Woman Commutes By Plane Every Week To Get To Her Internship Because It’s Cheaper Than Renting

In a world where high living costs and limited housing options can pose significant challenges, one woman has found a rather unconventional solution to tackle the problem. Meet Sarah Thompson, a determined young professional who commutes by plane every week to reach her internship. 

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Sophia has come up with a clever way to save money on expensive rent in New Jersey by taking an unconventional commute to work. Her unique approach has caught people's attention and sparked interest.

Sophia shared additional details with Business Insider about her decision to take a plane to her internship every week.

Sophia chose to commute by plane because it was a more practical and cost-effective option. In her interview with Business Insider, she mentioned that renting an apartment near her internship location would have been much more expensive compared to the occasional plane ticket.

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She explained: "From my perspective, I didn't really see it worth getting a really expensive place by the office if I was only needing to be there for eight hours of the week.

"I guess I never really saw super-commuting as a daunting thing."

Sophia proceeded to share a rundown of her morning routine: "When I first started, I'd get up at like 3am to get ready for the plane ride, but now I wake up around 3:30am or 3:45am."

"I do my makeup and hair first, put on my business casual outfit, and then I get my bag ready. I usually pack a lunch, some comfortable clothes, and then bring a coffee to go."

Typically, Sophia departs from her house at approximately 4:30 am and reaches the airport around 5 am.

"I have TSA PreCheck so the airport security line really only takes five to 10 minutes," the woman continued. "I'm usually at my gate by around 5:15 am, which is exactly when boarding starts."

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After her flight, Sophia immediately requests an Uber and typically arrives at the office around 8:30 or 8:45 am, just in time to begin her full workday from 9 am to 5 pm.

At the end of the workday, Sophia easily boards a plane for her return journey home, landing around 11 pm. She alternates between Charleston, where her parents reside, and Richmond, Virginia, where her boyfriend lives.

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"The next day, because I work remote, I'm able to sleep in a bit so that helps a lot," she added.

"I don't have to wake up until around 8am to start work."

While she admitted it can be a 'tiresome commute', Sophia said it's definitely 'worth it'.

Sophia clarifies to those intrigued by the jet-setting lifestyle that super-commuting allows her to achieve a harmonious work-life balance.

She said: "A lot of people are interested in how much money I'm saving. I book my flights about three to four weeks out so they're pretty cheap."

"My flights are around $100 there and back and then I pay about $100 for Ubers between the office and airport. If I lived in the New York City or New Jersey area, I'd be spending thousands of dollars a month on rent alone."

While she understands it may not 'work for everyone', Sophia explained: "I feel like I've gotten used to the whole hustle of traveling every week and it really doesn't bother me."

"If anything, I really look forward to it. I love being at the airport. I love the adventure of it. I think it's really nice to be able to wake up in one city and then start my workday in another."

That's one way to see it.

With all that said, however, Sophia has admitted it can be 'challenging at times' adding: "I obviously get worried about delays."

"I will say that one of the major reasons I decided to do this was because it was a temporary thing," the woman went on."

"My internship is only 10 weeks. I don't know if I would necessarily do this for a full-time position. I don't anticipate super-commuting after this summer."

Expressing her contentment with her current choice, Sophia emphasized that her story reflects the evolving priorities of individuals in the post-pandemic era, where work-life balance holds greater significance.

She said: "The hybrid world really allows you to have so much more flexibility.

"It's not necessary to live 20 minutes down the road from your office anymore. You can still have a really successful career even if you're living far away from where you work."