I flew on JetBlue's basic fare for the first time from Cape Cod to NYC for $70. I'd pick it over the 5-hour drive even with a delay.

I avoided a $65 carry-on fee by only bringing a backpack (left) and was surprised by how much I could fit inside.Hannah Towey/Insider

• 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.

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.      Getty Images

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