Located almost halfway between Paris and Amsterdam, Brussels Airport is dwarfed by the airports of its neighboring capitals. Despite its relatively small size, the airport is well connected to the city and offers the comforts you would expect of most international airports. This includes a number of lounges and today we'll review the Diamond Lounge at Brussels Terminal A.
The lounge is located airside on the airport's 2nd floor, close to Gate A42. Terminal A is for Schengen flights only although a Diamond Lounge also exists in Terminal B for non-Schengen departures. The lounge accepts Priority Pass which is what I used to get in.
Arriving and checking-in at the lounge, something happened that I've never experienced at any other lounge. I was given a small box of chocolate as a welcome gift. I thought that was sweet (pun intended) and being in Brussels (known for its chocolate), it seemed like the perfect treat.
Space and seating
I would call the lounge 'medium sized' - or at least it felt that way. There are about four distinct sections where passengers can seat themselves. These areas range from bar-height tables and chairs, to cafe/restaurant style seating, and lower laid back living-room style chairs. The view of the tarmac and runway isn't great. You can see planes take-off and land in the distance but I think more of the action is on the other side. However, you do get a nice view of the shuttle bus parking area...
The food
I found that hot food was extremely limited at this lounge. If you want something warm you are limited to soup (that day it was watercress) or semi-stale waffles and croissants. If you spent time eating freshly made waffles during your time in the city, the ones you have in the lounge will be disappointing.
However, you can eat these sub-par waffles to your heart's content - topping them off with some real maple syrup, speculoos or jam. There's even a big Nutella dispenser which should definitely be tried!
For cold dishes, there is a little more selection. It ranges from sliced deli meat and cheese to couscous, quinoa, and potato salads. There are also hardboiled eggs and some bread rolls. During my few hours there I mostly filled up with soup more than anything else. The cold dishes weren't too bad.
If you're looking for something more simple and healthy you'll find bowls of fruit throughout the lounge: Bananas, apples, and oranges.
Beverages
The beverage selection is quite good at this lounge. It, of course, includes a coffee machine with a wide assortment of options on its touchscreen. You'll also find a small selection of wines and hard liquors that are self-serve.
Belgium is well known for its beer and so it's no surprise that bottles of beer are on offer at the lounge (along with coca-cola, sprite, etc).
Conclusion
The Diamond Lounge at Brussels Terminal A won't win any awards when compared to other lounges around the world. However, it's a decent place to spend your pre-flight time: the receptionist was polite and friendly while the cleaning staff did a great job of clearing plates.
The one annoying thing I disliked about my lounge experience was the fact that they chose to play local pop radio over the speakers. I have nothing against the music but listening to radio advertisements and traffic reports on top of that is irritating. Something a little less noticeable and ambient would be preferred.
Have you been to this lounge? Let us know if this review is accurate by leaving a comment!