Brussels Airlines A330 Business Class Review: Belgian Flavor at 35,000 Feet
Brussels Airlines Business Class doesn’t attempt to outdo those enormous suites and closing doors of some Middle Eastern and Asian airlines. Instead, it really plays to its strengths.
Expect a fully flat bed, an elegant cabin, truly excellent food, plenty of Belgian beers and chocolates – and a service style that feels rather easy-going rather than very formal indeed. Even Michelin-starred Belgian chefs help create the menus here.
The main complication is the seat itself. Brussels Airlines has different Airbus A330 configurations, so your actual Business Class experience may differ quite a bit based on the plane.
Still, if good food and a comfortable bed matter more to you than the latest high-tech suite, Brussels Airlines has plenty in its favor.
Airport Experience: Start with The Loft
If your trip begins in Brussels, consider starting at The Loft – it’s Brussels Airlines’ flagship lounge.
This space has a uniquely Belgian feel, with modern design, comfortable seating, work areas, and plenty of room to settle in before that long flight.
Your meal options are presented via a hot-and-cold buffet rather than a full-service restaurant. Selections change throughout the day, and the bar will obviously put Belgian beers in the spotlight. You’ll also find wines, spirits, soft drinks, and coffee.
Travelers finishing long journeys can also use the shower suites for a welcome chance to freshen up.
Other travelers might opt to use the Sunrise Lounge instead. It is another pleasant and comfortable area with lighter fare, a fully stocked bar, showers, some quieter spaces, and office facilities for business needs.
Business Class passengers also enjoy priority check-in, priority boarding, and two checked bags – making the entire airport experience much less complicated indeed.
Since Brussels Airlines is part of the Star Alliance and the Lufthansa Group, eligible Business Class travelers can also use partner lounges on trips outside Brussels.
Choosing the Right A330 Seat Matters
Keep this in mind when making your reservation. Brussels Airlines operates both Airbus A330-300 and A330-200 aircraft, and the business class cabins are not exactly alike.
The refurbished A330-300 has 30 business class seats arranged in a somewhat unconventional configuration. The rows alternate between 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 or 2-1-2 arrangements.
This arrangement makes certain seats even more attractive. Solo travelers should watch for the “throne” seats, including 1A, 3A, and 5A, and their counterparts on the opposite side of the aircraft.
Instead of sitting next to another seat, you occupy the space that would normally fit two people. This creates more counter space and a noticeably greater sense of seclusion.
Couples have several options themselves. Some rows offer paired window seats if sitting together matters to you, while other center seats like 3D/3F and 5D/5F give each passenger easy access to the aisle.
All business class seats convert into a fully flat bed. The combination of light wood finishes with extremely deep blue upholstery produces a very inviting boutique hotel-like atmosphere within the cabin itself – rather than a corporate one.
However, one thing to bear in mind: the footwell can be somewhat narrow.
If you move around frequently during sleep, turning over might feel somewhat restricted. Some passengers also report that the mattress padding and bedding feel marginally less luxurious than those on leading airlines from Asia or the Middle East.
The A330-200 has an older 22-seat layout with alternating 1-2-1 and 2-1-2 rows. Its pneumatic-cushion seat converts into a bed about 6 feet 5 inches long. Even so, very tall individuals might find it somewhat cramped, with 1A and 1K often being better seats to choose if you need extra room.
Airplanes may vary because Brussels Airlines has operated jets originally belonging to other airlines. If knowing the exact seat is crucial to you, looking up the aircraft configuration before you book is definitely worth doing.
On newer A330-300 cabins, you’ll find a self-service bar behind business class, so you can grab a drink or snack without waiting for the next cabin service.
Dining Is Where Brussels Airlines Shines
If the seat is positioned slightly behind the latest Business Class offerings, the food really makes up for it.
Brussels Airlines really takes its Belgian identity very seriously.
On quite a few long-haul flights, catering is supplied by Do & Co while the airline’s Belgian Star Chefs program brings Michelin-starred Belgian chefs on board – at least creatively.
Previous participating chefs include Peter Goossens, Stephanie Thunus, and Mario Elias, with menus changing seasonally.
Service may start with champagne, kir royale, or another aperitif, accompanied by spiced nuts. Dinner then progresses through individual appetizer, main course, and dessert services.
Depending on the current menu, you might come across smoked trout with daikon and sour cream, slow-cooked chicken with barley and seaweed salad, or dishes that really highlight seasonal Belgian ingredients.
But the Belgian theme doesn’t end with dinner itself. Local beers, pralines, waffles, and cookies appear throughout your journey, giving the whole experience a special sense of place that so many larger airlines really lack.
The wine program is yet another real strength. Brussels Airlines has been recognized before for its truly international Business Class wine selection, with wines selected using real professional knowledge rather than merely filling the menu with well-known names.
It gives the meal that unmistakably Belgian flavor without turning the entire cabin into a theme park.
Entertainment Is Good, But Where’s the Wi-Fi?
Every Business Class seat will have a large personal touchscreen. It offers a choice of Hollywood films, international films, documentaries, TV shows, music, games, and even a moving flight map.
The screens themselves actually feel quite big enough for comfortable viewing – especially if you’re reclining.
The entertainment collection is perfectly acceptable for a long-haul trip itself. Though it won’t challenge the massive libraries available from carriers like Emirates.
Really though, the bigger issue is connectivity.
Brussels Airlines doesn’t yet offer in-flight WiFi on these flights. It feels out of step with modern long-haul Business Class standards.
If you’re going to spend eight hours sending emails or working online, that’s probably something you should know before you board.
On the bright side, though, the lack of connectivity provides a perfect reason to take a little time out. Download whatever you need first, pick your movie, and enjoy being completely out of touch.
Free digital papers and the airline’s in-flight magazine will also be there for offline entertainment options.
Belgian Touches Continue with the Amenity Kit
Your amenity kit is simple yet very practical.
Depending on your route and the aircraft you’re on, you’ll usually find earplugs, eye masks, a dental kit, a pen, lip balm, and moisturizer.</p>
Brussels Airlines has used brown leather pouches made by Aesaert – a leather goods company from Ghent. This is a tiny detail. But it perfectly complements the airline’s broader policy of promoting Belgian businesses, chefs, beers, chocolates, and design itself.
Instead of stuffing the bag with dozens of products you will probably leave behind, the kit focuses on the essentials you will actually need during your flight.</p>
The Bottom Line
Brussels Airlines’ Business Class isn’t one of the most technologically advanced first-class cabins in Europe.
There are no closing suite doors. Older A330 seats can look really old-fashioned. The footwells are narrow, and the lack of Wi-Fi really stands out. But focusing too much on these shortcomings will make you miss what Brussels Airlines really excels at.
The flatbed seat is comfy enough for that long overnight trip. “Throne” seats offer great space for solo travelers, and the newly refurbished cabin looks stylishly inviting.
Most importantly, the outstandingly Belgian-inspired food, wine, beer, chocolates, and genuinely helpful service lend the whole experience a unique character all their own.</p>
And if you want to have a go at Brussels Airlines’ Business Class without having to pay the full listed price tag, Simply Business Class (SBC) could help you save up to half the cost of those top-tier fares – all dependent on your route and how available the seats are.</p>
