Connecting in Brussels [BRU]
Jul 29, 2019, 1:01 am
#286
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BRS (Bristol, UK)
Programs: LH SEN/*G
Posts: 1,266
BRU seems to specialise in doing things for their least effort, not passenger experience improvements.
There is already a pathway from B Departures to A Departures. Landing the ex-Schengen sterile flights (including the US flights) with the 'arrivals' being directed to the existing B Arrivals area, but 'transfers' up the ramp into the B Departures area (the FRA/ZRH model) means you reduce pressure on the transfer security bottleneck, but the same number of people go through B->A passport checks. (Bus arrivals could just dump into the B Departures area, because the numbers aren't that significant).
There is already a pathway from B Departures to A Departures. Landing the ex-Schengen sterile flights (including the US flights) with the 'arrivals' being directed to the existing B Arrivals area, but 'transfers' up the ramp into the B Departures area (the FRA/ZRH model) means you reduce pressure on the transfer security bottleneck, but the same number of people go through B->A passport checks. (Bus arrivals could just dump into the B Departures area, because the numbers aren't that significant).
Jul 29, 2019, 4:25 am
#287
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,065
BRU has other rarities, seemingly because they are easier to organise: at customs, there is no "EU" channel (arrivals from EU countries). Everybody goes through the main green/red exits. (In the capital of the EU, of all places, you'd expect them to follow the EU guidelines...)
I don't think I've ever seen an "EU arrival" channel off baggage claim anywhere. Red and green only.
EU channels only for passport control I've seen.
Jul 30, 2019, 2:42 pm
#290
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BRS (Bristol, UK)
Programs: LH SEN/*G
Posts: 1,266
Even little old BRS has green and blue archways. I mean, there's nothing else different, it's just the archways, but the *principle* is there, and I always use it correctly. On principle.
We're drifting this thread tho, so let's not discuss customs gateways any more here....
We're drifting this thread tho, so let's not discuss customs gateways any more here....
Aug 3, 2019, 4:19 am
#292
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya
Posts: 2,108
Oct 29, 2019, 2:46 pm
#293
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BRS (Bristol, UK)
Programs: LH SEN/*G
Posts: 1,266
BRU seems to specialise in doing things for their least effort, not passenger experience improvements.
There is already a pathway from B Departures to A Departures. Landing the ex-Schengen sterile flights (including the US flights) with the 'arrivals' being directed to the existing B Arrivals area, but 'transfers' up the ramp into the B Departures area (the FRA/ZRH model) means you reduce pressure on the transfer security bottleneck, but the same number of people go through B->A passport checks. (Bus arrivals could just dump into the B Departures area, because the numbers aren't that significant).
There is already a pathway from B Departures to A Departures. Landing the ex-Schengen sterile flights (including the US flights) with the 'arrivals' being directed to the existing B Arrivals area, but 'transfers' up the ramp into the B Departures area (the FRA/ZRH model) means you reduce pressure on the transfer security bottleneck, but the same number of people go through B->A passport checks. (Bus arrivals could just dump into the B Departures area, because the numbers aren't that significant).
Fabulous.
Oct 30, 2019, 1:06 am
#294
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya
Posts: 2,108
Interesting. It would be good to hear from others to see if maybe they have changed the process for flights arriving from (considered) "safe" non-Schengen countries (UK, maybe US, Israel etc.).
Oct 30, 2019, 2:12 pm
#295
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,830
In line with BristolTraveller's bus experiences and the previous post 270, my recent SN flights from the UK have again allowed access via the slope direct up on to the B departure level. Which in turn means that going to any non Schengen departure in B is hassle free, and just the Schengen passport check if going to A. Arriving B passengers have to look out for the side passageway to the slope, and not follow the herd into the main B arrival corridor. I think it is clearly signed with "Connections" overhead on the airbridge - it's a lit up red sign so presumably turned off for non-sterile arrivals.
Oct 30, 2019, 3:23 pm
#296
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 410
In line with BristolTraveller's bus experiences and the previous post 270, my recent SN flights from the UK have again allowed access via the slope direct up on to the B departure level. Which in turn means that going to any non Schengen departure in B is hassle free, and just the Schengen passport check if going to A. Arriving B passengers have to look out for the side passageway to the slope, and not follow the herd into the main B arrival corridor. I think it is clearly signed with "Connections" overhead on the airbridge - it's a lit up red sign so presumably turned off for non-sterile arrivals.
Nov 4, 2019, 4:12 am
#298
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: TK Elite ...and blue, lots of blue...
Posts: 746
Yes, assuming the Dakar flight leaves from a T-gate (so at the end of the A Pier) your best bet is the lounge in A "The Loft". Biggest and best equipped. You can also use the "Sunrise Lounge" at the end of the A-Pier, after Immigration.
You can skip immigration by taking the bus from B to T but then you cannot go The Loft. Depending on what passport you have, it might be the right move. Lines for non-EU are often very long and you need to g through twice.
You can skip immigration by taking the bus from B to T but then you cannot go The Loft. Depending on what passport you have, it might be the right move. Lines for non-EU are often very long and you need to g through twice.
Nov 4, 2019, 10:51 am
#299
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,942
Yes, assuming the Dakar flight leaves from a T-gate (so at the end of the A Pier) your best bet is the lounge in A "The Loft". Biggest and best equipped. You can also use the "Sunrise Lounge" at the end of the A-Pier, after Immigration.
You can skip immigration by taking the bus from B to T but then you cannot go The Loft. Depending on what passport you have, it might be the right move. Lines for non-EU are often very long and you need to g through twice.
You can skip immigration by taking the bus from B to T but then you cannot go The Loft. Depending on what passport you have, it might be the right move. Lines for non-EU are often very long and you need to g through twice.
Dec 14, 2019, 8:42 am
#300
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Chicago
Posts: 160
Asked this in another thread but figured this might be a more appropriate forum:
Flying FCO - BRU - ORD on one single ticket next April. Just had a schedule change on the BRU - ORD leg which cut the connection time down to 85 minutes. Traveling on non-EU passports (US and Canadian). Flying Brussels Airlines and then United.
I've never gone through BRU before and am worried a bit about the timing. Our FCO - BRU leg is first thing in the morning (6:35am departure from FCO) on a Tuesday if you think that's relevant at all.
Should I take a xanax and chillax or look at perhaps changing my flight? Don't want to have to deal with missing our flight with a wife and kid in tow.
Thanks in advance!
Flying FCO - BRU - ORD on one single ticket next April. Just had a schedule change on the BRU - ORD leg which cut the connection time down to 85 minutes. Traveling on non-EU passports (US and Canadian). Flying Brussels Airlines and then United.
I've never gone through BRU before and am worried a bit about the timing. Our FCO - BRU leg is first thing in the morning (6:35am departure from FCO) on a Tuesday if you think that's relevant at all.
Should I take a xanax and chillax or look at perhaps changing my flight? Don't want to have to deal with missing our flight with a wife and kid in tow.
Thanks in advance!