A woman has shared why she commutes to work by plane every day instead of moving closer to her job.
From Monday to Friday, AirAsia employee Racheal Kaur leaves her home in Penang, Malaysia, around 5:00 AM to catch a 40-minute flight to Kuala Lumpur, returning home each evening by 7:00 PM.
Detailing her daily routine, the mother explained:
“Usually, I’m up around 4:00 AM, 4:10 AM, or at the latest, 4:15 AM. I shower, get dressed, and leave home by 5:00 AM. Then, I take a slow drive to the airport. Boarding is at 5:55 AM, so I have plenty of time to park my car, put on my shoes, walk over, check in, and get settled on the flight.”
The 30-40 minute flight gets her to the office by 7:45 AM, as it’s conveniently located just a five-minute walk from the airport.
But why does Racheal choose to fly to work daily instead of moving closer?
She explains that this unconventional commute actually saves her money and gives her more time with her children.
By flying, she avoids Kuala Lumpur’s notorious traffic jams and enjoys a short, hassle-free walk to her office.
While Racheal pays for her flights, she benefits from an employee discount, and the cost of living in Penang is significantly cheaper than in Kuala Lumpur.
Racheal explains that her mortgage in Penang is around MYR 1,000 ($224), while renting in Kuala Lumpur would cost her MYR 1,500 ($336), making her daily flights the more affordable option.
“I’m able to go home every day, see my kids at night, and help out with any last-minute homework,” she shares.
With her children aged 12 and 11, Racheal believes it’s important to be present for them as much as possible.
And she’s not alone in choosing air travel over high rent, in 2023, a TikToker revealed she commuted by plane and taxi to her internship because it was cheaper than renting in New York City or New Jersey.
