I flew Spirit Airlines for the first time ever from Miami to NYC. Here are 6 things I wish I knew about the budget airline beforehand.

There are no power outlets on Spirit Airlines planes. I was able to charge my phone at one of the charging stations for 15 minutes before boarding, but ended up at a precarious 10% by the end of the flight. Next time, I'd make sure my phone, portable charger, and laptop were all fully juiced up.

My overstuffed backpack was close to being larger than the personal item measurements allowed for. That would mean I'd have to pay a hefty carry-on fee at the gate of up to $99 — a predicament I saw two passengers express frustration over.

Paying for a carry-on suitcase before or during online check-in will save you between $30 and $40. If you're in a pinch, paying for a carry-on at a Spirit reservation center in the airport is slightly cheaper than paying at the gate.

I didn't expect much of my first Spirit Airlines flight, but the one thing I did expect was a free cup of water.

Instead, the flight attendants explained that I could buy a bottle for $4.

Unlike most major airlines, there are no complimentary beverages or snacks on Spirit flights. This a la carte pricing system is what helps the company keep airfare ultra-low, according to its website.

Spirit flights don't have TVs or in-flight entertainment options for your laptop or mobile devices. According to the airline's website, the $5.99 in-flight Wifi option is fast enough to stream movies online — but your best bet is to download movies and shows beforehand.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the WiFi did not work for the entire duration of the flight. Passengers who paid for the service ($2.99 for browsing and $5.99 for streaming) could send an email to the airline requesting a refund, one flight attendant said.

To avoid an extra $20-50 fee, I declined the option to select my seat during check-in. I got lucky and ended up with an aisle seat in row 17, toward the middle of the plane.

I'm not sure if I would have been able to stand a middle seat. Next time, I don't think I would risk it.

The seat was rock-hard, and very narrow. The lack of legroom even made me (a smaller than average person) feel cramped and claustrophobic. Thankfully, there was enough room to move my backpack into the overhead bins.

My one-way ticket was $180 because I bought it just a week in advance, but the flight typically goes for as low as $32 — a price that's hard to beat.

Most importantly, I arrived safely and mostly on-time (there was a slight delay thanks to an air traffic control issue upon landing).

At the end of the day, I'd book Spirit again for short-haul, weekend trips that don't require any carry-on luggage — but only if the fare is considerably less than other alternatives.