'Supermum' from Malaysia flies 350km daily to work, says it's cheaper than renting near office

An Indian-origin woman in Malaysia has become an internet sensation due to her notorious daily commute.

Rachael Kaur, an assistant manager at AirAsia for the Finance Department, is flying to work every single day, commuting around 350 kilometres, reports Times of India.

Kaur decided to stay away from the mundane long-lasting hours of driving and has thus earned the distinction of being a "super commuter." Kaur has caught the curiosity of all with her version of imaginative juggling of family and career.

How does Rachel Kaur balance work and family by flying daily?

Kaur, a mother of two, decided to fly to work every day to spend more time with her children as per reports. She explained that with her kids growing up -- her son is now 12 years old, and her daughter is 11 -- she wanted to be with them more often.

"I feel that the need for the mother to be around more often is crucial," Kaur said.

Previously, Kaur lived in Kuala Lumpur close to her office, where she could only return to her home in Penang once a week. But the distance was taking a toll on her in balancing her work life and family time. Now, flying to and fro gives her the luxury of time to be with her kids while working.

Kaur wakes up at 4:00am in preparation for the day. By 5:00am, she would leave home to be at the airport by 5:55am. Her plane arrives at her office destination by 7:45am, which offers her plenty of time to start her work. After completing all tasks at the office, Kaur flies back home, reaching there at about 8:00pm. What makes this arrangement very pleasant for her is that she gets to see her children every night.

Flying saves her money while improving family life

It might just surprise many that flying is cheaper for Kaur than renting an apartment nearby her office. Moreover, she is saving on food and accommodation in the process of this commute. Before, she used to spend around $474 for her monthly sustenance while renting a place near her workplace.

Currently, her expenses have dropped to $316 as per media reports. So, the commutation route has not only given her a boost in family life but has also really eased her pockets.

Rachel Kaur explains why she doesn't work from home

Kaur explained that she is livelier while completing tasks in the office as opposed to an offsite.

"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.

She believes that communicating more directly with her co-workers makes her more productive and a good employee. She has AirAsia's full support on this matter. She can therefore focus on her work during office hours and entirely devote herself to her family when she gets home.

Social media reactions to the 'super commuter'

Kaur is, by the very nature of her routine, eliciting mixed reactions from the public. Most of them commented "Are you crazy!" while others praised her for thinking out of the box.

"She found an out of the box solution for the benefit of her family. Kudos to her, super mum right there. Hope her kids grow up inspired by their mother's hard work and sacrifice," reacted one social media user.

Despite the challenges of waking up at 4:00am every day, Kaur finds the exhaustion worth it. "The moment I reach home, I get to see my kids. All that exhaustion is just gone. It's just wonderful," she said.