I avoided a $65 carry-on fee by only bringing a backpack (left) and was surprised by how much I could fit inside.
I flew on JetBlue basic fare for the first time this past weekend from Cape Cod to New York City.
The $70 flight was a quick and easy alternative to the 5-hour drive, even though it was delayed.
I avoided a $65 carry-on fee by bringing a backpack that held three outfits and one pair of shoes.
At first, I was hesitant to book a flight from Cape Cod to New York City instead of driving like I usually do when I visit my family.JetBlue planes
Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
A friend who flew the same route this summer was delayed nine hours. Despite the cheap price, I wasn’t sure if it was worth the risk of getting stranded.Departure flight board with cancelation at the Airport.
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I took the gamble and booked the non-refundable, one-way flight from HYA to JFK for $70. It was an additional $65 to bring a carry-on suitcase, so I brought a backpack as my personal item.
Hannah Towey/Insider
The bag fit my laptop, three outfits, toiletries, one pair of shoes, and a book. I saved space by wearing my sneakers and packing one pair of sandals.
Hannah Towey/Insider
After a 30-minute drive to the airport and a five-minute security line, my flight was delayed by half an hour. This was the only hiccup of the entire trip.
Hannah Towey/Insider
Soon enough, we quickly boarded the aircraft, an Embraer E190 with 100 seats. I was able to pick my seat in row 18 during check-in.
Hannah Towey/Insider
The bare-bones aircraft wasn’t luxurious by any means, but worked great for the short one-hour flight.
Hannah Towey/Insider
The seats were tight, but I was pleasantly surprised that the free WiFi actually worked for messaging and other apps.
Hannah Towey/Insider
I’ve never been so happy to have chosen the window seat — I spent the whole flight looking out the window as we flew over Long Island.
Hannah Towey/Insider
Almost the entire flight was over the water. I’d pay the $70 again just for the views.
Hannah Towey/Insider
We flew over sailboats, jet skiers, beachgoers, and marshland.
Hannah Towey/Insider
There was minimal turbulence. Overall, it was an incredibly smooth and relaxing ride.
Hannah Towey/Insider
We took off at 2:07 pm and touched down on the JFK runway at 2:55 pm before taxiing approximately five minutes to the gate.
Hannah Towey/Insider
In classic New York fashion, it took longer to take the train from JFK to my apartment than the flight itself. I took the JFK Air Train to Jamaica station and hopped on the subway from there.
Hannah Towey/Insider
The Air Train requires an $8 exit fee. Plan ahead and bring a pre-paid metro card (they don’t accept Apply Pay) instead of waiting in line for 10 minutes like I did.
Hannah Towey/Insider
Door to door, the trip took approximately four hours. I would gladly do it again over the five-hour drive, even though I couldn’t bring a suitcase.
Hannah Towey/Insider
