BRU connection questions: enough time?
#1
Original Poster
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PLAT,PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Gld,Hyatt Disc,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat
Posts: 11,030
BRU connection questions: enough time?
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!
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!
#2


Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,566
I would do exactly as you suggest... go for the earlier flight on the way out (as you haven't got anything to lose if you miss it), but allow yourself the extra safety margin on the way back.
I have flown Brussels Airlines and found them to be perfectly OK.
I have flown Brussels Airlines and found them to be perfectly OK.
#3

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA PLT AA 1MM
Posts: 729
If you haven't been through BRU before, it might be good to afford yourself the extra time. It's not well sign-posted (or at least wasn't--maybe it has improved very recently, but I doubt it).
Like the previous poster, my experience is that Brussels Airlines is just fine.
Like the previous poster, my experience is that Brussels Airlines is just fine.
#4
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Geneva
Programs: AFKL Plat for life, LX FTL for life and now also BA Blue for life
Posts: 7,383
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.
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.
Your UA flight will arrive at the B concourse and you will have to pass immigration as well as face a long walk to the A gates where both SK and SN to CPH will depart.
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!
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!
Again, the SK flight should be fine but is a lot tighter than the SN flight.
Travel from Copenhagen downtown to the airport is quite easy and you don't need more than an hour at CPH especially if travelling with handbags only.
I'd go for SN on both, due to the more comfortable transfer times and the (marginally) better service.

