Brussels Airport Reviews 

Wrapping suitcases in plastic foil at Brussels Airport (Zaventem) is practically a monopoly. Previously, one could wrap their own suitcases – with, for example, a special set from Amazon or others – before checking in. That is no longer the case. Now, it is mandatory to have this done in the departure hall and to have special stickers applied before the suitcases are accepted for check-in. On top of that, the price per suitcase is excessively expensive.

It is a joke, not an airport.
Never being to a place like that.
- Parking is more expensive than Zaventem
- you even pay for toilet, dirty and without toilet paper!!!! Disguting
- they are so slow at the security check, they have millions of passengers per year and a ridicously small security check
- shops and food shops very limiter amd horrible quality
- I waited more the 30 min!! To get my baggage
- the way it is organised outside, you walk a lot in the wind and cold
- transport is monopolised by Flibco which is an horrible service, likely there are the private transfers

This is by far the worst airport in Europe compared to size and number of passengers, by far the worst. Thanks Belgium!

Arrived at the airport for the first time. Zero signage telling you where you should be going - litter everywhere - queues everywhere - rude and demotivated, scruffy, monosyllabic staff, who wave in the general direction of where they think you should go. The smartest area of the place is the Duty Free shopping. The rest is a mishmash of horrid, unkempt spaces. I thought Brussels was meant to be the HQ of the Euro Zone. I would say 'avoid' but until the Belgium government spend some money and build a new airport you're stuck with it. In comparison, Heathrow and Madrid airports are sumptuous palaces. Brussels airport is a national disgrace to Belgium.

There is a 2+ hr line to *LEAVE* the country. My queue was over 1000 people long, I never, ever want to repeat the horrendous experience of that day. There were 2 security officers, and it took me a full two hours to get through the endless, snaking line. As a solo traveller, I was unable to use the toilet, I felt genuinely frightened at time and was holding down a panic attack the entire time. They gave out water to the queue, which was appreciated. Three or four times fights nearly broke out as people missing their flights attempted to skip the line. No security. People *WILL* miss their flights in this queue, I saw it with my own eyes. NON-EU PASSPORT HOLDERS BEWARE THIS AIRPORT my advice is to use Schipol and take a train.

When the front desk passport control officer doesn’t know the layout of his own airport you know you’re in for a treat. I understand a language barrier can be an issue, this man understood my every word. He could not inform me which gates would be past passport control, he couldn’t direct me to a bathroom and he didn’t take the smirk off his face while continuously telling me he doesn’t know the airport well enough.

It's a nice airport but the water is cold even in winter and the shuttle buses have no heating either making my experience at this airport during winter season very uncomfortable.

The lines are too long and there is no help, people were always cutting the lines and no one Cared

After clearing security with my items and my toddler, I had to wait almost 10 minutes for my buggy to be cleared. It seemed they did not have enough personnel to be running the security line and checking buggies. I was left holding my toddler while waiting in the crowd for my buggie.

Luckily we arrived at the airport with 2.5 hours to spare because during the passport queue we noticed only one airport personnel for the “All passport” line. Even though I had a US passport and there was a separate UK and US line we were funneled into the “All passport” line. I guess support personnel called out Jan 2nd and they didn’t have enough staff? We waited almost an hour in line for our passports to be checked which seemed short bc once we were in line for 10 min the line behind us got much longer. The one personnel who was checking passports left her spot seemingly upset bc she kept glancing up and looking for her replacement. I guess the guy who took over her shift was late? She left abruptly when her replacement arrived and left a few people in her line confused.

This new guy took twice the time she took and he was slowly flipping though the pages of each passport and staring at the computer screen. Not sure why leaving a country needed so many checks. Since the passport queue took so long, many of the passengers on our Aer Lingus flight were delayed. The captain announced that we would wait an additional 45 minutes for the passengers due to a long passport queue line. Therefore, we were then delayed and sitting on the tarmac. Afterwards, they had to removed checked bags for the passengers that missed their flights so that took another 15 minutes.

