NewbieRunner

Here's another report of BRU security. I was at the Central Station around 5:30pm for a 9:15pm flight. Two or three trains going to the airport were running late but the one I picked was on time. As already mentioned they are using the old train station at the airport and the escalators are not working. This means passengers have to walk up stairs (I counted 69 steps) to the lower level of the parking garage. No queues up to the point until I could see the first set of tents and found myself in a crowd of people just like at the entrance to the ZBF except everybody had luggage. It took me 23 minutes from getting off the train to entering the tent where police/security was checking passports/IDs and BPs. Most people had printed BPs but a mobile BP was fine. They tell you a train ticket is needed to go through the exit barrier from the station but I didn't see any barrier.

A couple in front of me didn't have a BP and were escorted presumably to the front of the queue for baggage check and to the next tent where airlines had check-in counters. They must have saved at least 30 minutes of waiting! Inside the tent queues were still unorganised but eventually there were barriers to separate the crowd. The 'lane' on my left only had two lines of people while mine had four and moved half as fast.

Here all they seemed to be checking was for explosives. Passengers were asked to take out a computer but otherwise everything including liquid stayed in the bag. As already suggested elsewhere this only protected the airport structure and did not make passengers any safer. If anyone feels uncomfortable in a crowded, confined space, they should avoid departing from BRU. It took me 33 minutes to reach the X-Ray machine and the WTMD.

Out of the first tent and into the second. Here they had airline counters, baggage drops, departure boards and toilets. Also some smoking area between the tents for those who needed it. There must be elevators at the train station which passengers with large/heavy bags can use. If you already had a BP and not checking a bag you just walk through the tent. There were some queues for baggage drop.

The second tent leads you to the bottom of the stairs into the terminal building. The stairs here are narrower and steeper than those at the train station and although I counted only 62 steps I found them harder with my bag. An elevator is reserved for families, elderly people and passengers with reduced mobility. After climbing the stairs you join another long queue for security check. I had never flown out of BRU before but the queue seemed longer than at most European airports (except LHR which I avoid). I didn't notice any priority security but some passengers were jumping the queue.

It took me 84 minutes from getting off the train to clearing security. Another 5 minutes' walk to B departures and the lounge full of my compatriots. Considering the initial queue was shorter than what nomadic.relief reported it still took me about the same length of time from the train to the lounge

Last but not least thank you polkacat for organising the DO which was memorable in more than one way!

KMA26

Here is another data point re: BRU security from this morning (Apr 25). Arrived on the train from Brussel-Luxemburg at 7:20 am, ticket never checked. At this point the previous account is exactly correct. It took about 20 minutes in line to pass through the initial screening tent. In the second tent, reps were there from UA and DL to help steer you in the correct direction. *A had several automatic kiosks to print boarding passes if you didn't already have one. I was carryon only so I stayed left and it was just the aforementioned climbing of the stairs.

At this point was the second security check, no special security lines in place at this time. Line was not long at all and rather efficient IMHO. B Gates are then to the right, one more quick check (boarding pass scanned) and you were into the duty free area, then into the point were you had always been (pre-incident) for B gates and the lounges elevators on the left.

Our (mile ho also) experience was that it took 1 hour from joining the first security line until sitting in the lounge. Better than I had expected for Mon morning.

It was a great DO; wonderful to see some long-time friends and to have met some terrific new ones. And of course, a huuuge thanks to polkacat for all her efforts in making ths another terrific BRU DO!

polkacat

Adding yet another data point. :-) I arrived at 8:45 am. 20 minutes from train station to bag scanner, 20 minutes from bag scanner to the check in line.... And that is where it got interesting.

AA/BA is not yet allowing online check in for BRU departures, so I got in line to check in and get my BP. That line took 50 minutes. They are only letting 10 people at a time in to the desk area, so it is a very slow process.

Interior security and border control tool mere minutes.

All told, 1 hour 45 minutes from arrival to lounge.

It was great to hang out with everyone and a pleasure to meet some new folks!

srletend

Another awesome Belgium DO. Glad everyone was able to get there and have a good time despite the events from a few weeks earlier.

Thank you polkacat for organizing. Looking forward to next year!

JY1024

Looked like a wonderful time! Very jealous that I wasn't able to make it this year. hopefully my schedule will cooperate next year, and you veterans can show me how this is done!

polkacat

Hope you can make it next year!

For a taste of what this year's Night of the Great Thirst (even years only) is like, see this clip at 5:46.

toomanybooks

Brings back memories!

No Great Belgian Beer Dinner this year?

polkacat

Nope, not that I ever heard about.

toomanybooks

Night of Great Thirst video:


I looked but did not see any of you guys. This festival looks a lot bigger than when I went a few years ago.

nomadic.relief

LOL I am way in the background near the end. A speck of me! But I didn't see any of the others.

polkacat

Great video, thanks for posting! At the beginning, the large tent over her shoulder to the left is where we staked out a table - we are in the very top left, andKMA26 may be visible.

It was definitely larger this year and I've been told there will be at least one additional tent for attendees in 2018.

FlyinStone

in as a Maybe. Need another eurotrip soon!

polkacat

Hi FlyinStone, I've added you as a Maybe to the 2017 thread.

Sweet Willie

I'm locking this thread, please see the 2017 thread as noted by polkacat above.

Thank you,

Willie
co mod Community Buzz forums.