There's no denying that this was the most fun I've ever had going to the airport. The usual spectrum for that trip is between "uneventful" and "miserable," so this simply didn't compare.
That said, despite the many valid complaints that can be leveled against New York City transit, there are a few easy ways to get to the airports, and all of them are cheaper than Blade in the case of JFK. I could have:
- Taken a rideshare for about $80–90, given surge pricing.
- A taxi for a peak-hours flat rate of about $57, plus tolls and tip.
- The A train to the AirTrain for a Metrocard swipe plus $5.
- Or the Long Island Rail Road to the AirTrain for a total of about $12.
On a Thursday afternoon, though, each of those would have taken me a minimum of an hour — very likely longer — and I would have had to budget plenty of extra time.
While that's what the vast majority of us do, Blade's Continuous service has a definite appeal for those with more disposable income who absolutely can't spare that extra time. Or, for anyone who wants to take advantage of the first-time discount to splurge on a fun nine-minute ride on their next trip to the airport.