Review of Brussels Airlines Business Class

As a smaller hub than other European airports, connecting through Brussels is an easier experience that requires shorter transit times. As a result, flying on Brussels Airlines can get you to your destination faster than other airlines, which may schedule flights with longer connection times at busier airports. Brussels Airport is around 12 kilometres northeast of Brussels and is well-serviced by road and rail. The airport features a single terminal with two concourses – Schengen flights depart from gates A and non-Schengen flights depart from gates B and T, and handles around 26 million passengers per year.

Long-haul flights depart from gate Area T at the far end of Concourse A and Area B in Concourse B. Priority check-in, security and Business Class lounge options in either area make it easy to begin your travel or connect through the airport.

The flagship lounge of Brussels Airlines is the 2,040-square metre THE LOFT, located in gate area A. Partnered with Japanese luxury car brand Lexus since 2018, it extended the size of the lounge to include a dedicated 'The Lexus Experience' area. The lounge now contains facilities such as SPA Grohe shower suites, individual nap rooms with starlight ceilings, Lexus LS Shiatsu-effect massage chairs, a Mark Levinson audio listening room and treats such as a chocolate experience hosted by a Neuhaus maître chocolatier, organic dishes and drinks by Foodmaker and Rombouts and selected Belgian beers on tap. Wine, spirits, juices, soft drinks, coffee, and tea are also available. The buffet offers hot and cold items that change with the time of day. THE LOFT features several spaces with iconic Belgian inspiration, including a wall full of historical items from the Tintin universe. An enclosed VIP area reserved for HON Circle members (the highest tier in the Miles & More loyalty program) includes a state-of-the-art Miele kitchen, a living room and a changing collection of foreign and Belgian art. The lounge is open from 05.30 – 20.30 hours daily.

The Sunrise Lounge at the far end of Concourse A is dedicated to passengers departing on Brussels Airlines flights to Sub-Saharan Africa from gate area T and is open from early morning until lunch. The lounge was completely renovated and reopened to Business Class customers in July 2023, offering 25 per cent more seating capacity and, as the name suggests, beautiful sunrise views during the morning hours. Features include a sizeable new buffet area with hot and cold food, complemented by a new self-serve Belgian beer tap, water fountain and soft drink dispenser, which also serves to reduce plastic waste. Passengers on connecting flights can now sleep in 'nap boxes', and the lounge has state-of-the-art shower facilities.

Passengers departing on Brussels Airlines flights from Concourse B have access to The Diamond Lounge, operated by Brussels Airport and used by several airlines. Showers are available by requesting keys from the reception desk. No matter which Business Class lounge you use, there is a complimentary bar with wine, beer and spirits plus juices, soft drinks, coffee and tea, and a buffet offering hot and cold items.

If your flight departs from gate areas B or T, we recommend visiting THE LOFT if you allow time to clear immigration on your way to the departure gate.

In addition to the lounges at its home base, Brussels Airlines also operates its own lounge at Kinshasa N'djili Airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - named 'THE SUITE.'

Read more about Brussels Airlines Lounges via the Brussels Airlines website.

Business Class passengers enjoy an enhanced baggage allowance of two checked bags of up to 32 kilogrammes each plus two cabin items of up to 8 kilogrammes each, along with dedicated airport check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage claim.

A free door-to-door chauffeur service is available to eligible passengers travelling to and from the Netherlands, northern France, Luxembourg or North Rhine-Westphalia to Brussels Airport with flights to Africa, the US and Europe and back.

Business Class seats vary depending on the aircraft - as more of the airline's fleet is updated. We advise that you review the seat map when making a reservation to choose your preferred seat; there is a charge to reserve certain prized, solo throne seats with a table on either side (1A, 3A and 5A) - although this is waived for Miles & More top elite members. Availability opens up to all other passengers a couple of days before departure, so keep monitoring the seat map if travelling alone.

