Coming off the back of a 12 hour tour of duty following an early start out of an ordinary hotel, my flight terminated in a maintenance base, instead of signing off we had to wait 2 hours for technical service then pax home in the same Aircraft. Total elapsed time from waking up was 21 hours. Then I had to drive home 20 km's in the wee hours of the morning. I remember shedding a tear on the couch and saying to myself I can't do this. Management had the notion that a tour of duty was that period between days off. 16 hour split tours weren't uncommon either. I had never worked that hard in my life and it would be for the very last time.
Whilst I'm happily retired I am disappointed it had to end that way.