Driving or taking public transport to work can be exhausting, so we can only imagine what it must be like for those who commute daily between Johor Bahru and Singapore. While the two locations are not actually that far apart, the issues lie mainly with the heavy traffic and going through customs.
That said, would you consider taking a flight to work every day? It might sound insane, but that’s the reality for a local woman who flies from Penang to Kuala Lumpur daily. Here’s her story:
Earlier this week, CNA Insider posted a video on their YouTube channel, following the story of Racheal Kaur, who commutes five days a week between Penang and Kuala Lumpur by flight. In the video, the AirAsia Finance Operations Assistant Manager explained her daily routine; waking up around 4am and arriving at the airport before 6am. After a 30 to 40-minute flight, she would land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and clock in for work at 7:45am.
Racheal actually used to travel only once a week, renting an apartment in Kuala Lumpur for five days and flying home to Penang on the weekends. However, realising she was missing out on her children’s lives, she decided to make a change in 2024 so she could spend more time with them.
“With this new arrangement, I’m able to go home and see them every day at night and help out with their homework,” she told CNA. Thankfully for the super commuter, her office is located within KLIA itself, so it only takes her a few minutes to arrive after landing. Racheal’s children are not the only reason she decided to fly five days a week to work.
Surprisingly, it’s cheaper than flying home once a week. Since she works for AirAsia, the Penang mother uses her staff discount to purchase round-trip tickets, which cost her RM50 a day. After doing the math, the AirAsia staff member spends about RM1400 a month in Penang, compared to RM2100 in Kuala Lumpur.
As for why she doesn’t consider working remotely from home, the frequent flyer explained that she’s more productive in the office and prefers communicating with her colleagues face-to-face rather than online. Of course, this peculiar arrangement doesn’t come without its challenges, especially during the festive seasons. Racheal concluded that the exhaustion is worth it at the end of the day, as she gets to go home to her family.
Watch the full video below:
Source: YouTube
