Connecting in Brussels [BRU]
Oct 4, 2018, 10:24 am
#256
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 158
Hello All, I'm reading through the thread and it sounds like there's definitely a major difference between a comfortable, uncomfortable, and legal connection in BRU. I think I'm closer to the latter, and I would like your thoughts on the following flights my company has booked for me:
SN3632 CDG-BRU
Arr. 09:40
50 Min
SN501 BRU-JFK
Dep. 10:30
SN3632 CDG-BRU
Arr. 09:40
50 Min
SN501 BRU-JFK
Dep. 10:30
Oct 8, 2018, 3:59 am
#257
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: TK Elite ...and blue, lots of blue...
Posts: 746
Hello All, I'm reading through the thread and it sounds like there's definitely a major difference between a comfortable, uncomfortable, and legal connection in BRU. I think I'm closer to the latter, and I would like your thoughts on the following flights my company has booked for me:
SN3632 CDG-BRU
Arr. 09:40
50 Min
SN501 BRU-JFK
Dep. 10:30
SN3632 CDG-BRU
Arr. 09:40
50 Min
SN501 BRU-JFK
Dep. 10:30
Oct 15, 2018, 6:00 am
#258
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 158
I figured I would close the loop on my experience.
CDG-BRU went off without a hitch, arrived even few minutes early. Passport control was an unmitigated disaster. Line stretched all the way back to the escalators and then looped back around almost halfway back towards the desks. Was really terrible. Easily took 90 minutes just to clear. Missed my flight of course and worked on rebooking with SN.
CDG-BRU went off without a hitch, arrived even few minutes early. Passport control was an unmitigated disaster. Line stretched all the way back to the escalators and then looped back around almost halfway back towards the desks. Was really terrible. Easily took 90 minutes just to clear. Missed my flight of course and worked on rebooking with SN.
Oct 15, 2018, 2:27 pm
#259
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Florida
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,917
A quick report on my lounge experience in BRU a few days ago. Flying Africa-BRU-LHR, I landed in BRU (T-gates) and went to THE SUITE lounge in B-gates. I asked about a shower and she said there are no showers in THE SUITE, and they normally send passengers who want showers to the adjacent Diamond lounge for the shower, but the shower facility in that lounge was under construction, so no showers offered at all. The only place to get a shower was to go to THE LOFT lounge in A-gates, passing immigration to enter Schengen.
I had time so did that, with no wait at immigration going from B-gates to A-gates. Lounge staff let me in but wasn't thrilled to have me because I was departing from B-gates. Good shower food/drink in THE LOFT. However, in going back from A-gate to B-gates, you have to clear immigration (leaving Schengen) and the wait was about 40 minutes for non-EU passports, with no priority lane possible. I almost missed last call for my flight to LHR from the B terminal. If I would have known (or read this thread) I would NOT have left the B-gates area just to shower in A-gates area and return to B-gates.
I had time so did that, with no wait at immigration going from B-gates to A-gates. Lounge staff let me in but wasn't thrilled to have me because I was departing from B-gates. Good shower food/drink in THE LOFT. However, in going back from A-gate to B-gates, you have to clear immigration (leaving Schengen) and the wait was about 40 minutes for non-EU passports, with no priority lane possible. I almost missed last call for my flight to LHR from the B terminal. If I would have known (or read this thread) I would NOT have left the B-gates area just to shower in A-gates area and return to B-gates.
Last edited by BangkokTraveler; Oct 15, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Oct 17, 2018, 3:17 pm
#260
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: TK Elite ...and blue, lots of blue...
Posts: 746
I figured I would close the loop on my experience.
CDG-BRU went off without a hitch, arrived even few minutes early. Passport control was an unmitigated disaster. Line stretched all the way back to the escalators and then looped back around almost halfway back towards the desks. Was really terrible. Easily took 90 minutes just to clear. Missed my flight of course and worked on rebooking with SN.
CDG-BRU went off without a hitch, arrived even few minutes early. Passport control was an unmitigated disaster. Line stretched all the way back to the escalators and then looped back around almost halfway back towards the desks. Was really terrible. Easily took 90 minutes just to clear. Missed my flight of course and worked on rebooking with SN.
Last edited by Ghentleman; Oct 17, 2018 at 3:28 pm
Oct 24, 2018, 12:06 pm
#261
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 491
I'm currently looking at a ticket that goes LHR-BRU on Brussels Airlines then connected to United from BRU-EWR - connection time of 1 hour and 3 minutes. I wouldn't have a checked bag so I'd just need to get myself to the next gate - would I have to clear security and such again?
Oct 25, 2018, 12:59 pm
#262
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BRU-ZRH
Programs: LX HON, BA Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 764
For everyone flying through / into / from BRU at the moment:
there is a strike going on at Aviapartner who are handling luggage for following airlines:
Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, Air Europa, Air Serbia, Air Transat, All Nippon Airways, BMI Regional, British Airways, CSA Czech Airlines, Easyjet, El Al, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, FlyEgypt, HOP Airlines, Iberia, KLM, Meridiana Fly, Nouvelair, Onur Air, Pegasus Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Ryanair, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Portugal, Transavia, TUIfly, Tunisair, Turkish Airlines, Vueling
You may want to take precautions if so, for example travelling with handluggage only.
there is a strike going on at Aviapartner who are handling luggage for following airlines:
Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, Air Europa, Air Serbia, Air Transat, All Nippon Airways, BMI Regional, British Airways, CSA Czech Airlines, Easyjet, El Al, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, FlyEgypt, HOP Airlines, Iberia, KLM, Meridiana Fly, Nouvelair, Onur Air, Pegasus Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Ryanair, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Portugal, Transavia, TUIfly, Tunisair, Turkish Airlines, Vueling
You may want to take precautions if so, for example travelling with handluggage only.
Oct 25, 2018, 1:41 pm
#263
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SJJ/AMS
Posts: 4,647
I'm currently looking at a ticket that goes LHR-BRU on Brussels Airlines then connected to United from BRU-EWR - connection time of 1 hour and 3 minutes. I wouldn't have a checked bag so I'd just need to get myself to the next gate - would I have to clear security and such again?
G
Oct 25, 2018, 6:37 pm
#264
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Geneva
Programs: LX SEN, AFKL Platinum, BA Bronze,
Posts: 5,631
In any case, I would advise a short connection from any flight from LHR to a US bound flight when LHR is always prone to delays and UA will have an additional document check at the gate. I know SN have only one or two flights from LHR so that will put you in a bit of a situation. However, I would have thought that the TATL JV would have similar fares on all LHR-EWR UA/LH/SN options.
If you end up with the SN connection, at the very least monitor the inbound from BRU and consider asking rebooking on a direct flight from LHR if there is likely to be a significant delay.
Oct 26, 2018, 1:28 am
#265
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SJJ/AMS
Posts: 4,647
G
Oct 29, 2018, 5:59 am
#267
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Belgium
Programs: United 1K 1MM, HHonor ex-Gold, IC ex-Plat.
Posts: 130
I'm currently looking at a ticket that goes LHR-BRU on Brussels Airlines then connected to United from BRU-EWR - connection time of 1 hour and 3 minutes. I wouldn't have a checked bag so I'd just need to get myself to the next gate - would I have to clear security and such again?
Nov 18, 2018, 8:43 am
#270
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: EWR and KGL (with occasional home/work trips to NRT/ITM)
Programs: MP MM 1K, Sky Miles, Emirates Gold
Posts: 708