Every morning, millions of people rush to work using various means of transport, but for one Indian-origin woman, the journey is far from ordinary. Racheal Kaur, a mother of two, takes a flight five days a week—not for leisure or business, but simply to reach her office.
Dubbed a “Super Commuter,” Kaur shared her extraordinary routine with Channel News Asia (CNA). She works as an Assistant Manager in Finance Operations at AirAsia in Malaysia and has adopted this unique travel schedule to balance her professional and personal life.
Previously, Kaur lived in Kuala Lumpur near her workplace, traveling back to her home in Penang only once a week. However, being away from her children for long periods proved difficult. In early 2024, she decided to switch to flying daily instead of staying in the city. This change, she says, has helped her be there for her family while keeping up with her job.
“My kids are growing up—my son is 12, and my daughter is 11. I felt the need to be around them more. This routine allows me to come home every night,” Kaur explained.
Her day starts at 4 AM when she gets ready and leaves home by 5 AM. She drives to Penang Airport, catches a 6:30 AM flight to Kuala Lumpur, and reaches her office by 7:45 AM. After work, she flies back and is home by 8 PM. Covering nearly 700 km daily, Kaur has found a way to make this routine not just feasible but also cost-effective.
Surprisingly, her expenses have decreased since switching to daily flights. Earlier, she spent around $474 monthly on rent and living expenses in Kuala Lumpur. Now, her travel costs are about $316 per month, making the new arrangement more economical.
Kaur uses her flight time to relax—listening to music and enjoying the view. She prefers working from the office rather than home, as interacting with colleagues makes her job more efficient. “Being surrounded by people makes tasks easier,” she noted.
Her employer, AirAsia, has been supportive of her decision, acknowledging that it enables her to maintain a better work-life balance. Though waking up early is exhausting, Kaur says the moment she sees her children at the end of the day, all her fatigue fades away.
