I've read the recent threads re connecting in BRU, but they don't seem exactly the same as my situation, so...

I will travel ORD-BRU-CPH-BRU-ORD next month. I'll be in business class with just carry-on luggage, on UA both ways between ORD and BRU. I have a US passport.

The UA outbound flight arrives in BRU at 9:20 a.m. I have a choice between SAS at 10:40 a.m. and Brussels Air at 11:10 a.m.

I'm leaning toward SAS on the outbound because I assume I can easily connect on a later flight to CPH if I miss the original connection.

The UA return flight departs BRU at 11 a.m. The Brussels Air flight from CPH arrives in BRU at 8:15 a.m. and the SAS at 9:50 a.m.

For the return, I hate getting up so early to catch the Brussels Air flight but am leaning toward it because it's much more of a potential hassle if I miss the UA flight to Chicago.

(All things being equal, I'd favor SAS because it's more of a known quantity to me. But the timing does not make all things equal.)

So...any advice on whether these are the options you'd recommend? Thanks for any help!