Brussels Airlines and Brussels airport

[GrannyRoberts]

I've just booked flights with Brussels Airlines, for me, DH, DD (7) and DS (5). Flying Glasgow to Venice with a change in Brussels. I've since read some awful reviews of the airline and am starting to worry that it's going to be a nightmare. The connection time is only an hour. I've since heard that the airport is huge, and that leaves no room at all for delay/error .. Has anyone flown with this airline and successfully made similar connections? Please reassure me!

We flew from Brussels in June this year, the airport isn’t that big so as long as flights are on time it will be fine.

We flew Brussels Airlines and they were absolutely fine- like EastJet, you pay for drinks/snacks if you want them

We flew Brussels Airlines from Edinburgh to Rome via Brussels in October.
The airport is fairly large but really easy to get around and all the gates were well sign posted. We did have a delay on the way out and were plied with chocolate and hot drinks while were sitting on the tarmac. Two people did get off because of worry about making connections not sure what happened to them but the pilot had said that if people were worried about connections in Brussels to speak to staff as they did have a plan for that situation.
We had two hours on the way back so not quite as short as you but we had loads of time in the airport managed to get lunch and still sitting waiting when the flight was called.
They lost ds2’s high back booster on the way out and although we didn’t get it back while we were there that was Rome airport that didn’t bother looking for it because they had it. As soon as The airline started their investigation I had it courier delivered in a few days.

Oh and dc got loads of chocolate and colouring books on each of our 4 flights with them. Kept them happy.

Brussels airport is large, but if you are flying within the Schengen zone which you are, everything is in the same area - Terminal A. So it's not far at all from one gate to another. If you were flying internationally, it IS a good 10 - 15 minute walk to the other Terminal, plus passport control but you don't need to worry about that. As long as the plane is not mega late, you should be fine. Will you have checked in bags?

Yes, I will have checked luggage, assuming they will just be moved across without us having to do anything? Thanks for the replies so far, my heart rate is dropping back to normal now!

I've always been very impressed with them as an airline but only done direct flights, not connecting.

Their complimentary on board chocolate is Neuhaus. The lovely flight attendant gave me handfuls of them when I was struggling with toddler DC1 so that won me over!

Last time I checked Glasgow wasn't in schengen so I hope the pp is right about being in same terminal from non-schengen arrival. I find Zaventem fairly easy to navigate. Well laid out and signposted.

Yeah it’s the same terminal and it’s pretty clearly sign posted about where to go if you’ve got a connecting flight so you don’t have to do security again. They were really good about getting us through the passport gates as a family in Brussels to. We were quicker than the people using the fast face recognition machines.
Luggage goes straight through you see it again in Italy.

I assume you booked it all on one ticket? Not two seperate ones? As such then yes your luggage will be checked through in Glasgow, you will see it tagged for Venice.

Brussels airlines is fine, don't worry, and your connection time is doable. Personally I'd have went for a longer connection, especially with you kids, it can take about twenty mins to disembark, and twenty mins before take off you need to be on thr next flight, so you've got twenty mins basically, and even a short delay can count you out. Do you know when the next flight to Venice is, if you've booked as one ticket the airline is responsible for putting you on thr next flight with available seats ( which is not the same as the next flight) and also to accommodate you in Brussels.

Again this is if it's all one ticket.

Used to fly this route fairly regularly and was always fine. Your luggage will be transferred straight through. If your first flight is delayed at all they'll bus you over to the connection. It'll be fine. Just don't dawdle in duty free.. 😬

Yes all one ticket thankfully! I feel reassured, thank you all. I checked again as we've got 1 hour 20. Fingers crossed! It's a very early flight so there are other connections that same day, although whether they will have seats is of course another matter!

Ah I suspect you will be fine then, early flights are less likely to have delays, as the plane usually stays the night before at the departure airport, 80 mins is a decent connection time, and if there are later flights that day you will very likely get seats. I woildnt be concerned.

If you are able to chose seats though. Get ones close to the front, quicker disembarking, and don't dilly dally, get yourselves to thr next gate. I strongly suspect you'll be fine.

Good advice bluntness, thank you!

We're booked onto row 9 so hopefully we'll be able to disembark fairly quickly too.