I've flown over 200,000 miles in the last five years, mostly on budget carriers, and I keep asking myself: do the low fares really justify the constant add-ons and reduced comfort? We saved 60% on a round trip to Lisbon last month, but then paid extra for seat selection, cabin bags, and a drink—ending up closer to a full-service ticket. Some argue that the à la carte model lets you pay only for what you use, but others say it just fragments the cost and hides the true price. What's your take—are budget airlines genuinely more economical for the average traveler, or do they just shift the burden to less visible fees?