Are you sick and tired of chaotic, overcrowded European airports? Why not try Brussels Airport on your next trek to Europe? Lots of business travelers have discovered this secret gem in the heart of Europe. Join the crowd!
The “capital of Europe” is often overlooked when Americans make travel plans, but Brussels Airport is a pleasant surprise. It’s so compact and manageable. It’s just so darn easy to maneuver!
There are just two terminals, A and B. Drop-off is easy, but be forewarned. If you have a friend picking you up when you arrive, they will probably have to park in the paid parking area and come to meet you in the arrivals area. A newly reconfigured drop-off point no longer allows easy passenger pick-up.
Yes, the drop-off point is ONLY for drop-off. The maximum time there is 10 minutes. Locals generally park their cars in P1 or P2 parking where they get a rate of €2 for up to an hour, With a Pcard+, the first 30 minutes are free.
The Right Choice
What makes Brussels Airport special? It’s an airport on a human scale. Airport management touts its visibility, hospitality and welcome. From a commercial standpoint, the airport was privatized 15 years ago. That means it isn’t subject to the whims of its public shareholders, and they’ve made significant improvements to make travel easier for you, whether you are on a business or leisure trip.
Forget the Crowds
For me, the biggest plus is that the airport is far less crowded than those in other European capitals. Take London and Amsterdam, for instance. In 2019, London’s Heathrow Airport had 81 million passengers. Amsterdam’s Schipol had 71.7 million, and Brussels Airport had 26.4 million. Those numbers plummeted with COVID-19. In 2020, passenger arrival numbers were 22.1 million for London, 20.9 million for Schipol and 6.7 million for Brussels.
The pandemic also meant the cessation of many flights. In fact, Brussels Airlines actually stopped all flights to the U.S. in March 2020. They are back in the air now, though, with three non-stop flights to New York each week and four to Washington, D.C. this summer.
The Down Side
Unlike Heathrow and Schipol, the number of non-stop flights is limited. If you don’t live in Chicago, Miami, New York or Washington, D.C., the trek will be tougher with connecting flights required.
Four airlines offer direct flights to Brussels from the U.S. in 2022. They are Brussels Airlines (Dulles, JFK), Delta Air Lines (JFK), TUI fly Belgium (Miami) and United Airlines (Chicago, Dulles, Newark). Watch out, though. Due to COVID, there are still ever-changing CDC travel restrictions for those of us traveling from Belgium to the US.
Arrival in Brussels
So, you’ve arrived in Brussels. Take a deep breath and relax. Getting through customs and immigration takes a fraction of the time it does in other European cities. When you leave the arrivals hall, you’ll find information services, car rental desks, currency exchange and even places to grab your first Belgian beer.
You’ll find taxis services and limo pick up on the arrivals level, too. Below that, you’ll find the inter-city train station and Metro. Whether you want to grab a train into Brussels or travel to Antwerp or another city in Belgium or Europe, it’s quick and easy. Weekend and senior train tickets provide some attractive discounts.
The train takes you to Brussels Central Station in less than 20 minutes and costs €9.10 or about 10 bucks. A first-class ticket will set you back €10.20 or about $12. You can buy your ticket online here.
A little helpful hint: If you are returning to the airport by train, make sure your ticket is for Zaventem Airport. There is also a train that stops in Zaventem itself and not the airport.
Great Location
It’s super easy to travel to and from Brussels Airport. It’s easily accessible by train, bus and car, thanks to its strategic location in the heart of main arterial roads.
Fifty airlines serve Brussels Airport, so you’ll find a wide choice of worldwide destinations with a strong, long-haul network. The airport also offers the widest choice of low-cost destinations from Belgium.
“Our objective at Brussels Airport is to further develop the intercontinental network, in particular thanks to Star Alliance, which represents 65% of our network,” explains Nathalie Pierard, Brussels Airport media relations manager. “We still have capacity, which facilitates this development, which is less the case for other airports such as Schiphol.”
Best Days to Travel
Mid-week is the best time to travel, and it generally gives you a better shot at lower fares, too. The busiest travel days are during holiday periods, of course. The slowest travel days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Fridays are the busiest, followed by Saturday and Monday.
Special Services
Brussels Airport is innovative and offers a number of helpful digital tools, including the Market Place, a travel map, and a welcome back app. To make arrivals and departures swift, there is a FastLane that is accessible for everyone via the airline or self-booked access.
Business lounges offer extensive services for the weary and harried traveler. There are three Brussels Airlines lounges and two Brussels Airport Diamond Lounges.
There is also the bTag program launched last year. It makes luggage retrieval from the carousel easier and safer. See the story here.
And if you want to pre-order duty-free goods, don’t miss Market Place. You can pre-order here.
Dining
Hankering a nibble? Of course, you’ll find typical Belgian restaurants and bars offering such specialties as stoofvlees, a traditional, hearty Belgian stew. I recommend “Belle et Belge” where you’ll find world-famous Belgian fries and beers, shrimp croquettes and other delicious dishes.
Personally, I’m a big sushi fan. Although the prices are steep, I love Black Pearls in the departure area where sushi is prepared by Belgian star chef David Martin. Yes, please.
Uniquely Belgian
Something particularly worth noting is the wide range of Belgian products and services. Belgian brands, including Komono and Ice Watch, are available at the airport.
I was gobsmacked to learn that Brussels Airport was the world’s largest chocolate outlet! More than 1.76 million pounds of chocolate are sold there each year. That translates to 4,400 pounds a day or 3.31 pounds per minute!
Visit The Belgian Chocolate House located in Pier A and Pier B. They offer a mind-blowing assortment of chocolates at attractive prices. My favorite chocolate gifts are dark chocolate made to look like natural rocks and handyman tools like hammers and wrenches, which you may be able to find in central Brussels..
You’ll also discover an Antwerp diamond and jewelry shop in Pier A, and a shop for Tintin comic products such as t-shirts and toys. Check out the full list of airport shops here.
If you want general information on this welcoming, easy-to-maneuver airport, visit their website.
Happy travels!
