Amongst the worst airports serving an EU Capital. And they also pretend to be the European Capital!!! Incompetent personnel at the luggage controls and scanning devices probably dating back to 20 year... See more
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Reviews shaping this summary
Needs major updates. Checked in online only to queue 40 mins to drop bags off. No difference to old check in queues. Still using old scanning tech and metal detectors, so that's liquids only... See more
Company replied
The Federal Police at passport control decided to leave just as several flights arrived, leaving only one counter open. An hour later, they still hadn't returned, and they didn't even attempt to manag... See more
Company replied
Non eu passport make sure your 3 hours before departure arrive because leaving or entering Brussel is a disaster only two people at immigration no fast track for gold or business. A long que no toil... See more
Company details
Written by the company
In 2019, more than 26 million passengers arrived or departed at Brussels Airport, making it the 26th busiest airport in Europe.
Contact info
Vilvoordelaan, 1930, Zaventem, Belgium
- info@brusselsairport.be
- brusselsairport.be
1.2
Bad
360 reviews
No recent history of asking for reviews
This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative
Replied to 51% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 2 weeks
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Sixt car rental was poorly run
Sixt car rental was poorly run, forcing the renters into long lines with multiple agents being unavailable to assist. Never rent from them again.
July 17, 2026
Unprompted review
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7 hours flight time and 5 hours of…
7 hours flight time and 5 hours of immigration line - under developed countries are better then this
July 16, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that you experienced long waiting times at the border. We understand how frustrating this can be. This is not the experience that we as Brussels Airport want to offer our passengers.
At the moment, the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) means that border checks take longer than before, as additional steps are required. We are working closely with the Federal Police to support operations as effectively as possible. We hope to offer you a smoother experience on a future visit.
This was the worst experience ever
This was, without question, the worst airport experience I have ever had anywhere in the world. I have travelled extensively across Europe and many other countries, including places with far fewer resources, and I have never experienced such poor organisation, inefficiency, and very unprofessional customer service.
My husband and I arrived at the airport three hours before our flight, yet we still barely made it to the gate.
To avoid delays, I purchased two Fast Track passes, expecting them to speed us through security and passport control as they do at most international airports. Instead, the Fast Track only applied to security, and even that was a complete failure. It took over an hour to get through the so-called Fast Track lane, while some of the regular lanes were actually moving faster. The officer checking luggage was inspecting almost every bag at an incredibly slow pace, creating unnecessary delays. On top of that, his attitude was dismissive and unprofessional, with no concern whatsoever that passengers were at risk of missing their flights.
The biggest surprise came after security, when I discovered that the Fast Track pass did not include passport control. We then had to join another queue, where we waited for over 1 hour and 45 minutes. By this point, we were on the verge of missing our flight. I approached several passport control officers multiple times to explain the situation, but instead of receiving assistance, I was met with rudeness, aggression, and complete indifference. No one showed any willingness to help or even acknowledge the urgency of the situation.
In the end, I had to rely on the kindness of other passengers, asking them to let us move ahead in line so we could make our flight. Without their generosity, we would almost certainly have missed it.
This airport is, in my opinion, one of the worst-managed airports in Europe. Charging for a Fast Track service that provides so little benefit is extremely misleading, and the lack of organization, combined with the poor attitude of several staff members, made this an incredibly stressful and disappointing experience.
After travelling to airports all over the world, I can honestly say this was my worst airport experience ever. Unfortunately, it left such a negative impression that I would never visit Belgium again or to recommend for anyone to go.
July 13, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
We are very sorry to read about your experience and fully understand how stressful this must have been, especially given the long waiting times and the risk of missing your flight.
Fast Track access at Brussels Airport applies only to the security screening. While it is intended to offer a faster process, waiting times can still vary during peak moments or when additional checks are required, which may impact the overall flow, even in the priority lane.
