A ‘supercommuter’ mom flies to work daily, as the cost of flying is cheaper than renting a place closer to her job.
In an unusual story of modern commuting, a mother named Racheal Kaur has taken the concept of a “supercommuter” to new heights.
Instead of driving or taking a train, Kaur boards a plane everyday to reach her workplace.
She lives in Penang, Malaysia, and flies to Kuala Lumpur for her job.
Surprisingly, this daily flight is cheaper than renting an apartment in the city where she works.
‘Supercommuter’ mom takes 40-minute flight daily to work as it costs her less than renting apartment
Kaur’s daily routine starts early. She wakes up at around 4 a.m. to prepare for her day.
After showering and getting dressed, she leaves her home by 5 a.m. to catch her flight. The plane ride takes about 40 minutes.
This allows her to arrive at her office by 7:45 a.m. each morning, ready to start the workday.
While many people might think this routine sounds exhausting, Kaur finds it worth the effort.
She enjoys the flexibility it gives her to spend time with her children.
Kaur has two kids, aged 12 and 11, and she believes it’s important to be present in their lives as they grow up.
She shares that, with this arrangement, she can help with homework and be there for her kids in the evenings.
“With this arrangement, I’m able to go home every day, I’m able to see my kids at night and help out with any last-minute homework,” Kaur told Newsflash.
“I have two kids, both are growing up. My oldest is 12 years old and my daughter is 11 years old.
With them growing up, I feel that they need their mother to be around more often.”
Cost-effective commuting
One of the key reasons Kaur chooses this commuting method is financial.
Renting an apartment in Kuala Lumpur can cost over $300 a month.
In contrast, her monthly costs for flying are lower.
She pays approximately $223 for her mortgage at home, which means she can stay close to her family without the burden of high rental costs.
Despite working for AirAsia, she does not receive any employee discounts on flights. Instead, she pays full price for her tickets.
Even so, Kaur maintains that her flying commute is still economically beneficial compared to renting in the city.
“Supercommuting” is becoming increasingly popular among workers.
Kaur is not the only person to adopt this commuting style. The trend of supercommuting has been gaining attention.
Last year, another woman shared her experience of commuting from Minneapolis to Manhattan for work.
In that case, a hairstylist in New York City also mentioned her travels from Charlotte to New York every two weeks.
Caroline Colvin, 23, said: “I live in New York City, which is an expensive, high cost-of-living city,” she said at the time.
“And I work in Baltimore, which is less expensive and has a lower cost of living.”
These stories show that many people are finding creative ways to manage their work-life balance.
Some individuals spend over $1,000 a month on commuting to live where they want while keeping their jobs.
The challenge of supercommuting
While Kaur enjoys her routine, it does come with challenges.
Waking up so early every day can be tiring, and flying daily means she must always be prepared for travel.
Weather conditions can affect flights, and delays can lead to stress. However, Kaur handles these challenges with a positive attitude.
Her commitment to her family motivates her to keep going. She believes that being present for her children is essential.
Kaur sees her choice as a way to balance work and family life, making sacrifices where necessary to maintain this balance.