For most professionals, the daily work commute involves traffic congestion or crowded trains. But for Racheal Kaur, an Indian-origin mother living in Malaysia, it means boarding a flight every morning and evening to balance her career and family life.
Kaur, an assistant manager in AirAsia’s finance operations department, has been making headlines for her extraordinary "super commute"—a journey of nearly 400 km each way between her home in Penang and her workplace in Sepang.
Her daily routine begins at 4:00 am, as she prepares for work and heads to the airport by 5:00 am to board the 5:55 am flight. The journey lasts 30 to 40 minutes, allowing her to reach the office by 7:45 am. After a full workday, she boards the evening flight back to Penang, usually arriving home by 7:30 pm.
Speaking to CNA Insider, Kaur explained that the decision to fly to work daily was driven by her desire to spend more time with her two children, aged 11 and 12. Previously, she rented accommodation in Kuala Lumpur, only visiting her family on weekends. However, with her children growing up, she felt an increasing need to be present in their lives every day.
“With them growing, I feel that the need for their mother to be around more often,” she said. “With this arrangement, I am able to go home every day and see them every night.”
She added that her presence at home allows her to assist her children with last-minute schoolwork. “You know kids, there's always something last-minute,” she said.
Despite the unconventional nature of her commute, Kaur revealed that her new arrangement is actually more cost-effective than renting a home near her workplace.
Previously, she spent RM1,400 to RM1,500 per month (approximately Rs 24,500 to Rs 26,250) on rent in Kuala Lumpur. Now, as an AirAsia employee, she pays RM50 per flight, bringing her total monthly travel expenses to RM1,100 (Rs 19,250).
Additionally, her monthly food expenses have dropped from RM600 (Rs 10,500) to RM300 (Rs 5,250), leading to an overall saving of RM700 (Rs 12,250).
While the arrangement has improved her work-life balance, Kaur acknowledged the challenges of standby travel, particularly during festive seasons when securing a seat on a flight becomes difficult.
“Those are the times it gets challenging. You get a little anxious as to whether you’ll be on that flight. But at the end of the day, I do go home, so it’s not a problem,” she said.
During her daily flights, Kaur takes time for herself, describing it as her “me time”. She reflects on life, listens to music, and enjoys the view from the window.
She also noted that she prefers commuting by air over remote work, stating that being physically present in the office improves communication and productivity.
“Being surrounded by people… it’s easier to get a task done. You know… when you’re able to communicate with people face to face,” she said.
Kaur credited AirAsia for being accommodating to her work arrangements, allowing her to effectively balance professional and personal commitments.
“When I’m here, I focus 100% on my job, and when I’m home, I can focus 100% on my family,” she said.
She added that many people are shocked when they learn about her unique commute, with some reacting in disbelief, asking, “Are you crazy?”
“It is exhausting to wake up every day at 4:00 am,” she admitted. “But the moment I reach home and see my kids, all that exhaustion is just gone. It’s just wonderful.”
For now, Kaur intends to continue her unusual yet practical work commute for the foreseeable future.
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