Brussels-Manchester and return with Brussels Airlines

[sn26567]

I used to fly to Manchester several times a year, but after retiring I had not been there for many years. Time to fly the route again, together with a group visiting Wales. Initially the plan was to fly to Birmingham with a Flybe Q400, but since Brussels Airport was not yet at capacity, this flight was cancelled and we had to fly to Manchester instead.

A few days before departure, Brussels Airport had issued an advice saying that it was OK to be at the airport one hour in advance, even with baggage to check. The travel agent nevertheless asked us to be there 1 hr 50 min ahead of schedule. I thus arrived 1 hr 50 min early, avoided the pre-check and proceeded right to the SN check-in desks and their self-service baggage labelling and checking. I had already an boarding pass on my phone, having previously changed my assigned seat from 12D to 5A.

Departure with flight SN2173 to Manchester

That left me ample time to have breakfast at "Belle & Belge", the best value for money at €6.50 for a full breakfast. And then the hand baggage and body scan at the Connector, with no queue whatsoever. Brussels Airport is back to normal! And I had again to wait in Pier B until gate B33 was announced: a way to make you spend money in the shops...

Brussels Airlines Flight SN2173 is codeshared with Hainan Airlines (and United Airlines)

Flight SN2173 is operated with an Avro RJ100 registered OO-DWA

Flight: Brussels Airlines SN2173, codeshared with United Airlines and Hainan Airlines
Date :22/05/2016
Aircraft: Avro RJ100 OO-DWA
From-To: Brussels - Manchester(BRU-MAN)
Seat: 5A
Scheduled/Effective Time of Departure: 09:05/09:13 (GMT+2)
Scheduled/Effective Time of Arrival: 09:25/09:27 (GMT+1)
Scheduled/Effective Duration of the flight: 1 hr 20 min/1 hr 14 min

On-time boarding. I was among the last ones to board and identified myself to the purser, with whom I had a nice initial chat before settling in my window seat.

There were 2 passengers in the first row reserved bor business class, and 2 more flex passengers in the next 3 rows. But from row 5, the plane was pretty full.

Departure was slightly delayed because the lady captain (Ms Vandersteen?) had to come from another flight which was late.

Take-off from 25R and nice flight all the way. Although I had a fare without meal included, the purser kindly offered an orange juice, a coffee and a few chocolates. Fantastic crew!

"Aaah, a nice hot coffee... That's my cup of tea!"

Descent towards Manchester

On-time landing on 23R in Manchester.

Disembarking at Manchester

In parking position at Manchester

And passport control in the UK (which appears not to be part of the EU)

"UK & EU", as if the UK had already "Brexited"...

To be followed with return flight

[sn26567]

After 5 days in Wales, it was time to fly back home. Arrival at the airport some 90 minutes before the scheduled time of the flight. The queue at the baggage and body check was huge, about 300 persons, more than I had ever seen in Manchester. It took about half an hour to reach the controls. Those who complain about Brussels should come here to compare!

Nevertheless, we had to wait because the incoming flight was late, due to single runway operation at Brussels because of the weather conditions, according to the captain of our flight.

Arrival of Brussels Airlines Airbus A319 reg. OO-SSW

Flight: SN2178 (no codeshare mentioned)
Date : 27/05/2016
Aircraft: Airbus A319 OO-SSW
From-To: Manchester-Brussels (MAN-BRU)
Seat: 5F
Scheduled/Effective Time of Departure: 17:45/18:05 (GMT+1)
Scheduled/Effective Time of Arrival: 20:00/20:22 (GMT+2)
Scheduled/Effective Duration of the flight: 1 hr 15 min/1 hr 17 min

Boarding...

Boarding...

Ready for departure, going back home!

While taxiing to rwy 05L, an easyJet logo-jet promoting Hamburg

Woman power on this flight: the captain (Ms De Boever) and the purser (Ms Janssens) were both women. Second female captain in a row!

The plane was filled to capacity in all classes: 4 passengers in the firs (business) row, 12 passengers in the next 2 flex rows, and also full in the cattle class (although the A319 is way more comfortable than the A320 thanks to a better legroom).

Late departure, as explained before, and take-off from 05L.

