I have not been paid by any entity in any way (financially, benefits) to write this Brussels Airlines Premium Economy review. Take precautions when traveling; please stay safe and consult local, state, and national authorities for guidance on traveling.
Trip: IAD-MUC, MUC-BER, BER-PRG, PRG-FRA, FRA-CDG, CDG-CPH, CPH-BRU, BRU-IAD
On my first trans-Atlantic crossing in Brussels Airlines, I wanted to fly more comfortably, and was lucky to snag this upgrade to Washington through Brussels’ bidding system. Lufthansa Group airlines allow you to bid for upgrades from economy to premium economy or business class. It was a great choice and allowed me to write up this Brussels Airlines Premium Economy review!
Quick Take: Brussels Airlines Premium Economy Review
| Category | Rating (Out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Seat Comfort | ✅ 7/10 |
| Dining & Beverages | ✅ 7/10 |
| Service & Crew | ✅ 10/10 |
| Lounge Access | 😐 5/10 |
| Value for Points/Cash | ✅ 7/10 |
Defintely an improved experience over economy, and for a transoceanic flight, probably worth the cost.
Flight Details
Airline: Brussels Airlines
Flight: SN 515
Route: Brussels (BRU) – Washington Dulles (IAD)
Cabin Class: Premium Economy
Aircraft: Airbus A330
Seat: 11K
Booking Method: Cash + Cash Upgrade Bid
Cost: $626.10 (total roundtrip) + $230 (oneway upgrade bid)
Date: August 25, 2024
Flight Time: 7h 45m
Preflight
After my flight from Copenhagen on Brussels, I made my way to the Brussels Airlines THE LOFT lounge, operated in collaboration with Lexus. While the lounge was a nice respite from the terminal, it isn’t mind-blowing and was actually a bit of a let down regarding food options. There are other lounges available, but unfortunately I only had time to peek into one before heading over to the gate. I had access thanks to my Star Alliance Gold status via my United Premier 1K status. Flying Premium Economy on Brussels gives you access to THE LOFT, Sunrise, and THE VIEW lounges for a 39 EUR fee.
U.S.-bound flights leave out of the Pier B area (or at least the United and Brussels Airlines flights to the U.S. did), and I would recommend going with ample time, given that it can be a pretty long walk from the main concourse area to the actual gates. Remember that you are also departing the Schengen area, so you will have to clear passport control as well.
Brussels Airlines Premium Economy Seat & Cabin
Premium economy is laid out in a 2-3-2 configuration. Each seat comes with a comfortable headrest and a footrest that deploys out underneath the seat in front of you. Your tray table is in the middle console, and you get a TV monitor for entertainment in the seatback in front of you. If you’re flying in the bulkhead seats, the TV will come out from under the armrests.
The cabin looked refreshed, and although you couldn’t really tell because it was bright in the morning, there was ambient lighting installed on this aircraft, which is a nice touch.
The plane could’ve been cleaned a little better, but nothing major.
Waiting at each seat was a pillow. These seats also have great recline, making it a considerable improvement from economy. The cabin was otherwise fairly standard, if not a little bland.
Blankets were also handed out after takeoff.
Brussels Airlines Premium Economy Dining & Beverages
After takeoff, meal service commenced. On Brussels Airlines, premium economy does not include a premium meal service, you actually receive the standard economy meals. To kick off the service, and admittedly the most premium part of the whole experience, we started with a moist towel.
Today’s starter was bag of pretzels.
Next were the beverages. I selected water and red wine.
Then, the crew came by with the meals, which were served altogether on a tray. I selected the chicken jollof rice meal, which definitely surprised me! It was a very tasty meal and something I was happy to receive.
The tray included a bread role, a grain salad, butter, some spreadable cheese, and a chocolate. I also ordered a coke to accompany my meal.
The meal was so much better than what I was expecting, and was very filling. So kudos to Brussles!
Prior to landing, we received an additional meal service, consisting of a drink, a vegetarian pizza box, and Biscoff cookies.
While the pizza looks a mess, it was edible.
Brussels Airlines Premium Economy In-Flight Entertainment & Connectivity
The inflight entertainment screen is located in the seatback in front of you. There were plenty of movies and shows available, but I (in my unique way) like to just put on the map screen and call it a night. Admittedly, I did play a lot of 2048. There is a USB port, and headphone jack, and a small storage area that fit a water bottle and my airpods.
Toward the beginning of my flight, the crew passed out earbuds.
Unfortunately, Brussels does not offer wifi on their flights.
Brussels Airlines Premium Economy Amenities & Comfort
As a premium economy passenger, I was disappointed to see a lack of amenities or really any upgraded service on our flight.
After the meal service, I took some time to check out the lavatory, and it was pretty clean. Premium economy passengers share the lavatories with economy, which means you have to go back to economy and que up if there’s a line.
The economy cabin looked pretty good, although I will say that the temperature in the premium economy cabin was considerably cooler than the temperature in economy, making it a more comfortable experience.
Service & Crew
The crew on this flight were excellent. They were very kind, friendly, and attentive. They did make a few rounds throughout the flight to see if anybody needed anything, and I very much appreciated that.
Final Verdict
There are several pros and cons about Brussels Airlines premium economy. The pros include a more comfortable seat, a smaller cabin, and if you are traveling with luggage, you get two checked bags included in your fare. The cons include a lack of a true “premium” experience. While the Brussels Airlines website says that premium economy includes an “upgraded culinary experience,” “access to our onboard Belgian bar,” and “lounge access against a fee (at the Brussels Airport only),” I didn’t experience any of that. Perhaps my flight didn’t qualify, or it wasn’t offered at the time, but this premium economy experience is a step-down from what you can expect on U.S. based airlines’ premium economy offerings.
With that in mind:
- Was it worth the cost? Considering that it was 190 Swiss francs or $230 USD, I’d say that it was ultimately worth it, but just barely. I had a spacious seat, a decent meal (albeit not premium), and was able to rest. However, consider if you need to be rested when you land, the length of this flight, etc.
- What are better/worse options? I’d say that on this same route, United Premium Plus would be a better experience, considering they’ve added enhancements to their premium economy experience.
- How to book this flight with points or a sweet spot? Personally, I think the best deal is to upgrade using the bidding system, which can get you a good deal on the upgrade, especially if you buy an economy light fare. That said, I bid the lowest amount I could for this seat, and won, so keep that under consideration.
Overall Rating: 7.2/10
What are your thoughts? Have you flown Brussels Airlines’ long-haul premium economy? Let me know in the comments!
As always, Live Life One Trip at a Time!
