BRU – The Loft by Brussels Airlines – Airline Lounge Review

Pier A, Brussels Airport (Schengen Zone)

Based on Visit: 10 July 2022 approximately 15:00 to 18:00

Introduction

This is my review of the Brussels Airlines Lounge at Pier A, Brussels Airport (the Schengen side).  

Having previously visited a number of European lounges in the previous few days and weeks – I was somewhat sceptical about that the Brussels Lounge would be like!

I have to say, any concerns I may have had were certainly misplaced, this is a fantastic lounge!

Entry Conditions

As I understand it, the access to this lounge is if you are traveling on Brussels Airlines as a Business Class passenger, or if you hold Star Alliance Gold status.

According to the Brussels Airport website, there is a pay-to-access option around €42. I usually think these charges are over-priced, but in the case of this lounge I’d make an exception!

Opening Times

The lounge is open daily from 05:00 to 20:30.

How to Get There

Having gone through Security, you’ll need to head to A-gates, find Gate A42, with it on your left.

Once you’re at A42, look to the right and you’ll see the escalators that take you up to the Lounges level.

Immediately in front of you, you’ll find the entrance Lounge.

Layout

One of the things I love about this lounge as that it’s a ‘find and explore’ lounge – and has something for everyone!

Firstly, there is a HUGE amount of seating in every combination you could ever want! Dining seating, high seating, low seating, casual seating – this lounge has it in buckets! It was very impressive indeed! Seemingly, all the tables or desks in the lounge have built-in wireless charging.

There is a Lexus-sponsored area, complete with a chocolate car, and area to relax in.

If like me, you tend to spend a lot of time working in airline lounges – there is a large business area, complete with charging stations, dividers – and the all-important printer! There are also a few booths for taking calls in, in quiet areas (seemingly sponsored by Skype).

Alternatively, if you’re tired, there are around four sleeping rooms – complete with bed and star-sky ceiling.

If you’d like more of a pampered time, Lexus have also sponsored some massage chairs which look over the airport’s concourse – definitely worth 15 minutes of your time. Otherwise, the showers are well worth a visit – see below!

Finally, if you’ve not managed to pick up any gifts – there is a chocolate shop too!

Food and Drink

Drinks

On the drinks side, everything is self-service. A variety of beers, wines, sparkling wines, spirits, and soft drinks were on offer. There were also some rather excellent choices of beer on offer including Stella, Leffe and Hoegaarden. Impressive!

The drinks are served from a large central(ish) bar, with some other stations with wines around the lounge.

Like the drinks, the food was self-served. Unusually, this lounge has a number of split areas for food – meaning that nothing gets too over-crowded.

Food

Food on offer included some pasta dishes, chilli, a salad bar – and a variety of bread.

On the sweeter side, there is a sweets bar with donuts cookies, cakes and other things.

Admittedly, the food wasn’t quite as impressive as the rest of the lounge, or like dining in BA’s Concorde Room – but equally, it was pretty good. Miles better than the offerings in other European lounges such as Swiss, TAP or Lufthansa!

Wifi

I found the Wifi to be very good for emails and the other work-related things I was doing.

Showers

The showers in this lounge are something else! In fact, the lounge calls them Grohe Spa’s rather than showers – and rightly so!

Inside the shower cubicle you will find one of Grohe’s all singing and dancing showers. It does a million different things in a million different combinations – and it was very hot!

It was really good, and I strongly recommend trying one out!

Many people, including Mrs Neil refuse to use showers in lounges as the hairdryers may not be good enough! Not in this one, a Dyson Hairdryer was sat into the sink – as was wireless phone charging!  

Conclusion

This lounge is absolutely excellent – even the food is miles better than other lounges – though could perhaps do with a little work.

Whether this lounge is so good because of the sponsorships from Lexus, Grohe and Skype – I’m not sure – but it’s definitely one of my favourite European lounges!