- Introduction: Emirates’ New First Class, The Long Way
- Review: Swiss Business Class 777 San Francisco To Zurich
- Review: Lufthansa Business Class A320 Zurich To Frankfurt
- Review: Air India Business Class 787 Frankfurt To Delhi
- Review: Air India Business Class A321 Delhi To Colombo
- Review: Shangri-La Colombo
- Review: Emirates Lounge Colombo Airport
- Review: Emirates First Class 777 Colombo To Dubai
- Review: St. Regis Dubai Polo Club
- Review: Emirates New First Class 777 Dubai To Brussels
- Review: Brussels Airlines Lounge Brussels Airport
- Review: TAP Air Portugal Business Class A320 Brussels To Lisbon
- Review: TAP Air Portugal Lounge Lisbon Airport
- Review: TAP Air Portugal Business Class A330 Lisbon To Newark
I spent the night at the Sheraton Brussels Airport, which I’ve reviewed in the past, and therefore won’t be reviewing this time around. My TAP Air Portugal flight from Brussels to Lisbon was departing at 6:15AM, though I got to the airport at around 4:45AM, so I’d have plenty of time to review Brussels Airlines’ lounge at their hub airport.
The airport was still deserted when I arrived, and I was through security in a matter of minutes. Brussels has a solid airport, and unlike Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle, etc., it’s not so big that it’s unmanageable.
Brussels Airport terminal
Brussels Airlines’ flagship lounge is called The Loft, and it’s located across from gate A42, which is to the right as you enter the A Concourse. The lounge is one level up from the concourse, so you have to take an escalator upstairs. The Loft is open daily from 5AM until 9PM.
Brussels Airport terminal
Escalator to lounges Brussels Airport
Once at the top of the escalator the Brussels Airlines Lounge is straight ahead, and then the airport contract lounge (The Diamond Lounge) is to the right.
Brussels Airlines Lounge exterior
While there are some great credit cards with lounge access out there, unfortunately The Loft is only available to premium cabin passengers (as you’ll see described below) and Star Alliance elite members.
Brussels Airlines Lounge seating
Generally I don’t have terribly high expectations of lounges in Europe, though this one was very nice. The lounge is ~13,300 square feet, so it’s on the large side, especially as Brussels Airport isn’t that big.
The lounge has several distinct seating areas. One of the main areas consists of a bunch of dining tables with two seats each, as well as some benches along the wall.
Brussels Airlines The Loft seating
Brussels Airlines The Loft seating
To the side of that and along the windows is an area intended more for relaxing, with individual leather chairs.
Brussels Airlines Lounge seating
Brussels Airlines The Loft seating
This area of the lounge overlooked the interior of the terminal.
Brussels Airlines Lounge view
Then there’s a business center, with a bunch of communal workstations with glass partitions, some of which feature PCs.
Brussels Airlines Lounge business center
Brussels Airlines Lounge business center
There was also a Skype booth (though I’m not sure how exactly that works).
Brussels Airlines Lounge Skype room
The lounge had a few other seating areas, and in the far corner of the lounge was an elevated area where you could sit, which overlooked the apron. Also in this elevated area was a small roped off area for HON Circle members, though it didn’t look like the area had any special features otherwise.
Brussels Airlines The Loft
Brussels Airlines The Loft
The lounge had two main food & drink service areas. Near the entrance to the lounge was a large circular buffet.
Brussels Airlines Lounge buffet
Brussels Airlines Lounge buffet
The food selection was solid, and included both hot and cold options. There were pastries, donuts, croissants, toast, salad, vegetables, cold cuts, cheese, fruit, yogurt, and cereal.
Brussels Airlines Lounge breakfast selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge breakfast selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge breakfast selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge breakfast selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge breakfast selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge breakfast selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge breakfast selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge breakfast selection
Hot options included scrambled eggs and two types of soup. I wouldn’t typically consider “green vegetable soup” to be a breakfast food, but I ended up having a bowl, as it’s not like my body was on local time anyway.
Brussels Airlines Lounge breakfast selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge breakfast selection
In terms of drinks there was some juice, and then there were several coffee stations throughout the lounge.
Brussels Airlines Lounge juice
Brussels Airlines Lounge coffee machine
On the other end of the lounge was the circular bar, which was also self serve.
Brussels Airlines Lounge drinks selection
There was an alright selection of liquor, several types of red and white wine, and four beers on tap.
Brussels Airlines Lounge liquor selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge wine selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge wine selection
Brussels Airlines Lounge beer selection
Then there was also a Coca-Cola machine where you could make all kinds of Coca-Cola beverages.
Brussels Airlines Lounge soda machine
The lounge’s other features were towards the back.
Brussels Airlines Lounge signage
Brussels Airlines Lounge bathrooms
The bathrooms themselves were fairly basic.
Brussels Airlines Lounge bathrooms
The lounge also has four shower rooms, though none of them were open, so I didn’t have a chance to check them out. In retrospect I’m sad I didn’t, because apparently you can choose your mood lighting and ambient music in the rooms.
Brussels Airlines Lounge shower rooms
One of the cool features of the lounge is that it has a nap room, which really consisted of four daybeds of sorts. To be honest the daybeds looked more to me like luggage racks than anything, and didn’t seem especially comfortable. I’m not sure if they offer any bedding (I didn’t see any), but if not, I’m not sure this is really that comfortable of a place to rest.
