Reviews of the Brussels International Airport (BRU)
 

Dear Travelers:

My eighteen year old daughter is in Rome, Italy for school school and will be traveling home to the US in a week. She is flying through Brussels and will have to change planes. She would like to know what to expect of the airport. Have any of you flown through there?

Several of the her classmates went through Heathrow going to Rome and experienced delays, one missed their connection, and various other issues. She had wanted to go through Heathrow initially but was extremely happy in the end that she went through Frankfurt as they made it is to go through customs and changes planes. It was very efficient and well organized.

For those of you that have been through the Brussels International airport, if you could share a few comments about your experience with the airport, it would be very helpful to a young traveler.

Thank you,
Lisa Marie

I flew out of Brussels last month (not a connection - I had been traveling in Belgium). The airport was one of the easiest in Europe I've ever encountered, as far as departing goes: short passport control line, shorter security line. My gate happened to be close to the front of the terminal, so there was very little walking (vs. the miles of walking I've done in the past at Heathrow or Schiphol in Amsterdam). Maybe I was just lucky with gate placement.

In any case, I wouldn't be the slightest bit worried about connecting at BRU, unless the connection time is really short (then I'd be worried at ANY airport). Brussels seems like a very sane airport. Connecting at Heathrow would give me some anxiety for sure.

I fly regularly out of Brussels, but have not transferred there. However, it's an easy airport to navigate; there are two terminals (one for 'Schengen' countries, Europe, and one for non-European flights), but these are connected, not separate buildings.
She will be OK, how long does she have? She can buy some chocolates for you there!

Agreed. Small, simple.

I use BRU appr. twice a month, and it is a pretty simple airport.
The walk can be a bit long if the incoming flight from Rome uses the most distant "A" gates at the Schengen terminal.
Flights to the US and other non-Schengen destinations depart from the "B" gates in the main terminal.

Once your daughter has left the aircraft from Rome, she will
> walk with all the others towards "Exit / Baggage Claim / B-Gates"
> pass through an area with shops and eateries
> go 2 levels down (the elevators are the fastest way),
> go past (not through) the security checkpoint through automatic doors,
> go through the pedestrian tunnel to the main terminal,
> go 2 levels up again (escalators)
At that point the crowd splits up.
Those for Brussel use the automatic doors towards "Exit Brussels/ Baggage Claim", those with connecting flights from "B gates" follow the respective sign and do NOT use these automatic doors but keep left of them.

A simple Google search will turn up official information from the airport website. Look at http://www.brusselsairport.be/en/pas...er_passengers/ for transfers. You (better, she) can also print out a map for navigation. When she arrives she should check the information screens for her departure gate since sometimes these change at the last mintue.

Cowboy's advice is spot on!

I found our walk surprisingly long but that was because our flight was assigned one of the distant A gates but it was easy to navigate.

You can get a Coke from this machine (I don't think I've seen one like this in other airports): http://www.flickr.com/photos/douglashoyt/9042099911/