Brussels Zaventem Airport

Customer Reviews

3 star Skytrax Rating
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Queuing Times 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Staff 12345
Customer rating from 144 reviews
4/10
3 star Skytrax Rating
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4/10

"long queues in the security area"

(Germany)

Trip Verified |   We transited twice through this airport in the last couple of months, in Sep between a flight from an African origin and a Europe-internal flight and then in October from an internal flight to a return flight to the African country where we work. Entering Europe through Brussels meant long queues in the security area - Brussels has regrettably adopted similar screening procedures to Charles de Gaulle, which mean that passengers are forced into stalls adjacent to the security belt, where they simultaneously attempt to get their belongings onto the belt. This means competing with other passengers for space on the belt, and the risk of belongings being widely dispersed along the belt. Hell for the passenger, and no guarantee that your belongings won´t be taken by someone before you can get through the personal check. On the return journey, there was no security check for passengers from Europe (this looks as if it will change), but passport check was chaotic, with staff members directing passengers into the wrong queue. On the airside, there were only two coffee / beverages outlets and no place to get a meal. Aircraft boarding was disorganised.
Experience At AirportTransit
Date VisitOctober 2023
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
8/10

"relatively positive experience"

(Belgium)

Trip Verified |   As a capital city airport, Brussels Zaventem is always very busy; however, it is a relatively easy airport to navigate through, with helpful airport staff to assist with guiding the less assured. I liked the baggage drop, and whilst the Qs for security seemed long, I quickly made my through. Traversing thro’ the shop - to me it’s never ‘duty free’ - is OK but a little frustrating if you’re not interested in buying anything. And the range of shops and cafes is just about right. My only negative is that there are insufficient toilets. The Qs for the women are always long, but so are those for the men. That aside, a relatively positive experience.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitOctober 2023
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
6/10

"staff were friendly and efficient"

(Germany)

Trip Verified | My wife and I transited through this airport today, coming from Africa and transferring to a flight to Germany. Arrival of our flight and departure of our next flight went well. Our luggage was transferred between flights without problems. Immigration staff were friendly and efficient. Signage in the airport was sufficient for transferring between terminals and finding our departure area (much better than Charles de Gaulle). We also appreciated that the restaurants allowed us to sit for hours between flights. However, prices in the restaurants were high. Water was not available: we passed a water dispenser, which passengers were unsuccessfully attempting to use. Seating in the gate lounges was not adequate: numerous passengers had to wait around. The worst part of our experience was the security check between terminals. Passengers are treated like cattle: instead of being able to take turns placing things on the security belt, passengers are pushed into separate stalls and then have to compete to get things on the belt. As a result, it is difficult to keep one´s things together: they are scattered along the length of the belt, with no guarantee of being able to ensure their safety.
Experience At AirportTransit
Date VisitSeptember 2023
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
2/10

"an international airport unworthy"

(Belgium)

Not Verified | Getting there and away with train is easy. Although airport charge may apply. Kiss and ride is fine, smooth and updated since a few years. Parking short and long term in BRU is overpriced compared to AMS. Check-in rather smooth and organized. Not overly busy. Good personnel who knows their job. Mostly direct gate to plane, so often no bus needed. Seats at gates can be rather limited. Food and beverages are overly expensive compared to AMS. Toilets are averagely clean. Cabin baggage check line is acceptable Immigration and emigration lines can be horribly long (2 hours). Seems to be a chronic problem, not related to high people traffic No family/small kid fast lane I would avoid this airport because of this when possible, exactly for long lines. Not enough staff. For whatever "good" reason this is an international airport unworthy.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitSeptember 2023
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
1/10

"3 hours to make it through passport control"

(United Kingdom)

Not Verified | The worst Airport ever. You need at least 3 hours to ensure you make it through passport control to catch your flight if you are non EU. Centre of Europe?
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitJune 2023
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
3/10

"only 1 runway available"

(Belgium)

Trip Verified | Wednesday 17/5/23, we had been waiting for the plane for 45 minutes because the air traffic controllers were not enough and there was only 1 runway available. After 45 minutes we were told casually, your flight will be cancelled, you can leave the plane. You are presented with fait accomplis purely because there is no long-term vision in terms of personnel policy. As an HR professional I can't understand that. So I lost 1041€! Hotel in Milan, transfer that had already been booked, the tours that had already been booked in advance the day after and paid for also went up in smoke, they had to come and pick us up from the airport and we had to pay another 3 € for parking (top !) We only got there 25 hours later. Who will be reimbursed for damages? I'm booking back via Dusseldorf from now on, never had any problems at that airport and I fly very often. Woensdag 17/5/23, we zaten al 45 min op het vliegtuig te wachten want de verkeersleiders waren niet met voldoende en er was maar 1 baan ter beschikking. Na 45 min. kregen we doodleuk te horen, uw vlucht wordt geannuleerd, u mag het vliegtuig verlaten. Je wordt voor voldongen feiten gesteld puur omdat er geen lange termijn visie is op vlak van personeelsbeleid. Ik kan dat als HR professional niet vatten. Ik ben dus 1041€ kwijt! Hotel in Milaan, transfer die reeds geboekt was, de rondleidingen die reeds op voorhand waren geboekt daags nadien en betaald ook in rook opgegaan, men is ons terug moeten komen afhalen van de luchthaven en we moesten dan nog eens 3€ betalen aan parking (top!) We zijn er pas 25 u nadien geraakt. Wie gaat men schade terugbetalen? Ik boek vanaf heden terug via Düsseldorf, nog nooit problemen gehad op die luchthaven en ik vlieg heel vaak....
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitMay 2023
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
1/10

"2 hours thru security"

(United States)

Trip Verified | Lines, lines, lines and 2 hours thru security. Then go thru and get another line. Disorganized Signs point you to wrong line. No worries go thru wrong line then get into another. They should just close it down.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitApril 2023
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages N/A
no
1/10

"sockets were not working"

(Hong Kong)

Trip Verified | Flight delayed 1h25 and when asked why, the answer was because of the rain. Then sockets were not working and people on the ground were absolutely useless when asked for help about the chance that i would miss my connection
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitNovember 2022
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
1/10

"this airport is a mess"

(Netherlands)

Not Verified | Worst airport ever. If you take the exit to outside it’s like a big maze you’re unable to escape. The signs don’t help at all. We were looking for our friend for 1 hour because this airport is a mess!
Experience At AirportArrival Only
Date VisitAugust 2022
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
1/10

"worst airport in the world"

(United States)

Trip Verified | There is about 500 people waiting to show their passport. 2 policemen! Are you kidding ? They are giving water to people. How about putting more customs people to go faster? All flights will be delayed because of incompetency. Never again Zaventem. The worst airport in the world. I flew to Brazil, China, Bangladesh, India. Never saw that.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitJuly 2022
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages N/A
no