!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b';cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({"playerId":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","mediaId":"02ed20a9-dc14-4add-9386-aebd60c23c43"}).render("68f61961e4b0e68c2dd12e43");});Standing in Cancún’s terminal with my boarding pass for a 90-minute flight to Belize, I had no idea I was about to regret choosing the cheapest option.Instead of a quick hop, the trip turned into a 14-hour slog through two additional countries and three different aircraft. Mechanical issues forced a diversion to Honduras, where passengers waited on the sweltering tarmac without food, water or information. A second swap and a detour to Guatemala further extended the delay. By the time I landed in Belize, I was dehydrated and drained. The small fare saving had cost me time and sleep, and caused a lot of frustration.Low-cost carriers have multiplied in recent years, opening new routes at unprecedented prices. But that growth raises a crucial question: How can travelers identify reliable operators before booking?Industry experts suggest focus