I flew on Play, Iceland's budget airline. The bare-bones, red-eye flight was originally $180 but cost $500 with add-ons it wasn't worth it.

Insider's writer flew on a red-eye flight from Boston, Massachusetts, to Reykjavik, Iceland.Asia London Palomba/Insider

• I visited Iceland for the first time in March and flew there with Play, a budget Icelandic airline.
• I paid $500 for a seat with extra legroom, flight insurance, and checked luggage on a red-eye.

I recently visited Iceland with my boyfriend. I flew from Boston Logan Airport to Keflavik Airport outside of Reykjavik on Play, a low-cost Icelandic airline.

The author at the airport.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Source: Play

I chose Play because its website had roundtrip tickets available for about $180 for a four-day trip, which was cheaper than other carriers at the time.

International flags at Boston Logan Airport.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Source: Play

At the time of booking, our tickets only included a personal item. For each leg of the roundtrip flight, we paid another $42 to share a 44-pound checked bag and $36 for 22-pound carry-on.

The checked bag and carry on bag that the author shared with her boyfriend.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Source: Play

We also spent $82 each for seats with extra legroom on both flights, and $48 each for Play's flight insurance, which would cover a refund if one of us were to become sick and unable to fly there or back.

Extra legroom seats were located in the first three rows of the plane.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Source: Play

When I went to purchase our tickets with the add-ons, I realized that the $180 fare no longer seemed so cheap. With baggage, seat add-ons, and fees, each ticket now totaled $500.

A screenshot of the ticket's price breakdown.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Despite the higher final price, and the fact that it was a red-eye flight, we booked with Play as the tickets were still cheaper than other carriers. The red-eye departure was the airline's only available option from Boston to Iceland.

A Play airplane on the tarmac at Boston Logan Airport.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

We arrived at Boston Logan Airport at 5 p.m. for our 7:15 p.m. flight. We checked in online, received digital boarding passes, and dropped off our checked bag at the front desk.

The check-in desk at Boston Logan Airport.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

As a budget carrier, Play doesn't offer any free in-flight food or drink. We filled up our water bottles in the airport and bought a meal to hold us over for the five-and-a-half-hour flight.

The author filling up her water bottle.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Source: Play

Boarding was on time and went smoothly. But once we were seated on the plane, a 40-minute delay was announced while crew searched for missing passengers.

The author's passport and digital boarding pass.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

We flew on Play's Airbus A321neo aircraft. I noticed the gray seats didn't have headrests, and the simple layout reminded me of other budget planes I've flown on.

Boarding the airplane.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Source: Insider

I sat in a middle, extra-legroom seat in the plane's third row and found it to be spacious. Extra legroom seats have 32 to 35 inches of space, while regular seats have 29 to 30 inches.

The author found the extra legroom seats to be spacious.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Source: Insider

My backpack, purse, and water bottle fit beneath the seat in front of me, and left plenty of space to stretch my legs.

The author's belongings beneath the seat.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

I saw USB ports beneath the seats, which I could use to charge my phone during the flight.

The USB ports.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

There were also small, gray hooks on the sides of each seat where I could hang a small bag or purse.

Each seat had a hook on either side of it.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Although Play doesn't serve complimentary refreshments, a menu in the seat pocket listed snacks, beverages, and alcoholic drinks for purchase, with prices in euros.

The menu had prices in euros.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Around 30 minutes after departure, the staff began the first in-flight service. They did two more rounds of service later during the five-and-a-half-hour-flight.

The staff did three rounds of in-flight services during the five-and-a-half-hour-flight.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

A flight attendant announced over the intercom that the airline only accepts contactless debit or credit cards for payment for food and drink.

The staff announced that the airline does not accept cash for purchases.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Even though we brought our own food onboard, we decided to order a snack, and chose a prepackaged protein pancake and an Icelandic chocolate bar for $9.

Snacks purchased during the flight.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Before our flight, I read online that Play doesn't have in-flight entertainment, so we downloaded movies and shows on our devices ahead of time. We also brought along playing cards.

Staying entertained on the flight.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Source: Insider

I was pleasantly surprised to find the bathroom was cleaner than most planes I've been on. Although small, it had two large mirrors on the walls, which I thought made the space feel bigger.

The author taking a photo in one of the bathroom's mirrors.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Shortly after the first round of in-flight service, around 9:30 p.m. Boston time, the staff dimmed the lights. Although it was quiet, I can never sleep on planes, so I just tried to relax.

The cabin's lights were dimmed an hour and a half after take off.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

The plane touched down in Keflavik at 4:45 a.m. local time. I struggled to keep my eyes open while deplaning as it was technically 1 a.m. for me, and I hadn't slept for close to 24 hours.

The flight landed in Iceland on time despite being delayed to leave.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Overall, I thought it was a decent flight and appreciated the polite staff and clean bathroom. But, the overnight journey threw off my sleep schedule and carried through my four-day trip.

The author thought the flight was decent and the airplane clean.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

I also thought the $500 ticket was pricey for a budget airline when the original fare was shown as $180. The final cost wasn't much cheaper than prices I saw for other non-budget flights.

The author's passport stamp after landing in Iceland.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

I'd consider flying with Play again only if I were visiting Iceland for a longer period of time, or if the airline offered flights with a later landing time in Iceland.

Inside Play's airplane.      Asia London Palomba/Insider

Unless Play's tickets were significantly cheaper, I'd likely book a non-budget carrier for more amenities and flexible departures next time.

The author in Reykjavik a few hours after landing.      Asia London Palomba/Insider