Brussels airport for connecting flight end of Oct., heard bad things about airport lately

Posted by c-sec823 on 07/27/25 01:43 AM

Hi, I am looking at flight options for a trip from the US to Italy, and the cheapest flight in has 1hr 55min layover in Brussels. I had seen some things elsewhere about them being very busy/crowded and short staffed earlier in the year, so was wondering if maybe it's cheap for a reason should be avoided option. Anyone ben there recently to gage how things are there, or know if there's anything in the last couple weeks of Oct. that would make is more busy?

(est arrival to Brussels: 7am on saturday Oct. 18th)

Posted by lavandula

Sydney, Australia

07/27/25 02:33 AM

165 posts

There was a lot of talk about this in the holiday period around April - my husband and daughter were there around Easter. There have also been some strikes. There is a busy period in July and August because that is when Belgians take their holidays. Finally in October there are two trade fairs, a bus and coach related one from the 4-10 October and a wedding fair, from 4-6 October. Students will be at school and university, not on holiday. I don't think you will be affected unless there is another strike or some kind of breakdown, but that is unforeseeable. Prices fluctuate regularly everywhere for some arcane reason and not usually because they anticipate the airport will be busy. I think you should go ahead and book the flight. 1hr 55 is tight for some airports but BRU is small and I think you can do it if you are on a single ticket. Others may weigh in here, I don't usually use BRU for layovers.

Lavandula

Posted by joe32F

Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂

07/27/25 03:19 AM

12816 posts

you can do it if you are on a single ticket.

The single ticket is critical.

Airlines won't set themselves up for failure, and the expense of finding alternate flights, by selling itineraries that won't work.

Can something go sideways, certainly, but a drunk truck driver could hit you on the way to your home airport.

Posted by pjmun

Hawaii

07/29/25 07:24 AM

264 posts

I agree the single ticket is critical. Am at Brussels airport right now and it was chaotic, poorly run and took forever to finally get to our boarding gate. I’m sure it will be much easier as you will be passing through and going from one gate to another but I definitely think it’s challenging and very time consuming at this airport.

Posted by Marie

Northbrook, Illinois, USA

07/29/25 11:09 AM

334 posts

You may want to go on Flight Stats website and plug in your flight (it's free). Once the flight pops up, you can scroll down and see the on time record.

On July 12, 2025, we were scheduled to fly Chicago to BRU to connect to Marseille. I was trolling that flight and it was delayed a lot. As such, we made an 11th hour decision to switch the flight ORD to CDG. That flight wound up being only 90 minutes late!

I learned the hard way to keep at least three hours between flights in Europe. Honestly, on the trip home from FRA last weekend, I did a five hour layover. Was not keen on hanging around the airport, but at least I had a bigger cushion for delays. Those airports are easily overwhelmed IMO, especially when the inbound aircraft is delayed.

Hope this helps!

Safe travels.