No problems whatsoever during the flight. Beautiful landing over Brussels City to 07L, but due to a short circling, it was not possible to make up for the delay.

Itinerary SN2078 on 27.05.2016

Altogether, two very nice flights, the first one of course being the better one because of the exceptional service level.

[Comet]

Great report Andre

Those who complain about Brussels should come here to compare!

BRU is vastly superior in every way to MAN. There is no comparison. Great that you had female pilots on both flights - we had one on our return flight last year.

[Shengenzone]

You were so lucky to still have the Avro.
The passengers will miss those comfy thick seats !

[sn26567]

Great report Andre

Thanks, Louise.

BRU is vastly superior in every way to MAN. There is no comparison.

I certainly will not contradict you on this. But recently BRU had a major problem, as you know, and that made the airport difficult to use with long security queues which have now disappeared. But some people are still weary to fly out of BRU.

Great that you had female pilots on both flights.

Nevertheless, the second one made a hard landing in BRU! Not used to 07L?

You were so lucky to still have the Avro.
The passengers will miss those comfy thick seats !

Exactly my feeling. I was lucky and happy indeed to have an Avro again, before they will be all gone in one year from now.

[Comet]

BRU is vastly superior in every way to MAN. There is no comparison.

I certainly will not contradict you on this. But recently BRU had a major problem, as you know, and that made the airport difficult to use with long security queues which have now disappeared. But some people are still weary to fly out of BRU.

People should make allowances for the problems that BRU had back in March. However, when BRU is working fully without any problems or restrictions it is a superb, efficient airport, and vastly better than MAN. Security at MAN is a real pain, we had to go down a fast track lane last year, even though we had plenty of time before our flight departed (we were the first to drop our luggage off when check in opened) because the ordinary security lane was backlogged and slow moving. We have never had such problems at BRU, the worst probs we have had at BRU is when the trains have been overcrowded and difficult to get on and off but that is not the fault of the airport it is because some of the trains on the airport run are too short for the job.

[Airbus A330]

Hi André!

That left me ample time to have breakfast at "Belle & Belge", the best value for money at €6.50 for a full breakfast.

"Belle & Belge" is at the current location of the "Wingtips" restaurant (which disappeard from the airport web site ?).

If positive, how is the view on the apron now with the Connector and the additional connecting building with pier B

[sn26567]

"Belle & Belge" is at the current location of the "Wingtips" restaurant (which disappeared from the airport web site ?).

If positive, how is the view on the apron now with the Connector and the additional connecting building with pier B

"Belle et Belge" is on the left before the entrance to the Connector. The windows enable a view on the former DHL apron, thus from there you can see the Ryanair/easyJet fleet and further away the cargo planes at Brucargo.

I am afraid that "Wingtips" has lost most of its customers, but I never went up to the fourth floor after the attacks. I wonder which businesses are still there, since only passengers have now access to the building.

[Airbus A330]

"Belle et Belge" is on the left before the entrance to the Connector. The windows enable a view on the former DHL apron, thus from there you can see the Ryanair/easyJet fleet and further away the cargo planes at Brucargo.

I am afraid that "Wingtips" has lost most of its customers, but I never went up to the fourth floor after the attacks. I wonder which businesses are still there, since only passengers have now access to the building.

Great!
Thanks, André!

[quixoticguide]

Great report.

I flew two weeks ago from MAN to BRU via LHR with BA.
with only 15 minutes connection time!

[MSS658]

Hi André

Great report, OO-DWA isn't an unfamiliar bird for me at all... I flew it around Belgium in 2005 for "openbedrijvendag" at SN Brussels Airlines and in 2012 to CPH!

Must agree with you on Manchester..... Check in/Security are a pain there

Greetings
Marc

[sn26567]

Great report, OO-DWA isn't an unfamiliar bird for me at all... I flew it around Belgium in 2005 for "openbedrijvendag" at SN Brussels Airlines

Do you mean they made a small tour around BRU? Not for free, I guess?

[MSS658]

We went all the way to OST/VOR KOK!
They did charge but can't remember the price

[quixoticguide]

Must agree with you on Manchester..... Check in/Security are a pain there

Yes I agree.
But a nice lounge with view on the runway.