Concerning the long queues at passport control, your experience was due to a combination of circumstances. The ongoing rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) is currently increasing processing times, as additional checks are required. In addition, there was a staffing shortage within the Federal Police at that time, which further impacted waiting times.
We continuously work together with all partners at the airport, including the Federal Police, to improve passenger flow and overall experience, and your feedback helps us identify where improvements are most needed.
We sincerely regret that your visit left such a negative impression and hope we may have the opportunity to welcome you again under better circumstances.
They are still in the stone age with…
They are still in the stone age with their 100ml maximum liquids. We travelled from Dublin where you can carry 2 l on board assuming we could travel back from Brussels with our hand luggage as is. But no, at Brussels airport they take anything over 100ml which is ridiculous. They took expensive creams off us, ones we brought into Brussels by air. They need to get a grip and catch up with everyone else.
June 22, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Dear
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We understand your frustration regarding the current 100 ml liquid restriction, especially when travelling from airports where more advanced screening technology already allows passengers to carry larger quantities of liquids in their hand luggage.
Please be assured that Brussels Airport is actively working on the implementation of new security screening technology.
The aim is to further modernise our security process and, in the future, move away from the current 100 ml liquid restrictions.
While this change will unfortunately not happen overnight, investments are being made to continuously improve our airport facilities and passenger experience wherever possible.
We appreciate your comments and understand the inconvenience this situation may have caused.
Feedback such as yours helps us identify areas where improvements are most important to our passengers.
Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to welcome you again at Brussels Airport in the future.
Kind regards,
I would like to leave a negative review…
I would like to leave a negative review about the operation of Brussels Airport (Zaventem). I arrived on time for my flight, but due to very long queues at check-in and passport control, I was unable to board my plane.
The organization at the airport is very poor: queues move slowly, there is a lack of staff, and the processes are badly coordinated. The wait at passport control in particular was extremely long, which caused me to miss my flight.
I was traveling on a holiday that I had paid a significant amount of money for, and in the end my trip was ruined due to problems at the airport, not because of my own fault. I am very disappointed with this level of service and organization.
July 4, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Dear Iryna,
We have received your message and have read it carefully.
We regret that you experienced longer waiting times at passport control at our airport.
Please note that border control is carried out by the Federal Police. As the airport, we do not have any influence on how passport control is organised. The Federal Police, which is part of the Belgian government, independently decides how many booths are opened and how much staff is allocated for a specific flight.
Despite close cooperation and coordination between our airport and the Federal Police, it may happen that—due to limited capacity or a high number of arriving passengers during busy periods—waiting times are longer than expected.
At the moment, the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) means that border checks take longer than before, as additional steps are required.
We are working closely with the Federal Police to support operations as effectively as possible. We hope to offer you a smoother experience on a future visit.
Kind regards,
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Brussels worst airport
Brussels airport is worst airport I have been to the passport control is a nightmare the staff are so unhelpful people missing their flights and no one was help them or giving them information
June 29, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Dear
We have received your message and have read it carefully.
We regret that you experienced longer waiting times at passport control at our airport.
Please note that border control is carried out by the Federal Police. As the airport, we do not have any influence on how passport control is organised. The Federal Police, which is part of the Belgian government, independently decides how many booths are opened and how much staff is allocated for a specific flight.
Despite close cooperation and coordination between our airport and the Federal Police, it may happen that—due to limited capacity or a high number of arriving passengers during busy periods—waiting times are longer than expected.
At the moment, the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) means that border checks take longer than before, as additional steps are required.
We are working closely with the Federal Police to support operations as effectively as possible. We hope to offer you a smoother experience on a future visit.
Kind regards,
Worst experience especially with the…
Worst experience especially with the immigration. Took more than 3 hrs to pass through immigration. There is only one washroom located at the end of the corridor and no water facilities too. Probably the worst airport in the world
June 28, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Dear Mohammed,
We have received your message and have read it carefully.
