Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.
Today: Review – Brussels Airlines A319 from Dubrovnik to Brussels
Early July, I enjoyed a short break at Europe’s newest ultra-luxurious beach resort, One&Only Portonovi in Montenegro. I flew in and out via Dubrovnik Airport, which is a 60 min drive from the property. The flight from Brussels to Dubrovnik was operated by TUI, Europe’s largest leisure airline (read my review here) while the return flight was operated by Brussels Airlines.
Brussels Airlines is the flag carrier of Belgium. The airline started operations on 25 March 2007 following a merger of Virgin Express (part of the Virgin group) and SN Brussels Airlines (the successor of Sabena, Belgium’s famous flag carrier airline which collapsed in 2001). The carrier is part of the Lufthansa group and operates to over 100 destinations in Europe, North America, and Africa (it has a very strong presence in the latter continent). Since I am based in Belgium, I’ve flown Brussels Airlines on several occasions. I like their longhaul Business Class product (decent food and comfortable beds), although their shorthaul product is nothing special.
What I don’t like about Brussels Airlines, is the carrier’s inconsistency regarding its onboard communications. Contrary to most other airlines I’ve flown, the cockpit crew of Brussels Airlines does not always address the passengers during the flight. It seems that welcoming passengers is not part of carrier’s modus operandi or that some members of the airlines’ cockpit crew lack a sense of pride in the organization they work for. Unfortunately, it was not different on this flight: despite a delay of one hour (because of a mechanical issue), the pilots did not address the passengers during the flight, nor did the cabin crew apologize for the minor delay (the delay was not even mentioned once onboard).
Have you ever flown with Brussels Airlines? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.
- Trip: Dubrovnik (DBV) to Brussels (BRU)
- Airline: Brussels Airlines
- Aircraft type: Airbus A319
- Aircraft registration number: OO-SSM
- On time departure: No (6pm; + 1 hour)
- On time arrival: No (8 pm; + 1 hour)
- Miles: 867 miles
- Flight time: 2 hours
- Seat: 2A
- Class: Economy Class
In this review (there is more information & photos below my YouTube video):
- Price of my ticket
- Lounge at Dubrovnik Airport
- Brussels Airlines Airbus A319: cabin + seat
- Onboard service
- Views
PRICE OF MY TICKET
I paid 136 euros for my one-way Economy Class ticket from Dubrovnik to Brussels. An addition, I also paid an extra fee of 17 euros to select a window seat.
LOUNGE AT DUBROVNIK AIRPORT
Dubrovnik Airport has one lounge, which also acts as a Priority Pass Lounge. My ticket did not give access to the lounge but I was able to use it anyway since nobody was there (no staff and no guests). The lounge has a modern and enjoyable design, with dozens of comfortable chairs arranged around coffee tables. Large windows offer a good view of the airport’s runway (which is the longest runway in Croatia). The lounge has almost all basic services: it offers a small snack selection and drinks, a small business center, and complimentary WiFi.
BRUSSELS AIRLINES AIRBUS A319: CABIN + SEAT
Brussels Airlines’ Airbus A319 features 141 seats arranged in a single cabin. All seats are 17.8 inches (45 cm) wide and have a pitch of 30 inches (76 cm), with the exception of the seats in the exit row which feature some extra legroom. Brussels Airlines sells the first rows in the cabin as Business Class seats, although it are just Economy Class seats with blocked middle seats (similar to what is offered by most other European airlines on shorthaul flights).
ONBOARD SERVICE
VIEWS
The only great thing about this otherwise unmemorable flight were the views of Croatia’s spectacular coastline (which are shown in my YouTube video, starting at 10’50”).
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I had a similar experience to yours on a flight from Athens to Brussels. Was first of all surprised, and a bit disappointed, that we would not being doing the return leg with Aegean Aitlines which I used to rate very highly, though not so much now. We also had a delay of about one hour with no apology. I think I would sum up the whole experience as utterly charmless and unmemorable.
very big A319. nice article thanks
Never had issue with them. I always ask the crew directly and they always answered correctly ie in my case some companies pay more to be able to leave in priority, leaving your plane to wait because Brussels Airlines is not as wealthy as Qatar or Emirate. I always found them polite and helpful and had some memorable flights with lot of laughter.