I will be flying to Brussels next month on my next European trip and was wondering how the airport is. Does it have any unique stores or features that should not be missed? Is there an observation deck, etc? I will also be flying into both Shannon and Dublin. Any opinions on those airports too would be appreciated.

BRU airport is devided into two concourses. One (the old part of the airport) is mainly flights to southern Europe. The other one (newly built) handles the rest of the flights. The newer one (concourse B) is OK, the older one (concourse C) is something that you would want to avoid. The two concourses are divided by a passport and security check point.

You can buy Chocolate from Belgium at rather good prices at the airport. You will have a good view of the aircraft from most longes. There are longes on the second floor at both concourses. For more info check out their website:
http://www.brusselsairport.be/

[This message has been edited by nilsman (edited 08-17-2000).]

Be prepared, unless you are on a Sabena widebody, you'll probably be bussed to Customs or the terminal if Shengen.

I think one good point about BRU is the new TravelClub Lounge (B Concourse) is excellent.

A bad-point is that the immigration delays at the non-Shengen terminal (Concourse B) can be very long, and in my view are a discgrace for the so called 'heart of Europe'. This has become so bad recently, that my company now pay BIAC to meet all their senior employees at the plane and wisk them though immigration and to the BIAC lounge - well worth the money in my view!


Nick

Applefan ..you seem to indicate you are not exiting in BRU? Lucky you.

I've travelled to every continent, to over 100 countries, and I have always said that Brusells must be THE most boring city on earth! Not sure what others think, but boy it had a character bypass IMHO!

I couldn't agree more ozstamps. Except for the very centre around the Grand Place, Brussels is boring, ugly and mostly miserable crowded with too many stiff eurocrats. When my company was setting up a new European hq two years ago, they had two options, Brussels and A'dam.

... my prayers worked!

Greetings from my happy village, R2

some of you seem to have a no real idea/expierence about Bruxelles (or one of you may be from a 'jealous' neighbour country?), belgium beers (THE specialty beer country of the world), belgium chocolates (and that is a swiss to say this), belgium Restaurants (even Michelin, France, rates Bruxelles as high as Lyon and Paris!), belgium fries (the most famous of the world, I have never heard any other judgment).

Well I certainly am not from a jealous neighbouring country - Give me LINDT choccies ANY day (made in some other tiny Euro country)- Giuylain no comparison. German Bier, DUTCH pommes frittes from around Centraal Station, and FRENCH resturants kill them any day IMHO.

R2 as I recall the prime tourist attractions of this city is some 3 foot high boy statue fountain pissing on his feet, and a whole pile of stainless steel balls welded together. Hot stuff!

Lindt&Spr�ngli (Kilchberg, Zurich, Switzerland) is a (good) chocolate factory - chocolate affeccionados go for daily fresh- and hand-made from Spr�ngli or Teuscher (and others) in Switzerland (former OMNI price-winners, PIP-chocolates-tasting-session-participants and many others from Flyertalk know trough personal experience and tasting about what I am talking here).

I don't know Bruxelles very well as I spend most of my Belgium time in Antwerpen which is a fun city, especially in the summer. I highly recommend visiting there rather than Bruxelles.

And I totally agree with Rudi about the excellent Belgie restaurants and beer!

Never been to Brussels but I believe that the beer Chemay is made by the Trappist Monks in Beligium and for my money it is one of the best non stout beers.

That being said you surprise me Rudi, the reputation that Belgian cooking has (at least in the UK and Italy) is that all they do is mussels and not very well at that.

Just returned from Brussels a few weeks ago.

Our DL MD-11 from ATL had a real gate, but it was a Sabena gate/Sabena codeshare flight. Six days after that flight, DL/SN officially went splitsville, so DL probably doesn't have a real gate anymore.

Customs was a breeze, baggage claim took forever (BizElite bags came out right away, but the TPA agent didn't have any priority tags ).

I highly recommend you get some Neuhaus chocolates. We got a box (you can pick out your own or get a pre-picked one) and are still enjoying them today. They are served on DL BizElite FWIW.

Food was excellent. Between Brussels and Brugges, I don't remember have such good food in a long time! Well, London rivals it.

Why can't Tampa have any world-class restaurants!

Rudi, I agree that BELGIAN beer and BELGIAN chocolate is good (don't really care about frites). I just don't like Brussels. A lot of the other cities in Belgium are quite nice; Antverp, Brugge, Gent. But Brussels, no thanks for me.
By the way, I really like Belgians, most of my nicest collegues are flamish-belgian and extremely friendly and sympathetic. I'm not Dutch myself so no nationalistic jealousy from my part!

Vriendeligje groetjes from the happy Amsterdammer!

Brussels boring? Only if you don't like to eat or drink, I suppose.

You can eat and drink in Cleveland too I suppose! Doesn't make it exciting.

------------------
~ Glen ~