What a crock! Many a time and oft, I have flown three sectors, handed over to the relief crew, then deadheaded back to home plate on the fourth sector. Invariably, we would remove our slides and ties, sit in the back row of the cabin, where we would be well looked after by the girls (no male stewards on my company in those days.)
Some Champagne, a splendid lunch, washed down with a fine claret, then a quiet kip and all was well with the world. The result? Arrived at home plate after a 12 hour duty feeling like a box of birds!