We regret that you experienced longer waiting times at passport control at our airport.
Please note that border control is carried out by the Federal Police. As the airport, we do not have any influence on how passport control is organised. The Federal Police, which is part of the Belgian government, independently decides how many booths are opened and how much staff is allocated for a specific flight.
Despite close cooperation and coordination between our airport and the Federal Police, it may happen that—due to limited capacity or a high number of arriving passengers during busy periods—waiting times are longer than expected.
At the moment, the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) means that border checks take longer than before, as additional steps are required.
We are working closely with the Federal Police to support operations as effectively as possible. We hope to offer you a smoother experience on a future visit.
Kind regards
The Federal Police at passport control…
The Federal Police at passport control decided to leave just as several flights arrived, leaving only one counter open. An hour later, they still hadn't returned, and they didn't even attempt to manage the crowd when things became disorderly. One officer simply shrugged and said, "It's normal." They clearly don't care. Missing your flight because of this isn't worth the risk. Avoid it like the plague.
June 23, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that you experienced long waiting times at the border. We understand how frustrating this can be. This is not the experience that we as Brussels Airport want to offer our passengers.
Unfortunately, your experience was caused by a combination of circumstances. At the moment, the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) means that border checks take longer than before, as additional steps are required. At the same time, on that specific day, there was a staffing shortage within the Federal Police, who are responsible for carrying out these border controls.
We are working closely with the Federal Police to support operations as effectively as possible. We hope to offer you a smoother experience on a future visit.
I had a very unpleasant experience with staff members and boarding check
I had a very unpleasant experience with the boarding staff at Brussels Airport (Zaventem) on 20/06/2026 while travelling on Ryanair flight FR5233 to Girona.
My husband and I had deliberately selected seats 25D and 26D so we could sit close to each other. We arrived at the gate near the end of boarding to avoid standing in a long queue. When my boarding pass was checked, one staff member suddenly told me I did not have an assigned seat and sent me to another colleague.
The second staff member attempted to scan my boarding pass, which clearly showed seat 25D. When it did not scan properly, she immediately started speaking to me in French. I am a Latvian citizen travelling with a Latvian ID card. While I am learning French, I am not fluent and could not understand what was happening. Instead of checking whether I spoke French or switching to English, she continued speaking French and used dismissive, condescending gestures.
When I politely asked her to explain in English, she simply told me to stand aside because I was supposedly holding up the queue. This was despite the fact that there was only one family behind me. I was left standing there for about five minutes with no explanation while departure time approached, making an already stressful flying experience even more stressful.
What frustrated me most was the lack of communication and empathy. I was repeatedly told that I had no seat, despite my boarding pass clearly showing one. Then, once there were no passengers left waiting, the staff member suddenly decided to try scanning my boarding pass again. The issue was resolved in less than a minute.
However, instead of receiving my original seat, I was reassigned to seat 11C, far away from my husband. No explanation was provided as to why my original seat had been removed or changed.
Mistakes can happen, and technical issues can occur. My complaint is not about that. It is about the way I was treated: the rude attitude, the refusal to communicate clearly in English at an international airport, the lack of explanation, and the feeling of being treated as though I had done something wrong when I had simply followed the instructions on my boarding pass.
Passengers deserve to be treated with respect, especially when dealing with unexpected issues. Unfortunately, that was not my experience at Zaventem Airport.
June 20, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are very sorry to read about the situation you encountered during boarding and understand how stressful and upsetting this must have been.
Please allow us to clarify that boarding procedures, including seat allocation, boarding pass validation and any last-minute seat changes, are entirely managed by the airline and their handling agents. As your flight was operated by Ryanair, they are responsible for the processes and decisions taken at the gate.
For a detailed follow-up on your case, including the change of your seat and the handling of your boarding pass, we kindly recommend contacting Ryanair directly. They will be in the best position to investigate what happened and provide you with further clarification or a possible resolution.
