Brussels Airport Omdömen 

The WORST. I will never fly through this airport. I had an insulin pump and I honestly felt violated with the excessive checking on my body. It was as if the security staff were ignorant about insulin pumps.Disgusting!!! The look on their faces is so unfriendly. I travel a lot and so far this airport and staff is the worst. NEVER AGAIN!!

As passport / border control you are the ambassadors of your country. The way you treat people is shameful. Almost missed my flight due to insane queues, with no one willing to help

Flew via Brussels Airport for a connecting flight. The connection time between flights was 1h15mins, I have never had a problem at any other hub airport in the world with a connection time of this length (I have used Dusseldorf, Doha, Schipol, Heathrow for connecting flights before). We headed straight to where we needed to be and found the queue to get through passport control was ridiculous. Firstly, we were initially told to get into the EU line even though we have British passports so this was confusing and wasted time when we knew we shouldn't have been in that line. Next there were only 2 out of 4 booths open for the non-EU passports line (even though there were probably close to 1,000 people in our queue and appeared to stretch very far back into the airport as more people joined), the EU queue wasn't much better. We barely made any progress in the hour we were in the queue. Passengers were having to ask other passengers if they could get to the front of the queue as they were panicking about missing flights, which we eventually had to think about doing. There didn't seem to be any strategy or planning, surely for an international airport and travel hub in the modern day, there should be data available to anticipate how many passengers are expected to land and pass through. There was no communication/lack of staff to ask to help people trying to make connecting flights - people were told they just had to ask and rely on other passengers to let them through - potentially causing conflict between passengers. I have witnessed in other airports priority systems were if people were at risk of missing flights they were brought to the front - why could this not be done? Eventually when our flight was already boarding and was due to fly in 15 mins (we had already been phoned by the airline to tell us we had to get to the gate ASAP) a member of staff told all UK, USA and Canadian passport holders to come to the e-gates (WHY WAS THIS NOT AN OPTION BEFORE!!) this caused further confusion and distress for us and fellow passengers. So disorganised, complete lack of planning. It was only due to the kindness of the staff at Brussels Airlines who waited for us that we made our flight. I think even if you were just taking one flight and arrived 3-4 before your flight time I think people would have been struggling to make their flights. I will be avoiding using this airport in the future as a transport hub, and advising others to do the same.

The line to get out of the country took an hour and half. It's understandable during entry, but on exit is ridiculous. No one cares that the passengers are delayed got their boarding and some unruly passengers had to jump the line making it worse for everyone else. 30yrs of flying, I must admit this is the worst airport experience ever.

⭐ 1/5 – Worst Entry Point into Europe

Arrived at Brussels Airport and was stuck in passport control for nearly 2 hours. The lines were extremely long, disorganized, and understaffed. No clear guidance, no priority lanes, and very few officers processing travelers — especially for non-EU passport holders.

For a major international hub and the de facto capital of the EU, this was a terrible first impression. Easily one of the worst border control experiences I’ve had in Europe.

Avoid flying into Brussels if you can — especially if you’re not an EU citizen.

AWFUL. We queued for THREE HOURS at passport control in the non-EU queue and were given no information or help, people with babies and children were also expected to just queue endlessly. A group of people tried to push in as they had got in the wrong queue initially (after being told to go to the back by 2 members of staff), we all responded negatively and the staff solution was to fast track the rude selfish people who pushed in to the front! They had only 2 counters open, with many empty and staff were unfriendly and unsympathetic. Will never fly through here again.

