Google Techie Spends ₹2.8 Lakh Every Month To Fly Between Seattle And California For Work

Last Updated:May 13, 2026, 19:10 IST

Google engineer Hong (Jason) Wi how and why he spends ₹2.8 lakh monthly to fly between Seattle and Mountain View

Forget the local train or a long drive—Google software engineer Hong (Jason) Wi’s morning commute requires a boarding pass. In a bold bid to balance a high-octane career with his personal life, Wi has embraced the life of a “super-commuter," flying between Seattle and Google’s Mountain View headquarters almost every single week.

Working on Google Flow—an AI image and video generation tool—Wi told HT.com that he shells out approximately $3,000 (around ₹2.8 lakh) monthly to maintain two homes and a gruelling travel schedule.

Wi, who moved from South Korea to the US at 16, lives by the philosophy of “choosing growth over comfort". Here is how he makes it work:

• The Route: He typically flies from Seattle to San Jose on Mondays or Tuesdays and heads back on Thursdays or Fridays.
• The Frequency: He makes this trip “almost" every week, barring illness or vacations.
• The Cost: The ₹2.8 lakh monthly bill covers two rentals, flights, Ubers, and even the extra burden of California taxes.

Why Do It? Career vs. Love

The decision wasn’t just about tech; it was about supporting his partner. While Wi wanted to join the Bay Area-based Google Flow team, his partner was “killing it" at Amazon’s Seattle office. “I needed a way to chase my own growth, support her career, and keep our relationship together, all at once," Wi told HT.com. “So I made a decision that doesn’t make sense on paper: I fly from Seattle to the Bay every week".

Side Hustles and AI

When he isn’t in the air, Wi is deep in the world of AI. Aside from his role at Google, he manages a personal newsletter with roughly 500 subscribers during his free time.

For Wi, the financial and physical sacrifice is a small price to pay for the “growth" he’s found. As he told HT.com, “What I’m getting out of this is worth far more than what it costs".

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