Skift Take
In Brussels' defense, it's no LaGuardia, Newark, or JFK. But then again, nobody expects anything from those airports.
This years SITA IT Conference was held in Brussels, the de facto capital of Europe, seat of the EU Commission and the Council of the EU, and a really lovely city. Except for the airport.
Originally an OK airport to get around, if a bit dated, two separate Piers (for Schengen and non Schengen passengers) jutting out of to the original terminal make it a very large and very oddly structured airport. Pier B (Non-Schengen) opened first in 1994 and Pier A (Schengen) followed in 2002.
Here are ten reasons to hate Brussels Airport--and one good reason to love it (it's not chocolate):
1) M.C. Escher influenced the Architecture
Yes. MC Escher was Dutch--not Belgian--and he died in 1972, but he must have inspired the architects and city planners who incorporated the new Piers into the old Terminal. The process of getting around Brussels Airport is an experience akin to walking through Escher's Ascending and Descending with elements of Relativity thrown in for good measure. Because of the way the separate buildings are connected, you have to go up and down and back up again (getting turned around each time).
There is a long underground walkway to get from the check-in area to the security area then onward to the gates. It's long enough that you forget you haven't been through security, by the time you get to it. There are subway-style gates which require you to scan your boarding pass to get to the walkway, so have your boarding pass ready. We've included a map, but it only helps to illustrate the Escher-like structure.
2) Qu'est-ce que se Way-Finding?
Anyone travelling through an airport for the first time is helped by adequate signage to find the way. This is especially important in Brussels Airport because of its--let's call it unique--design. Brussels Airport