Bagage afhandeling duurt langer dan de vlucht

Nous nous sommes rendus à l’accueil de l’assistance pour personnes à mobilité réduite. Nous avons été invités à nous rendre avec notre fille en fauteuil à l’enregistrement numéro 5. Nous avons dû faire la queue, jusqu’à ce qu’une des employées nous remarque et nous propose de couper la file. Elle a qualifié l’attitude du bureau d’assistance de révoltante. De retour à l’espace mobilité, on nous a dit de nous rendre à un contrôle de sécurité. Il y avait un « coupe file «  mais encombré par des personnels navigants, ce qui fait que ce coupe file est quasiment sans avantage. Les personnes affectées au bureau censé aider les PMR devraient soit faire un stage en fauteuil roulant, soit changer de métier. Cldt

As a seasoned traveller this is by far the worst airport experience I’ve ever had, if I could leave below 1 star I would. The check in for our flight opened the standard 2hrs 30 before the scheduled flight time, in which we arrived in plenty of time. Checked in and passed through security with 40 minutes, so good so far. However, the real problem arose when we attempted to go through boarder control in which for non EU residents extended the length of the terminal. We were in this queue for well over 2hrs in which we missed our scheduled flight time, when trying to relay our issue to members of staff we were met with responses such as “I can’t help you and it’s not my problem”. In the mean time, the EU lines were completely empty with boarder control for such lanes twiddling their thumbs. Staff refused to use their initiative and move non EU citizens from the front of the queue to the empty desks. Like every other airport in the world does with non domestic passport holders. The same can be said for our inbound experience of which we queued for hours at boarder control, by the time we got to the luggage carousel the flight information had disappeared.

From the check-in desk opening to gate closing there simply was not enough time to make the flight(s), with many customers in the same having the same experience. The airport needs to urgently review its operating procedures to create a more fluid operation to ensure customers have a positive experience. The Airport is not currently operating as one that is situated in a major European city and I will endeavour to avoid it at all costs in the future.

If you are planning a trip to Spa-Francorchamps for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, I’d thoroughly recommend flying to a different airport such as Cologne, Antwerp or Düsseldorf for a better experience.

*** ENGLISH ***

Brussels Airport – a lack of vision and respect for the traveler

My recent experience at Brussels Airport was one of frustration and disbelief. Flights were forced to remain at the gate or on the tarmac for over an hour, with all passengers already on board. The reason? Runway maintenance that drastically reduced the airport’s capacity.

Scheduling such works during the peak summer season is baffling. This could have easily been done in the off-season or spread over quieter hours. Yet, the full flight schedule remained unchanged, as if nothing was wrong. The result? Delays, confusion, and unnecessary waiting.

The airport’s “gesture” to passengers? A single glass of water. Yes, just one – a symbolic act that said more than any announcement. Thankfully, the air conditioning was working onboard – the only thing that still was.

For an international airport, this reflects a painful lack of strategy and customer focus. Once again, profit seems to take priority, while the traveler is left at the bottom of the list.

*** NEDERLANDS ***

Brussels Airport – gebrek aan visie en respect voor de reiziger

Mijn recente ervaring op Brussels Airport was er eentje van frustratie en onbegrip. Vluchten moesten ruim een uur aan de gate of op de tarmac blijven staan, mét iedereen al aan boord. De reden? Onderhoud aan de startbaan, waardoor de luchthaven veel minder vluchten kon verwerken.

Dat zo’n werkzaamheden net tijdens de drukke zomermaanden plaatsvinden, is onbegrijpelijk. Dit had perfect buiten het hoogseizoen of gespreid over rustiger momenten gekund. Toch werd het volledige vluchtschema behouden, alsof er niets aan de hand was. Gevolg: vertragingen, onduidelijkheid en stilstand.

De ‘tegemoetkoming’ aan de reiziger? Een glas water. Jawel, één glas – met een symbolische waarde die boekdelen sprak. Gelukkig werkte de airco aan boord, want dat was zowat het enige dat nog draaide.

Voor een internationale luchthaven is dit een pijnlijk gebrek aan strategie en klantgerichtheid. Het lijkt erop dat winst opnieuw primeert, en de reiziger onderaan de prioriteitenlijst bengelt.

