I flew Ryanair for the first time. It may be Europe's biggest airline, but its endless extra fees mean I'm not convinced.

• I flew from London to Madrid with Ryanair on a ticket that started at £35 ($43.70).
• But this nearly doubled after needing a normal-sized bag plus choosing my seat — which ended up being wrong.
• It got me from A to B unscathed, but I'd rather fly with another budget airline for the same price.

When it comes to airlines, my friends often sing the praises of Ryanair — praising its cheap ticket prices, whether it be city breaks or visiting home.

Somehow, I hadn't flown Ryanair before, so last month I booked a trip to Madrid.

But the anxieties from trying to avoid its several surcharges — coupled with mediocre service and booking flaws — left me unconvinced. It actually ended up being more expensive than other budget airlines in the end, primarily because its bag size is miniscule.