Brussels Airlines Lounge nap rooms
Brussels Airlines Lounge nap rooms
The Wi-Fi in the lounge was fast and free, though before I knew it, it was time to head to my departure gate for Lisbon. My flight was departing from gate A56, which was about a five minute walk from the lounge. Boarding was scheduled for 5:45AM, though in reality boarding only started at 6AM (which I guess was fine, since the plane was mostly empty).
Brussels Airport departure gate
The Loft Brussels Airport bottom line
As far as European lounges go, this is one of the better ones out there. The lounge was modern, spacious, and had a solid food selection. I’d say this is one of the nicer Schengen lounges I’ve visited, and I wouldn’t mind having had more time to spend in the lounge.
Here is a BIG problem at Brussels Airport (maybe at other European airports too but definitely not in U.S. airports). If you have a flight out of Terminal B then immigration at Brussels airport will NOT let you go to Terminal A to use the The Loft lounge. They say it is for “security” - not sure what is the concern there. Seems like a stupid policy since all security checks are already done before...
Here is a BIG problem at Brussels Airport (maybe at other European airports too but definitely not in U.S. airports). If you have a flight out of Terminal B then immigration at Brussels airport will NOT let you go to Terminal A to use the The Loft lounge. They say it is for “security” - not sure what is the concern there. Seems like a stupid policy since all security checks are already done before getting anywhere near the lounges. I’ve tried this twice when I’m transit from Africa to U.S. - both times I was not allowed. For me the main reasons for trying to use The Loft was the shower facilities and the wide food selection but that was not to be...
Nice Lounge. Just the right size for this airport. An Oasis.
Will consider them on my next trip on CX from HKG - BRU.
Hey Lucky....just heard they have changed the wine selection after ( I guess) 16 years....I wasn't there for 5 weeks now so I could not check yet....but you should come more often ;-)
The showers are always locked, you have to book them through the front desk, they will walk you to the shower and open the door. Easy enough. There's supposed to be an attendant at busy hours but I've never seen that. Mood lighting: not that I remember but you can choose from 4-5 music genres with a dial.
Sometimes there is a bartender, otherwise, it's serve yourself.
There's also a meeting room that...
The showers are always locked, you have to book them through the front desk, they will walk you to the shower and open the door. Easy enough. There's supposed to be an attendant at busy hours but I've never seen that. Mood lighting: not that I remember but you can choose from 4-5 music genres with a dial.
Sometimes there is a bartender, otherwise, it's serve yourself.
There's also a meeting room that you can book, supposedly only for SEN and HON but they've let me use it (*G).
That rocket in your photo looks like the one in the TinTin book series Flight to the Moon.
Probably no coincidence as author Herge was Belgian.
Has good lockers for storing hand luggage , for a modest cost ( a couple of Euros). Great on a long connection.
I do have a slightly different opinion on BRU airport. To me it is rather badly planned, as in there are lots of going up and down escalators/lift from check-in to the Schengen gate areas. They have renovated it (you used to have to walk a long tunnel to security and than up again another flight of escalators/lift. Now, they have made it a "shopping" experience where instead of walking via some tunnels, it brings...
I do have a slightly different opinion on BRU airport. To me it is rather badly planned, as in there are lots of going up and down escalators/lift from check-in to the Schengen gate areas. They have renovated it (you used to have to walk a long tunnel to security and than up again another flight of escalators/lift. Now, they have made it a "shopping" experience where instead of walking via some tunnels, it brings you via the different shops which is rather irritating for me.
As for the Loft, yes, it is for a small airline a very good lounge in terms of offerings - even beating in my opinion their neighboring Crown lounges :). Only thing is that the Loft can get super crowded and the lounge is a big mess...food, cups, glasses not replenish on time. This happens mostly during the morning rush hours and especially in the evenings.
Food is an important part of Belgium culture, so no surprise the SN lounge at its hub scores high in this respect.
Also SN's food on long haul J class is very good. Unfortunately, their J seats are very narrow, especially the foot wells.
In the afternoon they have also some nice snacks (hot waffles, rijstpap, chocolademousse,...)
Also like it that you can tap your own Stella, Leffe,... :)
In the nap rooms you normally get a (thick) blanket.
Lounge gets quite crowded though on Thursday/Friday evenings.
Anyone else get caught in horrendous passport control lines at BRU when departing to non-Schengen destinations? Last time it took more than an hour so I had no chance to try the lounge.
As far as intra-EU *A lounges go, this must be one of my favorite ones. Even though hot food options are quite limited, I always find the food and drink selection to be more than adequate. Great private seatingpods overlooking the apron in the top left corner of the lounge too!
Pity you didn't get to check out the showers.
It's a shame the non-Schengen lounge is subpar compared to The Loft.
Yes - a very nice lounge. At the last MegaDo in September, we had the pleasure of being invited into the lounge and talk one on one with both the CEO of Brussel'sAairlines and the CEO of the BRU airport. They do have great plans for the future of the airport.
Very nice food offerings for Lunch - entrée, salad, soup, etc. Add 150 of us at 2pm - we made it even more crowded,...
Yes - a very nice lounge. At the last MegaDo in September, we had the pleasure of being invited into the lounge and talk one on one with both the CEO of Brussel'sAairlines and the CEO of the BRU airport. They do have great plans for the future of the airport.
Very nice food offerings for Lunch - entrée, salad, soup, etc. Add 150 of us at 2pm - we made it even more crowded, but the lounge could handle it. Great staff as well, and great people we met during our behind the scenes tours of maintenance.
Highly recommended a trip to BRU and a flight on Brussels Airlines.
I totally agree - the only drawback is that it cab get MIGHTY crowded during peak times.