The all-Airbus A330 fleet of aircraft has 30 comfortable seats that recline to a two-metre flat-bed position laid out in a staggered, forward-facing, alternating 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 pattern. Solo travellers will prefer one of the single throne seats for maximum privacy, while those travelling together should opt for the pairs of seats. The double seats in the centre section have two side tables, while the alternating pairs on the aircraft's left side share a central shared table. Solo fliers may prefer not to share a central table with another passenger.

Pay attention to the seat maps, which show the seats with a small table closer to the aisle; those with a seat closer to the aisle may feel more exposed as people move down the aisle. Those with the table closer to the aisle have more privacy, especially when reclined, as the seat is closer to the fuselage.

A few seats in the cabin (2A, 4A and 6A) do not have direct aisle access, but all have plentiful storage space and easy-access power outlets. All seats on the right window side of the aircraft are solo seats but only have one table on either side.

In the cabin, light wood and leather accents add an elegant touch, and all the seats have half partitions that give them more privacy. However, some passengers complain that the footwell is rather constraining when reclining into a flat-bed position. This is most notable in the throne seats.

Each seat has a large pillow and thin blanket duvet for sleeping, and electronic controls are easy to manage so the seat can recline in various positions. A massage function is built into the seat with plenty of storage space, including a water bottle holder and shoe pouch.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes images, videos, and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way, you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested before making your choice.

 Duration of the flight in which you are interested, before making your choice.

Printed menus share details on the tasty cuisine in store, and many dishes come from the airline's Belgian Star Chefs program consisting of Michelin-starred chefs representing exceptional restaurants from Belgium. Business Class passengers enjoy a restaurant-style meal service presented on stylish porcelain dishes, steel cutlery and glassware.

As the service begins, flight attendants deliver hot towels and lay fine linens on the large tables that fold out from the side of the seat. Drinks are served from a clattering bar cart, but they do come with an aperitif and salty snack to start the meal. Next up, a tray arrives with a choice of two starters, a side salad and some warm bread.

Drinks accompany each course, and soon the main dish arrives, which is a choice of three options, usually beef or poultry, seafood and vegetarian. The ability to order special meals before departure is great for those with specific dietary requirements, and these have been upgraded to ensure guests with special dietary requirements can also enjoy tasty Belgian-inspired cuisine.

A cheese course arrives with three Belgian varieties followed by sweet dessert cake or tart from an attractive multi-tiered cart. Cordials, coffee, tea and other after-dinner drinks round out the service.

Since 1st June 2023, menu options differ each week, providing frequent flyers with variety in their dining, and the airline has announced a welcome return with its collaboration with Belgian chocolatier Neuhaus – with every Business Class passenger on long-haul flights receiving a chocolate gift box – Yum!  

There is no formal snack menu between meals, but a snack basket of fresh fruit and chocolates are available in a self-service station. A mid-flight snack on many flights includes Belgian IJsboerke ice cream, available anytime. There is also an espresso machine where you can prepare your own coffee drinks or ask for assistance from the crew. Depending on the time of day, a pre-arrival meal is served about 90 minutes before landing, but only on flights scheduled at over seven hours flight time.

Like many airlines operating on the African continent, Brussels Airlines flies several flights with a tag sector. A flight leaving Brussels en route to two African cities will stop in one before travelling onward to the second and then returning to Brussels. As a result, there are many one-stop flights from Brussels to African destinations and vice versa. During the intra-African tag flight, there is usually no inflight service, but if time allows, there may be a beverage offering with a small sandwich. 

As guests board, a tray of welcome drinks includes orange juice, water, Duval-Leroy Cuvée Brut Réserve or Kir Royale cocktails.

Printed menus outline what is available throughout the flight, including Champagne, two white wines, two red wines and a highlighted wine of the month served in large stemless wine glasses. There is a long list of cocktails using an impressive array of liqueurs and spirits, including Johnnie Walker Black Label, Glenfiddich Special Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Bache VSOP Cognac and Cointreau, among others.

