Budget airlines like Ryanair and Frontier have made flying accessible to millions, but I wonder if the hidden fees for baggage, seat selection, and even printing a boarding pass have quietly turned every ticket into a gamble. I recently paid $45 extra for a carry-on that cost more than the flight itself, and that feels less like low-cost travel and more like a bait-and-switch. Is the airline industry's ultra-low-cost model actually good for consumers, or just a race to the bottom where the final price always surprises you?