Brussels Airlines

BRU-GVA-BRU in b.light. Outbound flight on nearly full Avro RJ 100. Only two FA's but very friendly service. Flight arrived on time. Return flight on ageing B737-300. Departure delayed due to late arrival of aircraft and further delays due to heavy traffic at GVA. Arrived in BRU one hour late. Only three FA's on this full evening flight very poor service. Maybe not if you were in business or b.flex (one third of all passengers). Sales of drinks and snacks in b.light by just one FA (what were the others up to?) started just two minutes before descent into BRU. Very rushed service as a result. Service in general mostly non-existant unfriendly and disinterested. Simply not good enough given the fact the return fare was EUR 250. Taped announcements very annoying. Live announcements in Dutch virtually incomprehensible.

I fly regularly between Porto and Gothenburg via Brussels with Brussels Airlines. The time table suits me the way you are treated is very good cabins are clean and comfortable and as far as service is concerned you get what you pay for. And the prices are very good compared with other options I have.

Problem of Brussels Airline is that they have to decide if they are a low cost or a standard airline. Low cost prices are not so low but if you are travelling at full price you are served like a low cost airline this applies in particular for ground services in the airport: long queues bad info personnel not trained to handle unexpected events such delays or cancellations and very few people at the help desks. Before from Brussels there was the choice between SN Brussels and Virgin Express both company were delivering good value for money - when they merged together they took the worst of both airlines and put it on the same plane!

The biggest problem of Brussels Airlines is that in a mostly small Avroliner cabin three classes are done. Passengers in business do not even have the privacy of a curtain. In business a very cheap champagne is offered. The meal service in so called B flex is usually rather poor - a company that started very good after the Sabena disaster as SN Brussels even offering hot croissants in economy now approach the level of a cheap carrier.

GVA-BRU-GVA on Brussels Airlines in B.Flex cabin. Airplane old 737-400 going to BRU and a B737-300 on the way back. Airplanes were showing their age but are ok. Seat pitch was ok in B.Flex class. Service was very good with a good snack full beverage service. Cabin crew were nice and multiligual. B.Flex product is very good - almost the same level as some other airlines business class. You can't access lounge for free but you are allowed to use fast lane at security at Brussels which is very good.

Had a B-Flex with Brussels Airlines. Plane was delayed 5 Hours because of snowfall in Sweden so we missed our connection flight. Our onward ticket with a 5-star airline got rebooked to a low cost airline (economy) with non-existent service. Also we had to pay for hotel 1 night in Brussels that Brussels Airline refused to pay. I cannot recommend this airline to anyone.

My wife and two kids left from Kinshasa to Toulouse via Brussels. The plane had three hours delay on arrival in Brussels and they missed the connecting flight. The next flights were full one was cancelled the last flight at night again did not take off. They refused hotel or any support claiming always there would soon be a flight. They slept on the floor in the airport. The next day same story no assistance no help - flights leaving to Toulouse booked out. She left finally at 6pm a delay of 36 hours in which no assistance or help whatsoever was given to them. Brussels should be ashamed their service is non existent.

BRU-OSL in economy class. Check in on-line and printed my boarding pass before arrival at the airport. Luggage drop off at a designated counter was quick and hustle free. Flight was on time. Staff friendly and helpful. Food available for purchase on board. Overall experience was quite positive except for a loud noise made by an old Avro RJ100 engines during the entire flight. If booked in advanced fares are normally affordable.

LIS-BRU. Brussels airlines is downgrading its product which is becoming low cost with old and tired 737s from former Virgin express with very cramped seats and one of the worse pitch. Inbound flight with TAP and you could size difference for seat comfort and overall package. Will try avoiding this company when possible until fleet is upgraded and they become more competitive. .

Brussels-Venice return. Worth noting that in theory BLight pax have less cabin baggage allowance than BFLEX and only the overhead lockers down to row 4/5 are large enough to hold a standard carry-on suitcase. So get on early and grab one of these lockers! Online check-in is a real bonus when flying at the crack of dawn. It meant I could take the first airport bus arriving at 05.35 go straight to security and arrive at gate A71 (somewhere near Mechelen) before loading started.