Arriving Early: Navigating Brussels Airport Stress-Free

Brussels Airport recommends that passengers arrive at the airport three hours before a long-haul flight. However, some sources suggest that two hours is sufficient, and that three hours is the minimum for non-EU citizens, who have to go through a separate security line.

For long-haul flights, it's best to arrive at Brussels airport three hours before departure

If you've already checked in online and don't have any luggage to check in, you may be able to get away with arriving at the airport two hours before your flight. However, this is cutting it fine and you may still have to queue for security and passport control.

Brussels Airlines offers a 'drop your baggage' facility, which can be useful if you want to travel to the airport with hand luggage only. However, it's always best to check the latest advice from your airline, as check-in and bag drop times can vary.

If you're not an EU citizen, there is only one line for 'All Passports', which can be very slow. In this case, it's definitely worth arriving at the airport at least three hours in advance to avoid any stress or delays.

If you've checked in online and have no luggage to check, you may only need to arrive two hours before your flight

Brussels Airport recommends that passengers flying long-haul arrive three hours before their flight. However, some passengers have reported that two hours is sufficient, especially if you've already checked in and have no luggage to drop off.

If you're flying to the US, it's worth noting that Brussels Airport has a dedicated security line for non-EU citizens, which can be slower. One passenger reported that they were scolded by passport control for asking to skip the line, so it's best to allow plenty of time to avoid any potential delays.

In general, it's a good idea to keep an eye on the airport's social media pages and the Belgian press in the days leading up to your flight, just in case there are any unexpected problems or delays.

If you're not an EU citizen, there's only one line for 'All Passports' which can be very slow

Brussels Airport recommends arriving at the airport three hours before a long-haul or transatlantic flight. However, some travellers suggest that two hours in advance is still fine, and that the most important thing is to check the latest check-in time for your flight on your airline's website.

If you're not an EU citizen, there's only one line for 'All Passports', which can be very slow. It's recommended that you arrive at least three hours in advance to account for this. One traveller reported that they were scolded by passport control for asking to skip the line after arriving just two hours before their flight.

If you've already checked in online and don't have any luggage to check in, you may be able to bypass the lines and go straight to a window with no queue. However, it's still a good idea to keep an eye on the airport's social media pages and the Belgian press in the days before your flight to make sure there are no unexpected problems.

Check the airport's social media pages and the Belgian press before your flight to make sure there are no unexpected problems

It is recommended that you arrive at Brussels airport at least three hours before a long-haul or transatlantic flight. However, some sources suggest that two hours in advance is fine, and one source states that they arrived three hours early and were able to bypass the lines. It is a good idea to check the airport's social media pages and the Belgian press in the days before your flight to make sure there are no unexpected problems. You can also check the Brussels airport website for recommended arrival times.

Check the latest check-in time for your flight on the airline's website

It is recommended that you arrive at Brussels Airport at least three hours before a long-haul or transatlantic flight. However, some sources suggest that two hours in advance is also fine. It is important to check the latest check-in time for your flight on the airline's website, as this may vary depending on the airline and the specific flight. For example, one source mentioned that United advised passengers to arrive four hours before a flight to the US, but they were able to bypass the lines and get through security in three hours because they had already checked in online and had no luggage to check.

Brussels Airport's website advises passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before departure for a smooth check-in process. However, it is also important to keep an eye on the airport's social media pages and the Belgian press in the days leading up to your flight to ensure there are no unexpected problems or delays. Additionally, if you are not an EU citizen, be prepared for potentially longer wait times at passport control, as there is only one line for "All Passports".

Frequently asked questions