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20 minutes walk under the rain from terminal to rental car garage.
I walked at least 20 minutes at a brisk pace from my arrival gate to the car rental parking garage, which required leaving the terminal building (very poor and approximate signage), then walking under a walkway with large potholes and rainwater dripping from the canopy, then arriving to a spot where large roads converged around a roundabout, with no pedestrian traffic lights and only crosswalks, under the rain. Once crossed this intersection full of cars zipping by, I reached the building. Again very spotty signage. I took the elevator to the 3rd floor. I figured I must have been the stupid one who missed the signs for a shuttle because it is inconceivable that an international airport that advertises itself as at the center of Europe would not have such service. I asked the employee at the counter and she told me no, there is no shuttle, "they are building a tunnel very very fast, it will be ready next year" as if that thought would provide a solution to the rain that my clothes had already been collected. I asked if there was a shuttle from the garage to the terminal (I am dumb indeed). NO. When I return the car I will have to make sure I have a big umbrella with me. BY THE WAY, now that I think about it: I only had a backpack and a carry on. If I am not wrong, you cannot take a baggage cart on the covered walkway, you must leave it in the terminal. That must mean that if you have check-in bags you must carry them by yourself from the gate to the garage. I can imagine what a great fun that must be.
In addition, the Eurocar employee gave me the keys for a car that was not in the designated spot on the first floor. I had to walk around pressing the key button until I saw lights go on on a car hidden in a different row. I went back up the 3rd floor to report it to the employee, thinking I was doing them a favor. The response was, literally: "Oh yeah, "THEY" must have made a mistake. It happens sometimes." My reply: "Well, it should not happen." Counter-reply: "You are not the first one" (which basically mean f***k you.) I expected at least 'sorry that happened.' Clearly, I am stupid.
Last: or maybe all this confirms what the rest of Northern Europe thinks about Belgian people. Not the sharpest blade in the drawer.
June 10, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We are truly sorry to read about your experience and understand how frustrating it must have been to walk to the rental car facilities in poor weather conditions and with limited signage.
At Brussels Airport, the rental car facilities are currently located within walking distance of the terminal. We acknowledge that the route may feel long, especially in adverse weather, and we regret that your experience did not meet your expectations in terms of comfort and clarity of directions. Your comments regarding signage and the walking conditions are very valuable, and we will share them with the relevant teams to help improve the passenger experience.
We are also sorry to hear about the service you experienced at the rental desk. While rental companies operate independently, this is certainly not the level of customer service we expect on our premises, and we will pass on your feedback to the company concerned.
Thank you again for your feedback, as it helps us identify areas for improvement.
Long queues for non-Schengen (1h++)
Long queues for non-Schengen (1h++), has been like that for years, despite more intercontinental flights arriving, nothing ever changes, totally inefficient, avoid unless you have no other option.
June 9, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that you experienced long waiting times at the border. We understand how frustrating this can be. This is not the experience that we as Brussels Airport want to offer our passengers.
At the moment, the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) means that border checks take longer than before, as additional steps are required. We are working closely with the Federal Police to support operations as effectively as possible. We hope to offer you a smoother experience on a future visit.
Reply from Brussels Airport
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that you experienced long waiting times at the border. We understand how frustrating this can be. This is not the experience that we as Brussels Airport want to offer our passengers.
At the moment, the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) means that border checks take longer than before, as additional steps are required. We are working closely with the Federal Police to support operations as effectively as possible. We hope to offer you a smoother experience on a future visit.
Horribly run
Horribly run, 2 customs agents taking their sweet time while people left and right are missing their flights. Why tf are there only 2 people working with hundreds of people in line. Absolute idiots
June 1, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Dear passenger,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We are sorry to hear about your experience at border control and the waiting time you encountered. We understand how stressful it can be when queues are long and there is a risk of missing a flight.
