Still looking for a way to use frequent flyer miles to get to Florence. There is FF space Newark to Brussels International Airport but low cost airlines fly from Brussels Charleroi. Can anyone tell me if such a connection is fast, easy and cheap?

I don't think there's a direct connection. You can take a train from BRU to Bruxelles-Midi (30 minutes) and then change to a bus or train/bus to Charleroi (about an hour).

Definitely not fast. Shouldn't be too hard. Train from airport to city center is 2.80€. Bus to Charleroi is 11€, once every hour.

Or if you skip the bus, you can take the train from BRU to Midi, then switch to another train to Charleroi Sud, then the "A" bus.

Any idea of the cost of a taxi from BRU to Brussels Charleroi (CRL)?

It'll probably cost you a lot. BRU is about 7 mile NE of Brussels center, while Charleroi is about 30 miles south.

www.charleroi-airport.com, the airport's website, lists several taxi companies, some with web sites / emails. They might be able to give you a quote about a Charleroi-Zaventem ride.

Ride costs 80-90 euros - Charleroi Zaventem - it takes about 45 mins depending on the time of day.