Rachel Kaur shares how her daily 600-kilometer commute by plane is more affordable than living in Kuala Lumpur
Rachel Kaur, a Malaysian woman of Indian descent, undertakes a daily 600-kilometer commute by plane from Penang to Kuala Lumpur. This routine allows her to work in Kuala Lumpur while residing with her two children in Penang, reported jagran.com.
In a video shared on Instagram, Rachel explained her daily routine and the reason behind her decision to travel 600 km daily instead of relocating to Kuala Lumpur.
“I have two kids, both are growing, my oldest is 12 and my daughter is 11. With them growing, I feel the need for a mother to be there more often and with this arrangement, I am able to go home every day, I am able to see them at night,” Rachel said in the video.
Why Rachel chooses to travel 600 km daily instead of relocating
Rachel wakes up at 4 AM every morning and begins her journey to Kuala Lumpur from Penang city. She leaves for the airport at 5 AM and boards her flight at 5:55 AM, which lasts approximately 30 to 40 minutes. By 7:45 AM, she arrives at her office. She works at AirAsia, which is just a 5 to 7-minute drive from the airport.
The mother of two claims that this daily flight commute is far cheaper than living in Kuala Lumpur. Initially, she considered living alone in Kuala Lumpur and visiting her family only on weekends.
However, the high cost of living—about USD 474 per month for rent and expenses—prompted her to explore alternatives. She discovered that commuting daily by flight costs her approximately USD 316 per month, making it a more economical choice.
As an employee of AirAsia, Rachel benefits from significant travel discounts, which further reduce her commuting expenses.
This arrangement allows her to spend more time with her children, helping them with their studies, while still meeting her professional goals.
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