It's only two weeks into the new year and there's already exciting news for one of our Top Budget Destinations of 2015. That destination is Reno, with its close proximity to world-class ski resorts, 300 days of sunshine, and a booming downtown that's about to get trendier thanks to the presence of big companies like Tesla. Then just today, we learned that JetBlue will be launching daily nonstop service between Reno/Tahoe and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport daily, starting May 28.

Why is this a big deal? First of all, the convenience of NYC-area travelers will be unparalleled, since there are currently no direct flights between these two destinations. More importantly, we're expecting the "JetBlue effect" -- similar to the Southwest effect -- in which the introduction of lower fares on this affordable airline in turn causes others to slash their prices, too. While we can't predict future fares, we did find $89 flights through the first two weeks of June and then $149-$259 options for the rest of the summer on JetBlue's website this afternoon.

For comparison, here's what else is currently available from NYC to Reno on May 28:

• $177: Delta from JFK, 1 stop (includes $25 checked bag fee)
• $217: Southwest from Newark, 1 stop (bags are free)
• $224: United from La Guardia, 1 stop (includes $25 checked bag fee)
• $267: American/US Airways from Newark (includes $25 checked bag fee)
• $280: Alaska from Newark (includes $25 checked bag fee)