OLCI no problem, headed to the airport on the train - since June this year you do need to hold on to your train ticket when you get off, even though it's usually checked on the train, as your ticket operates the exit gates and there is rarely anyone at the gates to help if it all goes wrong.
Passport control was smooth enough as short queues but was certainly delays with people using smartphone boarding passes as they seemed to be sharing the readers for those 1 per two desks. Security lines quite short too so through in under 5 minutes.
As with Easyjet flights to LGW from here, the LHR flight with Brussels Airlines says the gate information will show 15 minutes before boarding, however unlike Easyjet at BRU (where you're 'boarded' and in a line waiting along the gate corridor before passengers have got off the incoming plane) the Brussels Airlines planes are usually sitting there for an hour or more before the flight and the destination already showing on the gate even though not on the main departure screens.
As food & drink chargeable on board I grabbed a sandwich and drink at the bar by the smoking room half way down the concourse - prices not too bad and the toasted ham & mozzarella roll was very tasty.
Boarding time was 16:20 so headed down around 16:15, arriving on time - boarding started about 16:30 and we pushed back only a couple of minutes late at 16:55.
Seats are comfortable enough but even though they were not scaling bags for size or weight at the gate the luggage bins are nothing like as big as Easyjet or Aer Lingus and other LCC even though loads of passengers were on big hand luggage bags - and as it's an Avro RJ100 the overhead bins under the wings will literally hold 4 stacked pizza boxes (but with a fairly deserted business section there was room there for excess and the CC were grabbing any bags that wouldn't fit from customers at back of plane and stowing for them in rear galley area).
Smooth flight and good info throughout from the flight deck, CC on very good form as I've found to be mostly the case with Brussels Airlines on previous trips.
Flight time 45 minutes, quite normal for this 75 minute scheduled flight as I've never had it take over 50 minutes in the air for main run so it usually lands on time or a few minutes early. This put us towards LHR ahead of schedule so we had a 15 minute stack then onto approach. CC did make it round with drinks for those who wanted to buy even though a short flight.
Landing gear down and slowed for landing nicely when the engines fired back up as we crossed airport boundary for an 8-10 minute go around because the previous aircraft had forgotten to leave the runway, so another circuit and we still landed on time!
No bridge but a short walk across tarmac into T2 then the usual very long walk (10+ minutes at a brisk pace) to passport control. Automatic gates were hopeless - had to use 3 different ones before it finally let me through, but still quicker than the regular queue.
Overall the flight was just as good as usual which is why I tend to use them instead of BA on this route and the CC flexibility / light business class loading meant the luggage bin issue was a non-issue unless you wanted to get at your bag during the flight.
,
,
,
,
,