Security and customs operations are managed by the relevant authorities, and staffing levels are adjusted based on operational demand and peak traffic. That said, we recognise the importance of efficient passenger flow and we regularly share feedback such as yours with the responsible services in order to support improvements.
We regret that your journey through the airport did not meet your expectations and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
Kind regards,
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Needs major updates
Needs major updates. Checked in online only to queue 40 mins to drop bags off. No difference to old check in queues.
Still using old scanning tech and metal detectors, so that's liquids only under 100ml and in separate bag, tech in a separate tray etc, and had to go through twice as the first scan wasn't good enough.
I arrived at the airport 2 hours before my flight departed, and arrived at the gate just before it closed.
For a major Capital, supposedly the central hub of Europe, it's pretty shocking by today's standards.
Invest in your airport Brussels.
May 28, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Dear Tom
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us, as it helps us continually improve the quality of the services provided at the airport.
Kind regards,
Appalling airport, glacial immigration.
Appalling airport. Queue for immigration is huge, the officials all move at a glacial speed. Why in the home of the EU does the airport not allow E-gates to be used for British and other nationalities? Most other EU countries allow E-gate entry and exit.
May 22, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Dear Mandy,
We regret that you experienced longer waiting times at passport control at our airport.
Please note that border control is carried out by the Federal Police. As the airport, we do not have any influence on how passport control is organised. The Federal Police, which is part of the Belgian government, independently decides how many booths are opened and how much staff is allocated for a specific flight.
Despite close cooperation and coordination between our airport and the Federal Police, it may happen that—due to limited capacity or a high number of arriving passengers during busy periods—waiting times are longer than expected.
At the moment, the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) means that border checks take longer than before, as additional steps are required.
We are working closely with the Federal Police to support operations as effectively as possible. We hope to offer you a smoother experience on a future visit.
Kind regards,
The new “check-in for free” scum
They will invite you to check-in your luggage for free and have you pay if it exceeds a few grams. As if the price of the ticket was not high enough 😤
May 17, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Dear Sara,
For this request, we recommend contacting your airline directly.
Kind regards.
New car hire in a an awful location a…
New car hire is now in a an awful location, a 10 minute walk OUTSIDE of the terminal, the walkway is partly covered but its bad planning from a location point of view, asking people to carry luggage all that way, no consideration here for the customer........... WHY move it from the main terminal?
May 18, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us, as it helps us continually improve the quality of the services provided at the airport
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Horrible security
Horrible security, never ever will I fly through Brussels again
May 16, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Your feedback is invaluable and helps us further improve the services offered at the airport.
Where to start
Where to start? Poorly signed with no maps that I saw. Baggage handling was rough resulting in a destroyed hard case. Security staff were extremely rude and unprofessional. Talking and laughing as passengers including myself were screened for extra security. Made to feel insignificant. Screening staff asked my preference of language and then continued to use their own. My hip replacement sets most scanners off and usually a quick pat down and a hand scanner and I’m on my way - not at Brussels - I felt like a criminal. Don’t fly to Europe via Brussels if you can possibly avoid it!
May 11, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Dear
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are truly sorry to hear about your experience at our airport.
Regarding your baggage, we recommend that you report this directly to your airline, as they are responsible for baggage handling and any damage that may occur during the process.
We also regret to hear how you felt during the security screening.
Please note that when the metal detector is triggered, additional screening is required for security reasons.
These procedures must be followed strictly, regardless of whether a passenger has a medical implant such as a hip replacement.
That said, we sincerely regret that you felt uncomfortable and poorly treated during this process.
This is not the level of service we aim to provide.
Thank you again for your feedback, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.
Kind regards,
Just the most stupid airport staff…
Just the most stupid airport staff ever, never seen such a motivation in making people lose time. Oh and the flights are frequently late. Just gross.
May 9, 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Brussels Airport
Dear
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us, as it helps us continually improve the quality of the services provided at the airport
Kind regards,
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