Ep 4. Adam Ruins Flying

Adam Ruins Everything is an American educational comedy television series that delves into the everyday things that people take for granted, and attempts to expose truth behind them. In Adam Ruins Everything season 5 episode 4 titled "Adam Ruins Flying", our protagonist, Adam Conover, attempts to uncover the truth behind everything we think we know about the aviation industry, and how this affects consumers and employees alike.

Adam begins his exploration of the aviation industry by delving into the reason behind why airlines overbook flights. He exposes the fact that airlines often overbook flights because they have calculated that a certain percentage of the passengers who have reserved a seat will not show up. This means they can squeeze more profit out of each flight by overbooking, and then potentially selling those vacated seats to other passengers at a premium price. This creates a win-win scenario for the airlines, but puts immense pressure on the passengers to show up on time, or risk being left behind.

Adam then looks into the logistics of how airlines determine the price of a ticket. He exposes the fact that there is no "set price" for a plane ticket, and that the price you see online is based on a multitude of factors such as how many people are currently looking at that particular flight, whether or not the airline has a partnership with any online travel agencies (OTAs), and how quickly the flight is filling up. This concept is called "dynamic pricing" and it is something that is used across industries to influence consumer behavior.

Next, Adam delves into the safety precautions used by the airline industry and how they are often misunderstood. He exposes the fact that while many passengers have the impression that air travel is one of the safest forms of transportation, this actually has potentially dangerous consequences. This is because the industry is highly regulated to ensure minimum requirements for safety standards are followed, which in turn means that many of the daily practices within the airline industry are not adjusted to suit evolving situations. This ultimately puts passengers at a higher risk than if the standards were constantly being updated to reflect new information.

Another area that Adam focuses on is the baggage handling process in airports. He exposes the fact that while baggage handlers are responsible for handling around 10,000 bags per flight, there are minimal safety measures in place to ensure the contents are not damaged or stolen. Furthermore, baggage handling can often result in mishandling, which can result in significant losses to the passengers themselves.

Finally, Adam concludes his exploration of the aviation industry by looking at how airline employees are treated. He exposes the fact that many airlines pay their employees as little as possible, meaning that pilots and flight attendants often have to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. Additionally, there is a huge disparity between what pilots and flight attendants are paid, with pilots often earning more than six times what flight attendants earn. This disparity in pay is seen along gender lines, with female flight attendants earning even less than their male counterparts.

Overall, Adam Ruins Everything season 5 episode 4 titled "Adam Ruins Flying" is a fascinating exploration of the aviation industry and the complex factors that affect it. It offers a unique look at the injustices that passengers and employees may face on a regular basis, and how they can navigate these challenges to make the most out of their air travel experience. It is an engaging and thought-provoking episode that everyone should watch, regardless of whether or not they are frequent flyers.