Meet the Woman Who Flies 350km Daily for Work to Save on Rent
Rachel Kaur, an Indian-origin professional living in Malaysia, has drawn attention for a commuting routine that involves flying to work every weekday. Based in Penang, she works in Kuala Lumpur and travels by plane each morning, covering roughly 350 kilometers round-trip. The arrangement, which began in 2024, is rooted in cost and logistics.
Rachel works as an assistant manager in AirAsia’s finance department. Instead of renting an apartment in Kuala Lumpur, she remains in Penang with her family and commutes by air. It’s been reported that the cost of daily flights is lower than renting housing near her workplace.
A Daily Commute by Plane
@channelnewsasia Super-commuter Racheal Kaur has taken over 200 flights since 2024 as part of her weekday office commute from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Penang. 🛩️ With traffic, driving from any part of KL to her office in KL’s airport usually takes about 75 mins. Now, her morning commute is traffic-free, and she enjoys “me-time” during the 40-minute flights. Catch the Money Mind’s full episode for more on how Kaur’s long-distance commute actually saves her money. Link in comments for the full episode. #moneymind #cna #supercommuter #flights #cnainsider #penang #kl #fypsg ♬ original sound – CNA
Rachel’s weekday schedule starts early. She typically wakes between 4:00 and 4:15 a.m. and leaves home around 5:00 a.m. to reach the airport in time for her flight. Boarding usually begins at 5:55 a.m., and the flight lasts 30 to 40 minutes. After landing in Kuala Lumpur and completing the airport-to-office commute, she arrives at work around 7:45 a.m.
At the end of the workday, she returns to the airport and flies back to Penang, reaching home in the evening. This routine allows her to sleep at home every night rather than staying in Kuala Lumpur during the workweek.
Cost Comparison Behind the Decision
Image via Canva/efired
Housing costs in Kuala Lumpur played a central role in the decision. According to figures Rachel shared with the media, renting an apartment near her workplace would cost more than $300 per month. By comparison, her mortgage payment in Penang is reported at approximately $223 per month.
In addition to housing, daily expenses associated with living part-time in Kuala Lumpur previously increased her monthly costs. Some reports estimate that her total monthly spending dropped from about $474 to roughly $316 after switching to the flight-based commute, though figures vary slightly by outlet.
Despite working for an airline, Rachel has stated that she does not receive discounted or complimentary tickets for this commute. She pays standard fares for her daily flights, which remain cheaper than renting housing in the capital.
Plus Rachel is a mother of two children, a son aged 12 and a daughter aged 11. In interviews, she has said that remaining in Penang allows her to be physically present at home each evening. Before adopting this routine, she lived closer to her workplace and returned home less frequently during the week.
Her current schedule means long days, with time split between work, travel, and family responsibilities. Even so, she has explained that the ability to return home nightly was a deciding factor in maintaining this arrangement.
A Broader Context of Long-Distance Commuting
Driving between Penang and Kuala Lumpur can take close to four hours each way, depending on traffic and conditions. That option would involve significantly longer daily travel time and higher fatigue. The flight reduces the commute itself to under an hour, even when accounting for airport transfers.
Working from home was also considered but ultimately not chosen. Rachel has said that in-office work allows for direct communication and task completion that she finds more efficient than remote arrangements. AirAsia has reportedly supported her commuting setup.
Long-distance commuting is not limited to air travel, but flying daily remains uncommon. Urban studies have used the term “super-commuter” to describe workers who travel unusually long distances to reach their jobs.
A 2012 study by New York University’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management estimated that nearly 60,000 people commuting into Manhattan traveled extreme distances for work.
Rachel’s case differs from many of those examples due to the use of commercial flights rather than road or rail. The approach depends heavily on route availability, ticket pricing, and proximity to airports on both ends.