Why Priority Boarding is Like Bad Fitness Advice
Priority Boarding is a Scam—And so is This Fitness Trap
My wife and I recently flew to Marrakech, Morocco.
Our first ever trip to Africa. Flights from Lisbon were ridiculously cheap, and I thought—why not surprise her with a few days away? Romantic, spontaneous, and honestly… I was just craving Moroccan food.
The day before the flight, we decided to add an extra suitcase while checking in. We figured we'd need the extra space if we bought a few things from Morocco (spoiler: we did). One suitcase under my name was enough. And apparently, with that suitcase came free priority boarding.
Now, I’d never been fussed about priority boarding. It always seemed pointless to me—why pay extra just to sit on the same plane a few minutes earlier than everyone else? We all end up in the same cramped seat, eating the same overpriced Pringles.
But now I had it for free, so I figured, “Let’s see what the hype is about.”
Spoiler 2: There is no hype. Just pre-boarding disappointment.
You walk down the same jet bridge, sit in the same tight seat, and then… you wait (ironic, huh?). While everyone else boards. For 15 minutes. Maybe more. The only difference is that you get to marinate in recycled air for longer.
But here’s the funny part: while I sat there, staring out the window at the sun beating down on the tarmac, I realised that people do this with fitness all the time.
They pay for the thing that feels like progress… but isn’t.
It’s the illusion of movement—paying for priority boarding just to sit in the same seat and wait in a slightly different order.
Meanwhile, the real value? The things that actually support you—like that extra suitcase we nearly didn’t get? That’s what makes the journey smoother. That’s what ends up mattering.
And speaking of the journey…
We landed in Marrakech, and the sensory overload hit immediately—in the best way. It was warm and dry. The colours were stunning—earthy reds, soft browns, splashes of green from the citrus trees. We wandered through the Medina, zigzagging between mopeds, carts, stray cats, and market stalls selling everything from hand-painted ceramics to knockoff football kits.
And yeah, we filled that extra suitcase. Two marble chess sets that nearly broke my back, Moroccan mint tea that’s 90% sugar and 10% tea, and argan oil the vendors swore could fix everything—from dry skin to a broken marriage.
But the point is, that suitcase was worth the money.
Priority boarding? Not so much.
And that’s where the parallel hit me.
In health and fitness, it’s the same story:
People spend their money on fat-burning teas.
Meal plans from influencers who don’t know your name, let alone your lifestyle.
Instagram workouts that are more about angles than actual progress.
It’s the fitness version of priority boarding. It feels like a shortcut, but it doesn't get you anywhere faster.
Because no matter how shiny or quick the solution looks…
If it doesn’t fit your real life, it doesn’t work.
And I know this goes beyond gym stuff. It’s personal. For you it might be about:
Hesitating to take your top off at the beach because you don’t feel comfortable in your skin.
Pulling at your clothes when you sit down so they don’t cling to your body.
Turning down plans because you “have nothing to wear,” but deep down, it’s because you hate how anything looks.
Keeping a jacket on indoors—even in the Moroccan heat—because you’d rather sweat than let people see your body.
Standing at the back of group photos, hoping to blend into the background.
Feeling actual relief when plans get cancelled—not because you didn’t want to go, but because you couldn’t bear the thought of being seen.
If that’s hitting close to home, I get it. And you’re not alone.
But it doesn’t have to stay this way.
You don’t need detox gimmicks. You don’t need a 1,200-calorie meal plan. And you definitely don’t need the “priority boarding” version of fitness.
You need the suitcase. The thing that actually supports you. The thing that fits your real life. The thing that makes the journey better, not just shinier.
And with summer arriving fast, now’s the time to start building that foundation.
Not just for some “perfect beach body,” but so you can say yes to the trip.
Yes to the pool. Yes to being seen. Yes to feeling good in your own skin again.
That’s exactly what I offer in my 1-to-1 online coaching.
If you’re tired of wasting time and money on things that look good but don’t deliver—this is for you.
👉 Click here to learn more about 1-1 online fitness coaching and sign up
Because when you feel good in your body, everything becomes easier.
From booking spontaneous trips to actually enjoying them—without the stress, without the shame, and without needing to hide.
Speak soon,
Leo
