 "Racheal Kaur, who works as an assistant manager at Air Asia, says that work from home is not her choice as face-to-face interactions help her be more productive. Image courtesy: YouTube/@CNAInsider")
For most parents, juggling work and family is a constant struggle. But for Racheal Kaur, an Indian-origin mother in Malaysia, the challenge is taken to an entirely new level—one that involves flying across the country every single day.
Determined not to miss out on her children’s growing years and maintain a work-life balance, Kaur, an employee at AirAsia, has taken the unconventional approach. Every weekday, she boards a flight from Penang to Kuala Lumpur in the morning and returns home in the evening—earning the title of “super commuter.”
Here’s a closer look at the supermom’s routine.
Defying distance for family
For Racheal Kaur, supercommuting wasn’t just a choice—it became a necessity. As an assistant manager in AirAsia’s finance operations, she initially rented a place in Kuala Lumpur to be closer to work, returning home to Penang only once a week.
But being away from her children so often made it difficult to balance work and family. The time apart weighed on her, leading her to rethink her living arrangement.
In an interview with CNA, the mother of two shared how this struggle pushed her to make a life-changing decision.
In early 2024, she decided to start flying daily instead. Surprisingly, the demanding routine has actually made it easier for her to juggle both work and home responsibilities.
“I have two kids, both are growing. My oldest is 12, and my daughter is 11. With them growing, I feel the need for the mother to be around more often. With this arrangement, I’m able to go home every day. I’m able to see them at night and help out with any last-minute homework,” she said.
A rigorous daily routine
Kaur’s day starts early—really early. She wakes up at 4:00 am to get ready for work and leaves for the airport by 5:00 am. By 5:55 am, she is in the air, landing in Kuala Lumpur in time to reach her office by 7:45 am.
After a full workday, she boards her evening flight back home, finally walking through her door at 8:00 pm—just in time to spend the evening with her children.
The distance she covers daily is around 350 km—comparable to an Indian office-goer commuting from Aurangabad to Mumbai or Shimla to Delhi.
Surprisingly, this exhausting routine is also a financially smarter choice. By flying daily instead of renting near her office, Kaur has cut her monthly expenses on food and accommodation from $474 (Rs 42,000) to $316 (Rs 28,000).
Despite the demanding schedule, Kaur sees her commute as a rare moment of peace. The flights give her valuable “me time”—a chance to reflect, listen to music, and take in the breathtaking views from above.
But why not work from home?
While remote work might seem like an easier option, Kaur says she prefers the energy and efficiency of an office environment. She believes face-to-face interactions with her colleagues make work smoother and much more productive, and her employer, AirAsia, supports her unique routine.
Despite the exhausting schedule, she wouldn’t have it any other way. For Kaur, the moment she sees her children at the end of the day makes every flight worth it.
With input from agencies