Arrived from Belgrade — passport control took almost 1 hour despite the flight being on time. Too few officers for several non-Schengen flights arriving at once.
Not acceptable for an international airport. Please improve staffing and organization.Worst experience ever

Toiletten zijn vuil en onhygiënisch. Gisteren moest ik noodgedwongen naar het toilet en de kuisploeg was net gepasseerd maar niettegenstaande de vloer net gedweild was, was het toilet zelf aangesmeerd. De toiletbril stond omhoog maar niet gecontroleerd. Echt wansmakelijk.

Review – Vlucht Faro – Brussel Zaventem

Gisteren vlogen we met Transavia van Faro naar Brussel Zaventem. De vlucht had vanwege technische problemen een vertraging van twee uur. Natuurlijk niet prettig, maar veiligheid gaat voorop.

Wat echter absoluut onacceptabel was, is wat er daarna gebeurde met onze hond van 8 jaar oud, die in een bench in het ruim meereisde. Bij aankomst op Zaventem bleef onze hond maar weg bij de balie voor "oversized luggage". Na meerdere keren vragen, kregen we telkens geruststellende antwoorden: "Maak u zich geen zorgen, hij komt echt wel."

Pas na twee uur en vier keer aandringen bij Lost and Found werd serieus actie ondernomen. En toen bleek het ongelooflijke: onze hond was vergeten uit het vliegtuig te halen. Een schrijnende fout, die gelukkig net op tijd ontdekt werd voordat het toestel weer vertrok naar een volgende bestemming.

Deze ervaring bracht ons als baasjes enorme stress, en wat het nog pijnlijker maakte: het totale gebrek aan empathie van het personeel. Geen excuses, geen medeleven, alleen een formulier en schouders ophalen.

Een dier over het hoofd zien is geen vergissing, maar een ernstige nalatigheid. Wij zijn diep teleurgesteld in de manier waarop Brussel Airport hiermee is omgegaan.

Pourquoi dans l'aéroport Zaventem les toilettes sont toujours hyper sales?

Completely substandard across the board. Wifi not working, passport control line in excess of an hour to clear, employees who can't be bothered to perform their job with any degree of standard...If this is the EU standard set by EU Commission headquarters I'm glad I'm part of a country outside of this ineptitude.

De dame aan de information desk , waar ik terecht kwam om een vergeten laptop op te halen was SUPER vriendelijk en behulpzaam !
Was een heel aangename ervaring!

Deze mensne hebben oprecht down, fk 4 uur vertraging. Geef ons op zijn minste gratis eten en fijne stoelen geven. Mensen zijn niet te verstaan is gw lelijk hier

The passport control at Brussels Airport is a disaster. The line was absolutely massive — it felt like a kilometer long, and it moved painfully slow. I’ve experienced long queues before, like in Portugal, but at least there they had more booths open and the process was faster. Here, it seemed like only a few officers were working despite the crowd. For an international airport, this level of organization is unacceptable. Definitely something that needs urgent improvement.

De automatische poortjes van immigratie bij aankomst gaven constant aan dat ik naar de “manuele controle” moet gaan, terwijl ik op de juiste manier mijn paspoort scande en Belg ben.

Dan kwam een Afrikaanse werknemer met krulhaar naar me toe en zei dat ik “het verkeerd deed”. Toen ze het zelf probeerde werkte het ook niet, en liep zo abrupt weg.

Het is compleet onacceptabel dat ik zo onbeschoft wordt ontvangen door een buitenlander in mijn eigen land!!!!

Ik vlieg regelmatig vanaf verschillende luchthavens in België en Nederland. Wat me telkens weer opvalt in Brussel is dat de wachttijd bij de security meestal kort is – dat verloopt vlotter dan op veel andere luchthavens.

Bij mijn laatste vlucht heb ik voor het eerst de app van Brussels Airport gebruikt en die beviel me eigenlijk heel goed. Beter dan de meeste airline apps die ik gewend ben. Alle nodige info stond er duidelijk in, inclusief actuele wachttijden.

Vanaf nu ga ik die app sowieso standaard gebruiken bij vertrek vanuit Brussel.