Why is there only one personnel for the entire “All passport” line if there are atleast 4 possible cubicles? The airport seemed understaffed and the personnel who were there seemed unhappy. Seems like poor management from above or government needing to provide better management or better pay/work conditions for staff. What is happening in Brussels airport?

This airport is arguably one of the most inefficient in Europe. While challenges such as high passenger volumes or inadequate staffing can sometimes be understood, neither of these issues were prevalent and were not the root cause here. What is truly concerning is the blaring lack of organisation, responsibility, and customer care. The mismanagement on display reflects a deeply inefficient system, one that doesn’t seem to recognise or address its shortcomings. While I’m doubtful that any feedback will lead to meaningful change, I strongly recommend considering alternative airports if possible

Is the Enjoy voucher a serious product? Bought in mid December foreseeing use during upcoming travels, on 21 December was refused by Beer and Cheeers Bar, today Starbucks advised not to use it as the entire credit of 60€ would be consumed against a consumption of 15.70€! Unbelievable! Put two stars just because I still have a remote confidence the issue can be solved. Recommend to stay away from this Your Enjoy! card.

Yesterday I missed my flight because of an inefficient passport control at the Brussels airport Zaventem. The All passports queue was unbelievably long. I waited for over 2 hours, and some people did let me skip the line, otherwise it could have easily been a 3-hour wait. Several times I asked stewards and policemen present for help with no result. As a solo traveller, I couldn't even go to the toilet in this time otherwise I would loose my spot. During the wait, even a fight started because some desperate people tried to skip the line to make it to their planes. Not to mention that during this time, the so-called European passoports lanes were empty half of the time, but we were not allowed to use them. They could have also sorted people in the queue based on the time of their flight. Things could have been done to improve the situation. Upon contacting the customer service, I received an explanation that the reason for my missed flight was my late arrival rather than anything strange happening at the airport. If 3-hour queues and fights to get through the passport control is your normal way of working, congrats Brussels airport!

The security at this airport is an absolute nightmare. It starts after baggage check in where more than half the auto gates are not working (again…). You then arrive at the baggage screening queue which is probably longer than a queue at any disneyland attraction during absolute peak time. The baggage screening process is outdated and people are repacking their stuff right after the scanner still on the belt preventing other trays to come out. A frequent traveller frustrated by how brussels airport is managed

Pretty building with zero ability to handle customer flow. Lineups everywhere, and passport control was a nightmare! 2+ hours to get thru. Everyone was missing flights. We'd allowed 3.5 hours and still had to run to the gate. Never using them again.

More than one hour queue at the security control. Only 3 checks open out of 11!

Extremely dangerous situation in line for security. Security gates were being closed in front of people’s faces who have had already been in line for over 2 hours. When the situation worsened they reopened a gate at the fair end of the que system and told people to go down there. A lot of people pushing to get to the gate was very nearly crushed against glass doors until a security guard pulled us out and let us through security. No organisation. No plan. Avoid this airport at all cost

Two hour line through security, during which a security teams shift ended, so they locked the door and shouted aggressively at people queuing up that were upset.

Truly never seen anything like it, avoid departuring from this airport if possible.

Absolute chaos. Does anyone work at this airport? Make sure to give your 3-4 hours minimum to get through security and passport control.

Advertisement for trolleys in the entrance, asking persons where they were,they are further inside… walking a long time, asking 4. th person, no, we have stopped using trolley. Major dissappointment. Lack of helpfulnes also.

The immigration queue was terrible. Waiting for about an hour with a mild panic builiding through the line. I missed my flight as I didn't expect to be so few staff. The airport is functional, has good wifi and powerpoints, but for a major airport, major staffing issues. Need to warn passengers in advance to really add more time for security and immigration,

I am pregnant. There was a long line for the security control. I kindly ask the personal, to let me go without waiting so long. They told me, I had to pay to be priority (at the security control?!) or I had to wait in the line.
They havent even tried to help me or assist me somehow.

I am really diasapponted.