The Belgian beer list is most notable, served in the appropriate glass for that beer style. These include Hoegaarden white ale from Flanders, Trappist Westmalle Tripel from Flanders and a non-alcoholic Stella Artois, among others. The beer menu is a point of pride for the airline.

Of course, a wide assortment of soft drinks, still and sparkling water, juices, coffee and tea are always available.

As part of the airline's boutique hotel experience philosophy when designing the new Business Class cabins, a self-service walk-up bar is set up in the galley, allowing passengers to enjoy nine famous Belgian beers, top-quality wines and other beverages at will (open fifteen minutes after the main meal service). A self-service espresso machine is also available. While not a proper bar as some airlines provide, the initiative gives passengers a place to mingle.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on which Champagne is served in Business Class and First Class on many airlines. We do our best to keep track of any changes but feel free to let us know if we missed something.

Brussels Airlines staff members are personable and proud of their small airline that has developed a reputation for reliability and good service standards. They enjoy conversing with passengers as they serve meals - adding personality to the experience. While the crew is not the most doting, it is just the right amount of interaction.

Noise-reducing headphones plug into the side of the seat, and several dozen international movies and short subject programs represent hundreds of hours of available content. There is a good mix of international options, including many from African producers, given the airline's African route network, plus a good variety of audio content from music to audiobooks. Children have their section of programmes and games to keep them entertained throughout the flight. The 15.6 inches (39.6 centimetres) HD system operates via a touch-screen capability or by using the wired remote control on the side of the seat. An impressive moving map display is also available.

Wi-Fi is not available on any Brussels Airlines flights.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi.

In addition to pillows and blankets, a bottle of water and a vegan leather amenity kit from Belgian-based luxury fashion brand NATA, with the cosmetics products provided by Belgian brand RainPharma. They are part of a collectable series of three unique designs.

Newspapers and magazines are no longer available onboard, and passengers are encouraged to download the airline's eJournals to personal devices, which saves tonnes of paper annually. The eJournals can be accessed 24 hours before departure.  

On shorter flights, the airline flies narrowbody Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft with economy class seats; the middle seat is blocked. Brussels Airlines has five brand new Airbus A320neos on order – the first of which has received its livery branding and is anticipated to take its first passengers in October 2023, with the last of the new aircraft taking to the skies in 2024. This is the first time the airline has operated brand new aircraft, and the A320neos will enter service as a phased replacement to the oldest A319s.

As with the long-haul routes, short and medium-haul flights now have an upgraded menu service – complimentary to Business Class customers – changing weekly and is served on a single tray with porcelain plates and steel cutlery. The menus differ depending on the flight length, but all come with a taste of Belgium. On flights longer than 2.5 hours, passengers will receive a hot meal. For shorter flights, passengers will receive delicious cold options. Passengers will enjoy complimentary drinks, including wines, beers and soft drinks.

The airline has a four-part strategy to support the environment, including renewing the fleet with new engine technology, optimising ground operations and flight routes to conserve fuel, and investing in alternative fuels. As part of The Lufthansa Group of airlines, it plans to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and be carbon neutral by 2050. Onboard and lounge recycling programs are in place, and the digitisation of manuals and periodicals is another way the carrier saves weight on board the aircraft, thereby using less fuel. On the ground, buildings have used 100 per cent renewable energy since 2015 and efficient LED lighting since 2018.

In 2010, the airline established b.foundation for Africa to accommodate and support humanitarian projects in Africa. The airline's employees are involved in various humanitarian projects, and the foundation supports several NGOs. Every second year, the b.foundation organises "Bike for Africa", a fundraising mountain bike trip for Brussels Airlines employees and corporate partners. The initiative has included trips in Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Senegal, Gambia, Uganda and Burundi, all to have fun and give back to local communities.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also give a higher score to flights operated by the most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft.